The Byron Shire Echo Issue 41.06 – July 22, 2026

Dig deep to help save the Bowlo

Aslan Shand

The Save Bangalow Bowlo Steering Committee (SBBSC) is calling on the community to help fund legal advice to protect the Bangalow Bowlo for the future of the community and hold Norths Collective accountable to the memorandum of understanding (MOU) commitments they made when they took over the club in 2022.

Norths have called for expressions of interest (EOI) to take over the Bangalow Bowlo with an unusually short EOI period that closes on 31 July.

‘This is a further step away from returning the club to community hands,’ say SBBSC.

‘There is no guarantee that a suitable operator will emerge and, if no acceptable proposal is received, the process enters a completely new phase. We know a sale of the land is a possible outcome in the event of a failed EOI.’

The community raised $100,000 in five days a few months ago demonstrating their commitment to saving the Bowlo, however, the money was returned as the funds could no longer be used for their original purpose.

‘We made the decision to refund every donation. We believed that was the only transparent and respectful thing to do,’ said a spokesperson for SBBSC.

Now they are asking locals to dig deep and donate to help them fund legal advice and potential court

Mullum’s main street inspires debut album

call me

Every Saturday night at 8pm, Mullumbimby’s Burringbar Street becomes the stage for local singer-songwriter call me su.

audience, develop her music and, she says, discover a sense of acceptance and belonging.

Saturday night performances.

‘I was knocking on doors, but I wasn’t receiving any opportunities,’ she said.

The town’s main street didn’t just inspire the title of her debut album, Burringbar Street. It also gave her a place to find an

Like many musicians before her, call me su busks in Mullumbimby’s main street. But after spending months rehearsing and refining her songs there, she took them into the studio, determined to capture the raw, intimate feel of those

‘I thought I needed to keep the juices flowing... so I decided to take myself out onto the street.’

‘I found that my sweet spot was eight o’clock on Saturday night, just across from the Middle Pub. It was well lit, there was passing traffic from both pubs and it was the perfect place for me to just do my thing.’

The songs she developed there became Burringbar Street,

▶ Continued on page 4 ▶ Continued on page 2

MEMBERS NIGHTS!

MONDAY = Steak Night

TUESDAY = Parmi Night

THURSDAY = Bangers Night

SATURDAY = Pizza Night

SUNDAY = Roast Dinner Night

SQUIDDLEYS KIDS ROOM

Open 7 nights from 5.30pm

After experimenting with different locations and times, she found her perfect spot.

Catch

su every Saturday in Burringbar Street, Mullumbimby. Photo Jeff Dawson

Paul Bibby

Will former mayor Simon Richardson

recuse himself from the 57 Station St DA?

Aslan Shand

On 27 February 2020 then Greens Mayor of Byron Shire Council (BSC) Simon Richarsdson put forward a mayoral minute for ‘Supporting Housing above Council Owned Carparks’.

It was proposed to look at above car park housing ‘for the housing needs of very low, low and moderateincome households, in dire short supply in Byron Shire … without decreasing the current number of available car parking spaces’ at a range of sites around Byron Shire.

The possible sites for investigation included ‘the Council administration building car park, the Cavanbah Centre, North and South Lawson St Byron Bay, and Station St Bangalow.’

This was proposed to be done in conjunction with a community housing provider (CHP) with an expression of interest put out by BSC in December 2020.

Six years later BSC has:

Did you get photos of any recent floods in Bangalow?

The Byron Shire Council (BSC) are asking locals and visitors to submit photos and provide information to assist them in developing a a Floodplain Risk Management Plan and Study. It will also be used to guide future planning and development decisions.

The Draft Bangalow Flood Study looks at flooding from Byron Creek, Paddys Creek

no declared CHP partner, has selected the car park at 57 Station Street in Mullumbimby for their project against significant community opposition, have proposed eliminating the public parking at the site with no currently funded replacement for the car park or heritage toilet that will also be removed, have had Landcom do a development application (DA) which the community has pointed out enormous failures with, including not meeting their own planning guidelines.

The DA is currently on exhibition (www.byron.nsw. gov.au) until 16 August and the decision to approve or reject the DA will be made by the Northern Rivers Planning Panel (NRPP).

Conflict of interest

Former Mayor Richardson is currently a member of the NRPP and The Echo asked if Mr Richardson would be recusing (removing) himself from the panel when this DA

and Maori Creek, as well as overland flooding from rain overwhelming the drains and stormwater systems.

Key flood sites

The draft study confirmed that riverine flooding from Bangalow Creek and its tributaries were the dominant flood risk to Bangalow in particular: Deacon Street and Ashton Street; Industrial estate and Lismore Road; George Street and Market

comes before them due to the conflict of interest.

A conflict of interest exists ‘where a reasonable and informed person would perceive that you could be influenced by a private interest when carrying out your public duty,’ according to the NSW government Local Planning Panels Code of Conduct 2020, produced by the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.

Responding to the email a spokesperson for the NRPP told The Echo that they had forwarded the question to Mr Richardson and that, ‘Under the Planning Panels Code of Conduct, the onus is on each panel member to identify conflicts of interest and take appropriate management measures.’

The Echo had received no response from Mr Richardson clarifying if he will recuse himself from the NRPP panel when it sits to decide the 57 Station Street car par DA at the time the paper went to print.

Street; and Raftons Road crossing of Paddys Creek.

Overland flooding hotspots caused by intense rainfall exceeding the capacity of the stormwater system were identified in five other areas.

For more information about the Draft Bangalow Flood Study, or to make a submission, go to Council’s Your Say page.

Submissions close on 12 August (byron.nsw.gov.au).

Reconnecting fractured koala habitat

Paul Bibby

After planting more than half a million native trees across the Northern Rivers, Bangalow Koalas has launched a new campaign aimed at expanding wildlife corridors and reconnecting fragmented koala habitat.

The organisation’s ‘Give Koala a Way Home’ campaign builds on restoration work that has seen more than 530,000 trees planted across seven Northern Rivers shires since 2019, with the longterm goal of creating connected habitat where koalas and other native wildlife can move more safely through the landscape.

Bangalow Koalas President, Linda Sparrow, said the project had grown far beyond its modest beginnings.

‘From humble, small-scale beginnings, we are now planting hope on a gamechanging scale,’ she said.

‘Hope for koalas, hope for the planet and, in the face of climate change, hope for the future for all of us.’

The eastern Australian koala was listed as endangered in 2022, with habitat loss remaining one of the species’ greatest threats.

Bangalow Koalas says restoring habitat corridors is one of the most effective ways of reconnecting isolated populations.

The organisation traces its origins to 2016, when a handful of Bangalow residents came together to protect a small stretch of koala habitat

on the village’s western edge. Since then, it has grown into one of Australia’s best-known community conservation groups, working with private landholders, Landcare groups, Traditional Owners and volunteers to restore native vegetation across the region.

Ms Sparrow said the project was about more than planting trees.

‘We’re not just connecting and creating a koala wildlife corridor and fragmented habitat, we’re connecting communities,’ she said.

