‘THE GREATEST DANGER TO OUR FUTURE IS APATHY’ – JANE GOODALL The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 40 #18 • October 8, 2025 • www.echo.net.au
Close up ƆIJşż Ɛş ŊĕĕżȞ Mullum open
Byron Beachside Markets goes retro fashion theme
Aslan Shand
Supermodels, the Versace Boys, Will and Coasty, remind the assembled Byron market multitude of the importance of having your nails done and your super yacht regularly serviced. Photo Jeff ‘Coco Channel’ Dawson
This Thursday it is time to take action and call on Byron Shire Council (BSC) to change their decision to close the main road to outbound traffic from Mullumbimby to the M1 and Brunswick Heads for four months over summer. The Mullumbimby Chamber of Commerce and Community is calling on the community to join local businesses, many of which will close up shop from 2pm this coming Thursday, 9 October and head to the BSC chambers to let their elected councillors know the road closure is not acceptable. They are calling on Byron Shire ▶ Continued on page 3
ĶīŕĶǕĈëŕƐ ĈIJëŕīĕƆ żſşżşƆĕĎ Īşſ ëŕīëōşƱȜƆ IJĕſĶƐëīĕ żƖć Paul Bibby Will one of the Shire’s oldest and most iconic pubs get a $13m makeover that will significantly change the heritage look and feel of the venue and increase the space for poker machines? This is the decision facing Byron councillors this week as they decide on a development application (DA) to undertake significant works at the Bangalow Hotel. Built in 1940, the hotel is a classic example of mid-20th century pub design, featuring Art Moderne,
Strip search victim awarded $93,000 ▶ p2
Colonial Revival and Interwar Functionalist influences. But the owners of the famous venue – the Mooney family – say major structural issues and the need to cater to contemporary tastes necessitate a significant upgrade of the venue. Their DA, coming before Council this week, involves significantly less-dramatic changes than those originally proposed, and subsequently rejected, by Council staff. However, it still proposes a major redevelopment of the venue. This includes a significant
Rally to call for Israel to release Australians ▶ p7
demolition and redevelopment of the internal ground floor area, including removal of the old timber bar, several walls, bathrooms and part of the floor section.
Music out – poker machines in An area in the western part of the venue, which not so long ago hosted live music and other community-focused events, will become a separated gaming room with 20 poker machines. The rear decks and stairs additions
Losing our minds, finding our hearts ▶ p12
are proposed to be removed and replaced with a new deck. According to Council documents, the proposal involves an increase in gross floor area of 180m2 and an increase in public areas of approximately 38m2 including outdoor terraces, and areas for ordering food and drinks. The total proposed floor space ratio (FSR) would be 0.24:1, significantly below the 1:1 FSR allowable under Byron’s Local Environment Plan (LEP), and there is no proposed g change to the height of the building. It is envisaged that the
redeveloped pub will attract significantly more patrons, with a capacity of 974 people proposed. To accommodate this growth, the total number of parking spaces at the hotel would be increased from 30 to 56. Following completion of the refurbishment, it is anticipated that the hotel will employ eight people full-time and 12 people parttime and casual. Council staff have recommended that the revised DA be approved, stating that it is ▶ CContinued on page 6
Seven: eclectic entertainment of all sorts ▶ p27
Beauty, style, fashion and grooming – Filter Off ▶ p24
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