‘SOCIALISM OR BARBARISM’ – ROSA LUXEMBURG The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 40 #50 • May 20, 2026 • www.echo.net.au
Byron Bay Rail Master’s Cottage destroyed in fire
Bangalow’s gravity-powered billycarts flew across the finish line
Mia Armitage The historic Byron Bay Rail Master’s Cottage was all but destroyed in a fire over the weekend, with the cause still unknown. Firefighters were on the scene at 88 Jonson Street around 10.30pm Friday, with crews working past midnight into the early hours of Saturday to get the flames under control. Crews were back on the scene around 6.30am Saturday when a member of the public called emergency services to report smoke coming from the site. Acting Byron Bay Fire and Rescue NSW Captain Perry Bartholomew said it was ‘not unusual’ for residual heat to create smoke after a fire but that there were ‘not even really any flames’ to manage on Saturday morning. The old timber cottage was ‘pretty much a total loss,’ he told ▶ Continued on page 7
With several international kart racing places to his name, it was no surprise that 11-year-old Lennox lad Kai Kanyaro won both the 8 to 11 age group grand final as well at the junior title at the Bangalow Billycarts Derby on Sunday, which as always, was the place to be at this time of year. Photo Tree Faerie
Don Page stands up against developers pushing height limits in Byron Aslan Shand Former Nationals Party Deputy Leader and Member for Ballina from 1988 to 2015, Don Page, has told The Echo that it is vital to hold the line on height limits in Byron Bay to ensure it doesn’t become another Gold Coast. ‘I urge Byron Shire Councillors to hold the line and not approve an extra 37.5 per cent height on the amended development application (DA) for 2 Jonson Street, Byron Bay (Quicksilver site). We, as a
Ten-year-old hit by e-bike in Mullum ▶ p8
community fought hard to bring in the NSW Coastal Policy in 1990 to protect Byron from becoming another Gold Coast,’ he told The Echo. The 2 Jonson Street site is just one of many DAs that have been progressively attempting to push up the height limits in Byron Bay over the years with another recent application for the modification of 42–44 Lawson Street, opposite Main Beach and Dening Park, seeking a 24 per cent exceedance of Byron’s height controls.
Paid-parking, holiday park fee hikes for Byron Shire? ▶ p4
‘The Coastal Policy was launched in Byron Bay in 1990 by the then Lands and Tourism Minister Garry West, and myself as local state member,’ said Mr Page.
Stop incremental building height increases Former Ballina MP Don Page has pushed back against developers pushing height limits up in Byron Bay. Photo supplied
Community needs a voice on Mullum hospital site ▶ p9
‘Many people have said to me over the years that Byron Bay has a great vibe. This has a lot to do with there being no real high-rise above three storeys. If we want
Heilpern is backing a real winner ▶ p12
to keep that current village feel in Byron Bay, we cannot allow incremental increases that set new precedents and will eventually lead to four storeys and beyond being permitted in the future. ‘No high-rise is an important part of Byron Bay’s character and distinguishes us from the Gold Coast in a very positive way. It is an important principle to protect. ‘This is what makes Byron Bay so attractive to locals and visitors alike,’ he said.
Make this your year to volunteer ▶ p20
Health and wellbeing experts ▶ p24