‘Landcare groups, Indigenous communities, schools – they come all the time to do planting.’

The organisation is encouraging residents to support the campaign through donations, volunteering, and tree planting as it works towards its next milestone of reconnecting koala habitat across the Northern Rivers.

Save Bangalow Bowlo – community action needed

action to save the Bowlo for the community.

‘Importantly, this action is not being pursued for the sake of conflict,’ SBBSC told The Echo

‘Our objective is to ensure that any future discussions regarding the return of the Bowlo premises to community ownership are conducted from a position of transparency, fairness and strength.

answers regarding the closure of the Bowlo premises in October 2025 and the decision-making process that led to that outcome.

‘Funds raised will be used for legal advice and representation, governance and corporate advice, expert reports, and other professional services required to advance the community’s interests.’

Bowlo land sale

‘The Steering Committee is committed to ensuring the EOI process called by Norths to run 14-31 July, is done so in strict accordance with the Registered Clubs Act and will be seeking transparency through this process,’ said a spokesperson for SBBSC.

‘We need to be ready for every scenario, not just the one currently on the table. We are well aware that a failed EOI can trigger an open market sale of the land.’

‘Our legal team at Watson Webb, Sydney, has commenced work on our behalf and has issued correspondence to Norths seeking

You can donate to the Fund a Fair Outcome for the Bowlo at: www.gofundme.com/f/ help-fund-a-fair-outcomefor-the-bowlo. ▶ Continued from page 1

Norths have declined to provide the documents requested by SBBSC in two separate letters from their lawyers.

Photo Friends of Koala

Friends of Palestine come together in Byron

Around 60 people came together last Sunday at Marvell Hall in Byron Bay for a community action day with Northern Rivers Friends of Palestone (NRFP).

The day was opened by Surya McEwan who has been a crew member on a number of Global Sumud Flotillas as they attempted to reach Gaza with medical aid and food.

‘Surya is a Northern Rivers local who was one of the Australians imprisoned and tortured by Israeli forces,’ said

organiser Cate Coorey.

‘He spoke of his commitment to trying to continue to bring attention to the reality that Palestinians have been experiencing for decades.’

Participants then engaged in a number of workshops on social media, campaigning, direct action, and event organising, run by seasoned campaigners from NRFP, House You, and Climate Justice Alliance.

‘There was a delicious Palestinian lunch and people got to meet others who

share their feelings about the genocide but also to feel that collectively we can make an impact,’ said Cate.

Sharing ideas

The community day gave everyone an opportunity to share ideas, learn how they can contribute, and where they might fit in the organisation. One attendee said, ‘it felt really inclusive and like

it will grow the community of people in the Northern Rivers who will take action for Palestine.’ Another said, ‘it’s a great way to connect with like-minded people and to collectively grieve our deep sadness over this horrific genocide. It’s also a good motivator to keep the pressure on Israel and its supporters – like our government.’

Bundjalung women fashion collective selected for national showcase

A fashion collective of three Bundjalung women artists and designers from the Northern Rivers has been selected to participate in a nationwide showcase, Country to Couture.

Arts Northern Rivers (ANR) said the collective will present their debut collection on the national stage at Charles Darwin University, Darwin, on Sunday, 2 August.

‘Country to Couture is Australia’s largest showcase of Indigenous fashion, presented by Indigenous Fashion Projects (IFP) as part of the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF),’ said a ANR spokesperson.

‘Since its founding in 2016, the event has presented over 120 Indigenous fashion collections. It is widely recognised as the nation’s premier platform for First Nations fashion innovation and cultural storytelling.’

Women of the Rivers is the creative collaboration of Kylie Caldwell, Jasmin Stanford and Val Smith; three Bundjalung women whose work draws on the waterways, weaving traditions and native landscapes of their Country. Their debut collection blends ready-to-wear pieces with standout couture creations.

‘Being part of Country to Couture is an honour and

a proud milestone for us as emerging designers. We feel overjoyed to share our work on this powerful First Nations showcase,’ say Women of the Rivers.

Tickets are available via www.ifp.org.au/ country-to-couture.

■ Read full story in The Echo online: www.echo.net.au.

Women of the Rivers Kylie Caldwell, Jasmin Stanford, and Val Smith. Photo Kate Holmes

Subi Awad and Captian Surya McEwan in front, with Cate Coorey, Sharon Gibson, Valerie Thompson, and Chels HoodWhitney behind. Photo Jeff Dawson

Aslan Shand

A year working alongside Teddy Jakkamarra Plummer, the leader of the Warumungu, in 1971, a pivotal time for the Aboriginal people who were just emerging from white oppression, is the basis for local author Faith Duffy’s book Through Teddy’s Eyes

The book was launched by Teddy’s family in Tennant Creek on 16 May and

The journey of a lifetime Through Teddy’s Eyes Artists’

recounts the year Faith spent travelling with Teddy throughout the Northern Territory visiting camps, remote communities, and outstations.

‘Without Teddy’s friendship and trust, I would never have been accepted into the communities I visited,’ said Faith. ‘Through him I learned about Aboriginal culture, family connections, community life, and the challenges

Aboriginal people faced in navigating two very different worlds.’

Despite the many obstacles faced by Aboriginal communities Teddy remained committed to helping his people find a place in modern Australia.

You can pick up a copy of Through Teddy’s Eyes at the Mullumbimby Bookshop, The Book Room, Byron Bay, or on Amazon.

grants to create climate conversations

Do you have an innovative, artistic idea that would stimulate conversations and engagement in current climate conversations?

Byron Council is inviting local artists to submit expressions of interest for Climate Conversations 2027,

a biennial Lone Goat Gallery initiative that supports creative responses to climate change through community engagement and art.

The successful applicant will receive a $5,000 artist fee to develop new work and present a one-month project

at Lone Goat Gallery in Byron Bay in 2027. Additional funding of up to $2,000 is also available to support the delivery of public programs

Submit your applicationvia www.byron.nsw.gov.au or www.lonegoatgallery.com/ climate-conversations.

Grants being prepared to repair Morrison Avenue in Mullumbimby

Aslan Shand

Residents are still expressing frustration at the state of Morrison Avenue in Mullumbimby following recent repairs.

‘They just came in and threw a few shovel loads into some holes and then scraped some of the more dangerous sections of the road, leaving dirt exposed with no road surface covering it. When we again reported that it was still dangerous and not fit for purpose they told us they’d “made the road safe”. They have just done a few patch jobs and the road has quickly deteriorated back to it’s previous conditions,’ residents told The Echo Morrison Avenue and to top end of Prince Street have been in a problematic state since the installation of the pods following the 2022 floods as this was the route used by trucks to bring in the fill and the pods.

The NSW Reconstruction Authority (NSW RA) have told The Echo that in July 2023 they agreed with Byron Shire Council (BSC) ‘to joint fund repair works to Prince Street following the construction of the temporary housing village. All associated repairs were undertaken at the time’. Following that repair BSC became responsible for future maintenance of Prince Street.

