With the absence of all four of its progressive councillors for various reasons, Ballina Council pushed ahead with its agenda at yesterday's monthly meeting, including a decision which is likely to close Ross Lane for months while the road is upgraded.

The Mullumbimby Chamber of Commerce and Community with First National Real Estate have stepped up and provided $1,000 of equipment for the new 20-bed Care Awaiting Placement (CAP) ward at Byron Central Hospital that opened in June.

Lawyers from Tyndall & Co say they will provide free legal advice covering most areas of law including domestic violence, elder abuse and visa issues at their upcoming Pro Bono Cafe in Byron.

As the weather warms up, so too are community volunteers. In mid August regional volunteers gathered at Clunes for the quarterly Interhall Committee meeting.

Food fraud has made headlines recently after an investigation by ABC program Four Corners found the issue is rampant in major supermarket aisles in Australia.