RUNNING A TIGHT SHIPWRECK SINCE 1986 The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 40 #14 • September 10, 2025 • www.echo.net.au
Spring is in the hair
Crime spree hits Bruns – community piano destroyed Hans Lovejoy
T
Flower crowns are always a hit at Shearwater School’s Spring Fair. Bowie’s mum, Elyse, is sporting a small garden she fashioned herself. Hundreds enjoyed fabulous performances of music and dance, inventive and adventurous arts, fascinating crafts and exotic foods for the annual event, held on the school grounds on Left Bank Road. Photo Jeff ‘Where’s My Hair Peace?’ Dawson
Shire-wide playground overhaul planned Paul Bibby
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ome of the Shire’s most popular playgrounds, such as Apex Park in Mullumbimby and Piccabeen Park in Bangalow, would get significant upgrades under a new plan being developed by Byron Shire Council staff. But the strategy would also see several much-loved postage stamp playgrounds, such as that
Large Mullum CBD DA all but ruled out ▶ p2
on Pepperbush Street Suffolk Park, permanently removed. The Play Space Action Plan, developed by Council’s Infrastructure Services Team, is coming before this week’s Council meeting ahead of a public consultation process in the coming weeks. A response to community feedback highlighting the need for more varied and larger play spaces across the Shire, the plan is
Kids prefer real life over screens ▶ p13
based on an audit of the Shire’s 37 playgrounds. Those conducting the audit concluded that the Shire has an oversupply of ‘small local’ and ‘local’ play spaces – typically postage stamp playgrounds with swings, a small play tower and slide – that only cater to young, able-bodied children. Of the 37 existing playgrounds, only one (Waterlily Park in Ocean
Shores) was in the ‘neighbourhood category’, that is, a larger play space with a few different play equipment elements for various age groups, along with basic supporting amenities like shade, seating, and sometimes picnic tables. Responding to the findings of the audit, the Play Space Action Plan recommends increasing the size and distribution of facilities by ▶ Continued on page 3
Feed your mind: Gwen Wright family meals celebrates 100 on matter ▶ p18 Byron’s fairway ▶ p19
he much-loved community piano, located in the Bruns Soundshell, was burnt to the ground last Thursday night. It was part of wider vandalism in the area, which also included extensive damage to the nearby toilet block. The Bruns pub was broken into and Ferry Reserve holiday park vandalised. Laura Upsall, who was one of the organisers who installed the piano in July, said while it was devastating, she was hopeful that this would result in much-needed street lighting and CCTV for the town. The Echo asked if Council was willing to facilitate improved lighting and CCTV for the area, and if so, ‘what would a likely time frame be for implementation?’ Mayor Sarah Ndiaye (Greens) replied, ‘Council is very sad to learn of the vandalism of the community piano and surrounding property in Brunswick Heads, as well as the break-in at Hotel Brunswick, that occurred on September 4. The piano bought so much joy to the community and was cared for lovingly’. ‘In February 2025, the Australian government committed $1 million in funding for crime prevention initiatives in the Byron Shire. However, this funding has not yet been received. Once available, it could be used to support measures such as more CCTV installation and improved lighting at this location’. ▶ Continued on page 3
The Echo’s restaurant guide tastes good ▶ p20
Beauty, style and fashion in the Shire ▶ p22
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