‘NSW RA is currently assessing a claim from BSC that includes repairs to damages on Morrison Avenue caused as a result of Tropical Cyclone Alfred.’

Responding to questions from The Echo a Council spokesperson said, ‘Council acknowledges there needs to be a significant upgrade of Morrison Avenue. The issues affecting Morrison Avenue go well beyond potholes.

‘We are currently preparing a grant submission seeking substantial funding from the Australian Government’s Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program for a major improvement project that would include a new road surface, installation of stormwater drainage including pipes and pits, kerb and guttering, a dedicated bus bay, and new footpaths and sealed verges to accommodate parking for parents and carers dropping off and picking up children from the school. It’s estimated this work will cost in the order of $2.5 to $3 million. Council does not have funding available and is completely reliant on grant funding to deliver this work.

‘In the meantime, we will continue to monitor the road and undertake maintenance work as required,’ said Council.

‘The images provided show potholes that have recently been filled as part of Council’s ongoing maintenance program. Under normal circumstances, these repairs would have been completed using Council’s jet patcher, which generally delivers a smoother and more even finish. However, the jet patcher is currently undergoing maintenance servicing in Brisbane, so the repairs were completed manually by Council’s heavy patching crew. Council will continue to undertake reactive maintenance works in the area and address potholes as they emerge.

‘We recognise that these repairs are not a permanent solution. The recent work was undertaken to reduce immediate safety risks and improve road usability. While pothole repairs are an important part of maintaining a safe and serviceable road network, they are generally considered a short-term treatment that addresses immediate hazards rather than the underlying condition of the road.’

Groovin with call me su

▶ Continued from page 1

a seven-track album that blends country storytelling, blues, and gothic imagery into what she describes as ‘gothic country’.

Originally from the Tweed Coast, call me su moved to Mullumbimby about two years ago and says the town transformed not only her music, but her life.

‘That freedom gave me licence to consider what I really wanted to do musically, as opposed to what I thought would appeal to others.’

Writing under the artist name call me su — a name she says reflects both her identity and ‘an invitation’ for people to get to know her — she hopes her songs will gradually find an audience.

‘I know the stuff I’ve written requires people to stop and lean in,’ she said.

‘I discovered Mullum was different. It’s very accepting. It didn’t matter what I wore down the street or what sort of music I played. People were happy to accept that I might be a part of what’s going on here.’

She now works in aged care and said becoming part of the community gave her the freedom to write the music she really wanted to make.

‘I hope over time to slowly build a small group of people who resonate with my work.’

Burringbar Street is available on Spotify, Bandcamp and YouTube, while call me su continues to perform in Burringbar Street every Saturday night from 8pm.

Locals say current repairs not adequate to make the road safe. Photos supplied

Faith Duffy with her recently launched book Through Teddy’s Eyes and a photo she took of the subject, Warumungu Elder, Teddy Jakkamarra Plummer. Photo Jeff Dawson

The rise of urban infill in our Shire

Paul Bibby

Large residential estates tend to dominate debate about Byron Shire’s housing future, but a quieter transformation is also under way.

While proposals such as Gulgan Village, the old Mullumbimby Hospital site, and West Byron attract much of the public attention, hundreds of smaller developments are gradually reshaping existing towns and villages through townhouses, dual occupancies, shoptop housing, secondary dwellings, and other forms of urban infill.

A development application (DA) currently on public exhibition in Ocean Shores provides a glimpse of that changing landscape.

The proposal seeks approval for four attached three-bedroom townhouses, and a four-lot strata subdivision at 41 and 43 Matong Drive.

When combined with earlier approvals, the site would ultimately contain six dwellings.

In supporting the application, the project’s planners argue that the proposal represents ‘an efficient use of existing infrastructure and services’ and ‘supports orderly and sustainable urban growth without requiring the expansion of infrastructure into undeveloped areas’.

They also describe the site as suitable for ‘a modest increase in residential density’ and say the proposal would provide four additional homes on an existing serviced residential allotment.

The Ocean Shores development is modest compared with the larger proposals that have dominated the headlines recently.

But it reflects a broader direction increasingly encouraged by both Byron Shire Council (BSC) and the NSW government.

The shift is already visible across the Shire. Virtually every street and laneway in Byron’s urban villages is dotted with secondary dwellings – the legacy of a long-standing Council policy waiving developer

contributions for these projects.

A more recent development is the proliferation of shop-top housing developments, with projects featuring four, six, or eight apartments above retail or office premises becoming an increasingly common feature of the Shire’s commercial centres.

A dozen such proposals have been submitted to BSC in the past year, and many more are expected as landowners seek to unlock the development potential of commercial sites.

Dual occupancy projects have also become bread and butter for many small developers, with the classic suburban block occupied by a single detached home increasingly viewed as an opportunity to cash in.

The wheels of this process have been greased by a raft of state and local planning policies.

Council’s Residential Strategy identifies urban infill as an ‘important part of meeting future housing demand’, with planning documents pointing to smaller lots, townhouses, dual occupancies, and other forms of mediumdensity housing as ways of accommodating growth within existing urban areas.

The NSW Department of Planning has reinforced that approach, directing Council to increase housing density within existing urban boundaries and prioritise infill development as part of meeting future housing targets.

For some residents, the trend raises concerns about neighbourhood character, traffic, parking, privacy, tree loss, and the cumulative impact of dozens of small developments.

Others see urban infill as one of the few realistic ways of increasing housing supply in a Shire where opportunities for major greenfield developments are increasingly limited.

Either way, Byron’s housing future is being shaped not only by the major developments that dominate public debate, but also by a quieter transformation taking place in backyards, suburban streets, and town centres across the Shire.

Celebrating 20 years at Cobbers in Mullum

Aslan Shand

When Sharon and Tim Waerne got a call from Sharon’s dad telling them that there was a local child care centre for sale in Mullumbimby it seemed like the perfect time to move home for Sharon and bring the family with her.

The were living in Sydney with a one- and three-yearold and with Tim’s background as an early childhood teacher and Sharon’s business background it seemed like a perfect opportunity.

‘We did a bit of research and the next minute Tim was on a plane to Mullum to have a look and we purchased the business,’ Sharon told The Echo. Twenty years on they are

Sharon and Tim Waerne are inviting all past and current students and families to celebrate 20 years at Cobber Child Care.

still loving working with all the wonderful kids from the area.

‘We’ve just got to know so many families over the years,’ said Sharon.

‘Whole family’s come

through. Tim builds up a really great rapport with the children as he’s on the floor, ita great little community.

‘Tim just gets so much enjoyment out of just the children and their

development, especially in that year before school. Everything seems to come together, and he’s really proud of all the children that he’s taught and what they’ve achieved. Once they leave Cobbers it is really nice to see them out at a school event or in the community – it’s great when they say hello and stop for a chat.’

Come and celebrate

Tim and Sharon are celebrating 20 years at Cobbers and are inviting current and past educators, families, and children to come a celebrate with them on Saturday, 1 August from 10am to 2pm at Cobbers Child Care Centre. There will be a barbeque, plenty of memories, and lots of stories to share.

EVENT SPONSOR

Photo Jeff Dawson

North Coast News

800 new homes for former Tweed Hospital site

News from across the North Coast online www.echo.net.au

Tweed councillor ejected from chambers, police called

Tweed Shire councillor

Kimberly Hone was removed by police from Council chambers yesterday after refusing to comply with a vote of her peers, sparking comments from One Nation’s Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce.

Women charged after alleged armed robbery in Lismore

NSW Police say that two women have been charged following an alleged armed robbery recently in the area.

Elderly man dies in Ballina car crash

An elderly man has died following a car accident in Ballina. Police say, ‘About 12pm Wednesday 15 July, emergency services were called to a carpark at the airport in Ballina, following reports of a crash’.

Tweed councillors call on minister to reject massive Cudgen DA

A late mayoral minute calling on the NSW planning minister to reject Cudgen Connections, a large DA proposed on state significant land (SSL) around the Tweed Hospital, was adopted by Tweed Shire councillors.

Tweed Council’s ‘polluters pay’ motion adopted

A motion adopted last week by Tweed Shire councillors will see them lobby for federal funding to adapt to climate change disasters as well as a polluter pays levy.

Lismore tip upgrades begin next month

The Lismore Recycling & Recovery Centre (LRRC) will soon benefit from improved and safer access, smoother traffic flow and enhanced facilities, says Lismore City Council, ‘To be completed in stages between August 2026 to February 2027. The project includes a new western sediment basin to capture and temporarily store stormwater runoff, upgraded internal roads and dedicated heavy vehicle routes, better drainage, a new roundabout, and enhancements to the popular Revolve Shop’.

www.echo.net.au

The former Tweed Hospital is set to be transformed into homes for thousands of people, with the site being repurposed for 800 new homes.

The NSW government says the site, on the corner of Powell and Florence streets, will be transferred from NSW Health to Landcom to enable the delivery of the new homes, including up to ten per cent affordable housing.

They say new homes will be an important addition for Tweed Heads, which has one of the lowest housing vacancy rates in the state at just 0.8 per cent, meaning families are competing for a

small pool of homes.

‘Alongside the new homes, the development will also deliver improved public access to the waterfront with

500 resilient new homes pegged for East Lismore

The NSW government has released a draft masterplan to transform a 72-hectare site at East Lismore (formerly Southern Cross University land) into land for floodresilient permanent homes. Delivered by Landcom and the NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA) through the Resilient Lands Program, they say the Crawford Road project has the potential to deliver more than 500 highquality homes to meet the diverse housing needs of the community.

Landcom is inviting feedback on the draft masterplan until Sunday 16 August, giving the community opportunity to provide feedback to shape the future of this vital development.

First opportunity

This project will support long-term recovery and give flood-impacted residents the first opportunity to relocate while remaining connected to Lismore.

The draft masterplan proposes more than 500 homes; a diverse housing mix, including terraces, duplexes, freestanding homes, and relocated buyback homes; at least 20 per cent affordable housing dedicated to low to moderate-income households; priority access for eligible Resilient Homes Program buyback participants before land and homes are released to the broader market and climate-resilient design, featuring increased tree canopy, water-sensitive urban design, walkable streets, and homes away from flood-prone areas.

Planning for Stage 1 (approximately 100 homes on a five-hectare portion at the northern end of the site) is progressing at the same time as the masterplan and is currently being assessed by Lismore City Council.

To view the masterplan and have your say, visit www. joinin.landcom.nsw.gov.au/ eastlismore.

new shared pedestrian and bicycle paths, and increased tree canopy to help keep streets cool’.

Northern NSW Local Health

District say, ‘Health services currently delivered from the former hospital site will move to new clinic spaces at the Tweed Mall, on Wharf Street, Tweed Heads in late 2026’.

‘These services include the BreastScreen NSW clinic, Tweed Community Health services and communitybased mental health, alcohol and other drugs services.

‘The Needle and Syringe Program kiosk and the Tweed Heads Ambulance Station will remain located at the former hospital site’.

Property audit

The announcement comes almost two years after

the former hospital closed following the transfer of health services to the new $723 million Tweed Valley Hospital at Cudgen.

The former hospital is one of 75 surplus governmentowned sites identified through the Minns government’s ongoing property audit, being led by Property and Development NSW, ‘with the potential to unlock more than 12,000 homes across the state’.

The State Significant Development Application will be lodged in early 2027, they say, with construction expected to commence in 2029, pending planning approvals.

Brown snake bites rail trail cyclist

Snake catcher

Sarah Mailey, from I’ll Catch It Snake Relocations, says she assisted with a potentially deadly bite by an eastern brown snake in Burringbar last week.

The incident on the rail trail was reported by multiple news outlets.

Ms Mailey said, ‘The snake was caught in the chain and unfortunately has bitten the rider’.

‘The rider has been rushed to hospital via an ambulance. The snake needed to be euthanised owing to the extent of the injuries.

‘We are sending all our thoughts and positive vibes to the rider. Special thank you to the NSW Police and the public who were involved for assisting with this rescue’.

The woman is believed to be in her 60s, and was rushed to hospital with a

suspected ‘dry bite’.

Ms Mailey said, ‘Unfortunately, they are not out of the woods just yet, delayed reactions can happen. This is why the hospital will keep the rider in for at least 12 hours to monitor closely for any symptoms’.

‘Snakebites are often painless and symptoms can be delayed.

‘If you have been bitten, think you have been bitten but are not sure, or see bite marks, please do snakebite first aid’.

First aid

Ms Mailey asked, ‘Do you know snakebite first aid?’

1. ‘Dial 000 on loud speaker – tell the operator you need an ambulance, you suspect you have been bitten by a snake.

2. ‘Stay still – limit your movements to help slow the spread of the venom.

3. ‘Apply a pressure bandage – wrap a pressure bandage around the bite site two times (as firm as how you would strap a sprained ankle) wrap up the limb from the bite site. If no pressure bandage is available, use any flexible material, i.e. clothing, towel, glad wrap etc.

4. ‘Splint the bitten limb – Using something solid like a piece of wood, pole, rolled up newspaper, tree branch etc.

5. ‘Stay as still as possible until the ambulance arrives’.

Man dies following police pursuit near the border

A critical incident investigation is underway after a man died in a car following a pursuit near the northern NSW border on Sunday morning.

NSW Police say that at about 1am, NSW Police received a report from Qld Police that a man – armed with a firearm – had driven across the border into NSW following a pursuit.

NSW Police say they pursued the man through multiple nearby suburbs, before using road spikes twice in

South Murwillumbah. Police say the man continued to drive away from police until finally stopping down an embankment on Kyogle Road, Kunghur, about 26km south-west of Murwillumbah, at about 2am.

As police approached the vehicle, they found the driver unconscious, and he died at the scene. He is yet to formally identified; but he is believed to be a 25-year-old man from Qld. A crime scene was established, and a firearm seized.

Artist’s impression of the redevelopment. Image supplied

An unfortunate eastern brown snake became entangled in a bike’s gears. Photo supplied

Aslan Shand

In 2020 then Greens

Mayor Simon Richardson used his casting vote to facilitate the rezoning of flood-prone, environmentally constrained and sensitive coastal land at the former Club Med site at 144 Bayshore Drive, Byron Bay, now Elements resort. This was strongly opposed by now Greens Mayor Sarah Ndiaye and independent councillor Cate Coorey at the time. Richardson told the 2020 Byron Shire Council (BSC) meeting that he supported the proposal to rezone the on the basis that, ‘From an environmental point of view, short of doing nothing, which isn’t going to happen; having nine residences with no ability to have any more, no ability for tourism, and with protections for the most environmentally sensitive areas, is the best outcome we’re going to get.’

Never

more than nine lots

The nine lots were subsequently approved in 2021 with Elements resort’s Development Director Jeremy Holmes at the time telling The Echo, ‘The proposed allotments would be a minimum of one hectare, providing ample space for a single dwelling to be located in cleared grassed areas only. The E4 zone would permit dwelling houses but not secondary dwellings or dual occupancy, so there could never be more than nine houses.’

Apparently not! At the most recent BSC meeting (18 June) Mr Holmes spoke in favour of the DA in public access and the councillors approved the subsequent development application (DA) to turn three of those lots, via community title (CT), into seven lots with five housing entitlements.

Flood-prone site

Key concerns throughout the zoning, rezoning, and DAs to develop the site have been the environmental sensitivity of the site, its position in the coastal hazard zone, and the issue of flooding.

Seeming amnesia regarding the history of the site was clear in the Council debate as Cr Ndiaye spoke against the DA and independent Cr Michael Lyon in favour.

This ‘is private property, they have every right to want

The proposed building lots at 144 Bayshore Drive were flooded on 30 March, 2022. Photo Sarah Ndiaye

Top right: The nine lots originally approved for the site.

Bottom right: The three lots that have been split into seven lots with an increase from three to five housing sites.

Images from DA

to develop it in the way that they want to,’ said Cr Lyon.

Cr Lyon seemed to forget that this was a DA increasing three lots, of the original nine, to seven, therefore increasing the total lot number to 13 and the housing sites from nine to 11. He told the meeting that, ‘it’s pretty light [development] under that zoning compared to what could be put forward. I think it was originally going to be nine, so we’re down to five, and I just don’t think it’s appropriate to vote against something just because you don’t like it, you need to have valid grounds.’

Wild fox chase

In the meantime, independent Cr David Warth got distracted by fencing for foxes until Cr Michelle Lowe (Greens) pointed out that if you are putting up fencing to keep foxes in or out of an area, you are also restricting the movement of native wildlife like wallabies and echidnas. So that idea was finally dropped.

The site is in the coastal hazard zone which BSC is in the process of reviewing to develop a Coastal Management Plan with some submissions stating that approving further development in that zone is premature.

Previously a ‘no development’ zone

The 2015 Belongil Floodplain Management Plan (BFMP) identified the land as being in the ‘no development’ flood zone. However, the developers stated that their review of the hydraulic categorisation of the Belongil Creek Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan (2015) in September 2021, ‘considered the site low hazard’ and therefore ‘potentially suitable for development’.

During the 18 June Council debate on approving the CT, Cr Ndiaye showed photos of the flooded site from 30 March 2022 (a month after the February flood). There were also photos from 2005 in submissions against the DA that demonstrated that the site floods.

‘This is exactly the place that we are making decisions about putting housing,’ she told the meeting.

Who is ‘pulling heart strings’?

Cr Ndiaye then pointed out that councillors know that flooding happens at this site, that there is a risk of coastal erosion, and sea level rise, as well as a legal risk if Council approves development in a known flood zone.

‘I can’t in good conscience support something that we know floods to that level. That water is 30 centimetres deep at the edge, but that land slopes downwards towards those ponds, so it’s like waist-deep in areas. Having seen what happened in the 2022 floods to people, and having watched huge amounts of our coastline just get eroded overnight, I can’t in good conscience support this development,’ she said, proposing to refuse the DA.

Councillor Jack Dods then called out Cr Ndiaye’s use of a photograph of the site when it was flooded as ‘pulling at heart strings’ saying that she was ‘using very emotive images’ and pointing out that there were many places in the Byron Shire where you could have taken a photo of a flooded area.

Independent Cr Dods then went on to talk about his mum having marched against Club Med and told the chamber that ,‘I think most of those protesters probably would have said, yeah, you

know what, that’s not perfect, that’s a trade-off I can accept.’

Previous agreement to revegetate the

site

The protestors though may have been more willing to accept the trade-off approved by the state government with the developer Becton in the 2000s that allowed for ‘a revegetated former golf course’ as reported in The Echo on 30 November, 2010.

Following Brian and Peggy Flannery’s purchase of the site via their family company Ganra Pty Ltd in 2010 they were able to bypass the Becton DA by submitting an amendment to an older 1987 resort approval rather than adopting the statebacked 2006 Becton master plan that would have seen the current site revegetated.

During the debate, Greens Cr Elia Hauge went from seconding the motion to refuse the DA to voting in favour of the DA. Hauge’s was the decisive vote to ensure the development was approved.

‘I initially spoke against the proposal, but Cr Dods made a very valid point in his closing statement about applying our planning instruments consistently – something I had argued very strongly for in the agenda item beforehand, which looked at a residential DA in a coastal hazard zone,’ she told The Echo following the meeting.

‘Ultimately, while this site is flood-prone, the proposal is in line with our planning instruments. This is a problem with our planning instruments, not the individual proposal, and one that I will continue to push persistently to fix through our flood risk studies and plans.’

Crs Lyon, Hauge (Greens), Dods, Warth, and Janet Swain (Labor) voted in favour of the motion with Crs Delta Kay (Greens), Lowe (Greens), Ndiaye (Greens), and Peter Doherty (Labor) voting against the motion.

The Byron Shire Echo

Volume 41 #06 • July 22, 2026

Making a case for visitor funding

Before ‘royalty’ became synonymous with sweaty treasonous perverts, Byron Bay was unashamedly, if reluctantly, the jewel in the crown of NSW tourism. Sure, because we’re Aussies, everyone’s keen to knock a bit of the gloss off to make sure we don’t get a big head. However, we have a unique combination of beaches, subtropical hinterland, views, and environmental experiences and, let’s face it, we’ve got more cool people and ideas than Coffs Harbour despite our wankers. Byron has been used by our state’s marketing teams to attract tourists (or ‘visitors’ as they’re more accurately called in the industry) from everywhere, to NSW.

In early July, the NSW government announced that Byron Bay will be featured in the first phase of a new tourism marketing strategy designed to ‘attract even more visitors, boost local businesses, and create jobs across Regional NSW’.

Pretty much everyone recognises that the economic success of our region (employment, businesses, restaurants etc.) depends on tourism. The continual, and justified, complaint from our region is that the state should fund more services to deal with the influx of visitors, as it’s good for NSW that they have a good experience when they are here. The influx of over two million tourists to the Byron Shire each year imposes quantifiable costs on local ratepayers, and causes a clearly visible loss of amenity – roads, traffic jams, rubbish, environmental degradation etc.

With a proposed special rate variation on the horizon for ratepayers and Council looking at how to reduce costs and increase income, it is time to get serious about identifying the costs of tourists to the Shire and seek support from the state and federal governments to pay for those costs.

A 2019 Tourism Discussion Paper, which estimated that Byron Shire

had around two million visitors a year, stated that ‘the cost of servicing this temporary population is estimated at $23 million per year’.

What is that cost seven years later? The reality is there are specific and direct costs as well as associated costs to maintaining our Shire’s infrastructure and services to cope with over two million visitors a year. At a brief glance, they include increased use of roads and footpaths, parks and playgrounds, beach and hinterland roads and access, toilets, waste, sewage; the list goes on.

While councillors did pass a motion earlier this year calling for a PhD student to take a deep-dive into the ‘financial impacts of tourism on the Shire,’ a more specific and direct approach is needed to quantify the costs to ratepayers.

Why isn’t each department of Council looking at the cost they can attribute to the visitor economy? A budget line item for each division of Council could include the breakdown of what it costs them to provide and maintain the facilities for tourists beyond the cost of maintaining the facility or service for the actual population.

With this information, the Council is then in a strong position to lobby state and federal government for compensation for the extra services we provide to visitors.

The state government collects approximately $20 million a year from Byron Shire for land tax, and the federal government collects business taxes.

If Byron Shire Council wants to reclaim some of this money extracted by the state and federal government from the Shire, it is high time they got serious and itemised the costs to Council of providing the infrastructure and services needed to support the tourism industry.

Aslan Shand, editor News tips are welcome: editor@echo.net.au

Catalysts for change

Nothing stays static even though sometimes it seems things never improve. There are signs that changes are on the way.

The rapid rise of One Nation and Reform UK did not occur in a vacuum, although it took political pundits by surprise.

Believe it or not, I predict one day we will be grateful to Pauline Hanson and Nigel Farage, and perhaps even to Donald Trump.

Major parties have swapped government for decades, with minor parties only irritants at the margin and no real challenge to the entrenched duopoly.

Both majors in Australia adopted neoliberalism in the 1980s and sold off public assets, such as QANTAS and the Commonwealth Bank. They liberalised trade and reduced taxes for the wealthy.

The term ‘trickledown effect’ was coined. Supposedly, reducing taxes would lead the wealthy to create more jobs with their excess wealth. It didn’t happen, they just became richer.

Global trade was freed up and tariffs reduced.

Protected industries, like car manufacturing, had to compete with low-cost manufacturing countries.

Before neoliberalism had us by the throat, there were five car manufacturers in Australia – Holden, Ford, Toyota, Nissan, and Mitsubishi –making half a million vehicles a year.

Many manufacturing jobs have gone, and the wealth gap has widened to medieval proportions.

Before this ideology took over, average wage earners could afford to buy a detached home on a single income. That is unimaginable today.

Homelessness in those days was a fraction of what it is today. It is a national scandal yet is completely unnecessary.

The very real hardship and neglect people are feeling, and their rejection of the two major parties, has led voters to turn to those they believe understand their grievances and appear as angry as they feel.

Pauline Hanson has been a lightning rod for them, until now.

‘She speaks for us’, battlers have been saying.

The Byron Shire Echo

Albo ‘needs to listen to and heed the complaints of Hanson supporters. The whole country will benefit, especially those struggling to find homes.’

– Richard Jones

Unfortunately for One Nation, the more people learn about their policies, the more disenchanted they become. Reality sets in as they discover they would be a lot worse off with her in charge.

It hasn’t helped Pauline Hanson’s bid to become prime minister when voters saw her partying in a luxury resort in Sicily with her multi-billionaire benefactor Gina Rinehart. She caused herself further harm in a podcast with far-right UK extremist and convicted criminal Tommy Robinson, bemoaning the scrapping of the White Australia policy.

Likewise in the UK, battlers have been turning away from both Labour and the Tories to support Reform UK. Their deeply flawed leader Nigel Farage, like Hanson, a strong Trump supporter, has also put his foot in it. He resigned his seat of Clacton to get re-elected in a bid to obtain a renewed mandate, after being accused of receiving five million pounds from a billionaire cryptocurrency mogul that he didn’t declare, plus other donations.

His main competition in next month’s by-election is the quixotic Count Binface, after major parties refused to field candidates.

Suddenly, in the UK, everything has changed. Andy Burnham the dynamic new Labour Prime Minister, with the strong ‘working-class Northern’ accent, so unlike the usual posh Etonian accent, is promising radical Attlee-style reforms.

Burnham says he will ‘outgreen the Greens’. He is moving Labour decisively back to its heartland, currently partly occupied by Farage squatters.

Clement Attlee led a democratic socialist government from 1945-51 and undertook a massive programme of building low rent council houses, created the National Health Service, and brought coal, railways,

aviation, electricity and gas under public ownership.

Burnham says he will re-nationalise the railways and build hundreds of thousands of council houses.

‘How will he pay for it?’ conservative tabloids may scream. He will do what Norway does, adjust taxes. There are no homeless in Norway.

Billionaires will fight him all the way, but the people united will never be defeated. Voters outnumber billionaires a million to one.

Anthony Albanese and colleagues will no doubt watch the coming back-to-basics UK revolution with intense interest.

Whilst Pauline Hanson and her motley crew are currently self-immolating, they still command a significant percentage of potential votes.

Albo would do well to consider emulating Andy to further whittle down One Nation support.

He has already moved to reform taxes and has weathered that inevitable storm. He needs to listen to and heed the complaints of Hanson supporters. The whole country will benefit, especially those struggling to find homes.

Thus, Farage and Hanson may just become catalysts for change and hasten the collapse of disastrous neoliberalism.

How on earth could we ever be grateful to Donald Trump though?

Consider this. Our planet is gripped by the ravages of the worsening climate crisis. Donald Trump with his mad war could be a major catalyst to end the ‘Age of Oil’. The move to renewables has accelerated to breakneck pace thanks to Trump’s oil crisis.

It would be a perverse outcome for an arch global warming denier!

■ Richard Jones is a former NSW MLC, and is now a ceramist.

Planning excellence?

As the Gold Coast/Noosafication of Byron continues at breakneck speed, as developers mount a full-court press to weaken building height limits under the cloak of State Significant Development, as house flippers film themselves by drone in mansions so vast that half the space will never be used, and as breathtakingly ugly buildings continue to emerge in town, I was interested to hear Angela Catterns on ABC Radio recently asking Byron councillor Jack Dods about Byron Shire Council’s ‘Design Excellence Panel’.

A quick search reveals that the panel consists of a Council staff member – the Head of Planning – and an ‘independent architect’.

Given the widespread community outrage, dejection and despair over many recent developments, perhaps it is time to review and expand this panel to include community-elected representatives.

It is difficult to imagine that such a change could do worse.

Tim Mack Byron Bay

Power bills

Here’s something every power bill payer should know about.

The poles and wires that deliver electricity to your home are the biggest cost on your bill. Not the power itself. Not the transmission lines.

The local network. It’s about 35 per cent of what you pay, more than double what generation costs you.

And here’s the kicker: networks have been planning just five years at a time, with almost no scrutiny.

Meanwhile rooftop solar, batteries and EVs have exploded onto the grid.

The Australian Energy Market Commission has approved a rule change, pushed by Energy Consumers Australia, that forces networks to plan 20 years ahead, update the public every year, and open up their data instead of guarding it.

This isn’t bureaucratic fine print. It means networks can be held to account.

It means less money ‘wasted’ on infrastructure we

don’t need. It means our local community gets a real say in how the grid near us is built.

Power bills have been rising for years. This rule change is a genuine win for consumers. It deserves attention.

Anne Stuart, Zero Emissions Byron Mullumbimby

Mandy love

Why are some readers (Letters 8 July and 15 July) afraid of the power and social relevance of Mandy Nolan’s column in The Echo?

They are stating it gives her ‘an unfair advantage over other candidates’ in the coming state elections.

If this is so, it is confirmation of the relevance of her column and the respect voters have for her and her future as a MP.

Rather than promoting ‘herself and her ideologies’, she has continually highlighted and addressed issues and concerns of our community as well as acting in many roles to sustain, enrich and strengthen our community.

She has been a stalwart of The Echo for 25 years and it’s not time to silence her!

Tony Christy Suffolk Park

More like Mandy

What an interesting argument Louise Andrews posits for cancelling Mandy’s weekly column!

Surely her argument that ‘Every column she writes is a

Letters to the Editor

Send your letters to the Editor: editor@echo.net.au

Deadline: Noon, Friday. Letters longer than 200 words may be cut. Letters already published in other papers will not be considered. Please include your full name, address and phone number for verification purposes. Letters edited for length will be able to be read in full (if a reasonable length) online at: www.echo.net.au/letters

presentation to the public of her opinions and values’ is a solid reason for allowing the column to continue.

When I vote for Mandy, at least I know that we share the same values.

Dear Ed, I’d like to see you offer more columns to would-be candidates, because cramming in a few pieces weeks out from an election is insufficient time to get to know them.

Carolyn Adams Clunes

Thanks Mandy

Thank you, Echo, for continuing to support freedom of speech. I like to read ‘Soapbox’ and enjoy Mandy’s pithy narratives though, shock horror, I don’t always agree. Respect.

Neil Bryant Myocum

Mandy support

How sad that Louise Andrews [Letters 15 July] and John Heaton are telling The Echo what to do – stop Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox. They say she’s promoting herself, her ideologies, her opinions and values.

They don’t mention her acute take on life and incisive humour.

Perhaps they don’t get her humour. Sometimes I hear a joke and I don’t get it.

I can’t remember Mandy using her column to push her politics.

She may state her opinion, tell us anecdotes, find a differing take on life.

If she is politically successful, I can’t wait to hear her opening speech. I pray she manages to use her performance skills and amuse the grey suits and effect change.

Like Zelensky.   Raphael Lee Cass Byron Bay

Too negative

I have recently moved to Mullumbimby, and surprised to see so much negative feed in your paper, The Echo, about Israel.

Also, some of your editorial contributions sound like AI verses.  I would like to read some positive words in The Echo about this amazing country, politics aside, thank you. PS I am not Jewish.

Ron Beecham Mullumbimby

Bonobo by Raes

No matter what spin the owners of Bonobo by Raes put on their new building on Jonson St (article in last week’s Echo), nothing matters in this town more than the word of mouth.

If they could only hear what the locals are saying about this eyesore!

Please consider rendering Bonobo by Raes! Please!

Simon Alderton Byron Bay

Rate rise

One has to wonder what the real reason for a substantial rate rise over the next three years is.

Paul Bibby’s report in last week’s Echo deals with one aspect that might, or might not justify an increase, but it seems that a fundamental issue, administration, should receive greater scrutiny.

The comment attributed to Byron Shire Council management in a previous Echo, that the proposal to seek a rate rise shouldn’t be burdened by public consultation, rings alarm bells.

Terry Hand Mullumbimby

There comes a time when comfort, dignity, and familiar surroundings matter most.

Lotus Palliative Care, supports individuals and families to remain at home during

The PM announced on July 15 an Office of AI will be set up immediately within his own department (PM&C), tasked with developing new national standards for AI use. AI image (ironically)

Letters to the Editor

Rate rises needed?

Thank you, Paul Bibby, for your probing article ‘Is a rate rise needed’?

Yes, as your last paragraph aptly summarises, ratepayers would appreciate Byron Shire Council working on the measures outlined, before relying on the proposed rate rise.

Yvonne Jessup  Byron Bay

Tiny homes

I am hoping we can start to generate some robust conversation around tiny homes.

I think that putting a roof over one’s head is a basic human right.

When folks set up tents, only to have their tents and their belongings confiscated by councils, it must be so devastating.

If there are vehicles involved, they then get fines. It is wrong that Council parking officers be left to deal with the homeless who are often suffering from mental illness.

In keeping with making it easier for younger folks to get into the market, why not start with making it easier to set up tiny homes?

Maybe local councils could look at making easier for people to set up tiny houses without so many obstacles?

Marsha Love Brunswick Heads

Council planning and 57 Station St

I attended the public meeting of the Mullum Residents Association (MRA) last week.

A big crowd at the Mullumbimby Ex-Services Club and a very well-organised meeting. They’re getting good at it, because this is the third time around where the affordable housing issue has come up.

First time, we were presented with a really terrible DA that had so many things wrong with it.

We produced 743 objections and it went away, basically, to get very few objections fixed. In fact virtually none were fixed.

This is quite amazing. The people of the MRA who got the new DA and went through it found that yes, one septic problem was fixed, and another septic problem was not fixed.

The wonderful work that the volunteers did in assessing this DA showed not one, not two, but dozens of problems with this awful development.

Sitting in the meeting for me was quite difficult, because I came to understand that yes, we can put in objections about this or that – any of the many faults in planning the volunteers discovered.

Mullumbimby residents are asking why an ugly, flawed, oversized DA at 57 Station Street is again before the public by Landcom and Council. The original DA drew more than 700 submissions against, with very legitimate – and unanswered – concerns. Councillors have ignored neighbouring business pleas that it will severely impact their ability to trade and operate. This includes The Echo, but more importantly IGA AI image

We can object to things wrong with the actual development.

However, the question for me is, do we really even want this ugly, poorly-managed and planned development?

'I asked [the meeting] whether we believe that Council will complete this [replacement toilets and car parking] before the monstrosity arises. The response at the meeting showed me I was not alone in my scepticism'

– Ian Hamilton

we’re going to do it again.

We can have another flood-prone, fault-ridden, badly thought-out, cheaplyproduced development and we’re expected to say, well we should allow all of this because it’s ‘affordable housing’.

We don’t even know what affordable housing really is. And we can’t even find a Community Housing Provider (CHP) to manage it! I wonder why?! Normally, the CHP is on board before the DA.

Not this time. We apparently don’t need one. Really?

We don’t know how it’s going to be handled.

They say they’re going to build it and then create more car parks and toilet.

Why would I believe that?

A measure of their depth (or lack of) and seriousness was in their suggestion that we could share Council chamber toilets during business hours.

God help us if we need a pee after business hours.

I asked whether we believe that Council will complete this [replacement toilets and car parking] before the monstrosity arises.

The response at the meeting showed me I was not alone in my scepticism.

I say that, because so many things are promised and so many things are dismissed, forgotten or just changed without us knowing. I would like to see the car parks complete before 57 Station St begins.

Isn’t that sensible, reasonable and something everybody wants?

I would also like to see the new toilet block completed before it begins because, yes, I don’t believe it.

Why should I, when a majority of councillors ignored our 743 submissions and 2,411 signatures on the related petition?

So, after 743 objections, basically the only thing that happened was that the obvious faults were fixed.

These problems should have never even been on the original faulty plan!

Once again, the proponents came back and said

simple two-paragraph submission suggestion at tinyurl. com/4u256cau.

Ian Hamilton Mullumbimby Infrastructure and rates

Paul Bibby’s article raises questions as to the excuses given by Byron Shire Council (BSC) as to the state of our infrastructure being equated to a lack of money.

The comparison with Ballina is very interesting plus the expenditure on staffing. Can someone from Council please explain how the 25 per cent per year spent on staffing is proportioned as to salaried and waged staff

The revenue from rates is not so different from Ballina Shire despite having 10,000 fewer residents. Byron spent almost exactly the same amount on employee costs during 204/25 – about $38.4 million compared with Ballina’s $38.5 million.

So why are Byron’s operatings costs so high?

We don’t know where the cars of the people are going who will reside there. We don’t know how the rubbish is going to be removed. We don’t know how the drainage is going to be worked. We don’t know what they’re going to do if it floods.

We don’t know what is going to happen to the businesses nearby who are threatened by this lack of adequate planning. We have no heritage approval – quite the opposite!

It’s still higher than every other building in town.

We have no stormwater management plan. We already have serious parking problems and this is going to make the problems much worse. We have not looked at how it will affect viability of daily operation of any business using Mcgoughans Lane.

The changes in the new DA made no difference to these factors. So yes, it’s bad. I would like everybody reading this to make sure that they put in a submission.

As I said before, I’m actually sceptical about submissions because I am sceptical about the fact that the councillors, for whatever their reasons, are foisting this thing on us, the residents, against tremendous opposition.

They’re still going, ‘Oh well it’s a good thing’. No it’s not! So please, involve yourself in our beautiful town’s immediate future.

You can download a

Mayor Sarah Ndiaye has claimed the cost of fuel is the reason behind buying, I believe, four more electric cars which will require a charging station to be installed in the Council car park.

This raises another question as to the costs incurred by Council if vehicles are supplied in conjunction with a position – particularly when the employee lives outside of the Shire. Does it make sense to continue with the ‘Towards Zero’ strategy 2019 to 2029, which comprises of trucking our landfill out of Byron Shire by contractor? What is this costing per year?

Are we just removing what someone has considered a problem and just transferring that problem to someone else as a cost rather than solving the problem here?

Considering people are told our infrastructure is in such a bad state because of lack of money, would it not make more sense for Council to start trying to cut costs like this to save money which could be spent on improving infrastructure?

We have two sites which could be readily used for landfill at present so, if possible, why not use them?

Hopefully Council is looking at the ‘waste to energy’ concept being implemented in other states, and in NSW, for the future.

Alan

Dickens Byron Bay

Big ideas for a changing world at Writers Festival

If the state of the world has you searching for answers, Byron Writers Festival’s 30th anniversary program delivers three days of urgent conversation on the forces shaping our future, from artificial intelligence to the housing crisis.

One of Britain’s most popular public philosophers, Roman Krznaric, debuts at the festival with ‘History for Tomorrow,’ presenting unexpected and hopeful lessons from human history that could help us overcome the global challenges facing humanity in the 21st century. This conversation will be recorded with ABC Radio National’s Natasha Mitchell for the Big Ideas program.

Get published

‘ Solving the Housing Crisis ’ brings together economist and public policy expert Richard Denniss, Miles Franklin-winner Melissa Lucashenko , and Jack Toohey , whose viral videos on housing affordability have reached millions, for a timely discussion spanning policy to lived experience, and what it takes to ensure everyone has the right to a home.

For writers with a manuscript in the drawer or a story taking shape, the 2026 Byron Writers Festival offers a rare and practical window into the world of professional publishing.

The centrepiece is ‘Inside Publishing,’ a full-day program on Sunday 16 August bringing together some of Australia’s leading industry voices, including Pantera Press publishing director Lex Hirst, Simon & Schuster publicity director Anna O’Grady, Allen & Unwin marketing and publicity director Peri Wilson, and literary agents Brendan Fredericks and Alex Adsett for an unfiltered look at how book deals are made and how to position yourself for success. Be a fly on the wall in a book acquisition meeting, and practice your own book pitch to the professionals with insider knowledge about what sells.

For those ready to go one-on-one, ‘Meet the Agent’ offers fifteen-minute manuscript consultations with Alex Adsett, who brings more than 25 years of experience and a track record of helping writers find their path to publication. This is nearly sold out, so book quickly.

Acclaimed novelist Kathryn Heyman (Circle of Wonders) leads a ‘Masterclass in Harnessing Wonder,’ a practical workshop exploring how to bring vivid characters, convincing settings and lifefilled scenes to the page.

And for writers considering going it alone, a dedicated ‘Self Publishing Day’ covers everything from mindset to the technical nuts and bolts, with sessions supported by Ingram Spark and Bold Authors, and a conversation with local author Maggie Walters on her own self-publishing journey.

In ‘Art & AI,’ poet and Overland literary journal co-editor Evelyn Araluen and Booker Prize-nominated novelist Steve Toltz join online safety expert Kirra Pendergast to explore the risks artificial intelligence poses to creativity and creative workers, and how we reaffirm the value of human creation.

‘In Trump’s Wake’ gathers former foreign minister Bob Carr, political

and economic commentator George Megalogenis and Professor Emerita Julianne Schultz to analyse Donald Trump’s second presidency and what the rapidly changing political environment means for Australia. With Amy Remeikis And amid global fuel shocks and renewed climate denialism, ‘ Fighting Fossil Fuels ’ unites Richard Denniss with Ben Roche

and investigative journalist Marian Wilkinson (author of The Carbon Club and Woodside Vs The Planet ) for an informed and hopeful conversation about ending our fossil fuel dependence, and the political and industrial forces at play. With Isabelle Reinecke

• Program and tickets at www.byronwritersfestival.com

Antoinette Lattouf on courage, cultural barriers, and women who win

Following a landmark court ruling against the national broadcaster, ‘to be Lattoufed’ now means being dismissed or silenced for defending human rights.

Award-winning journalist Antoinette Lattouf’s case against the ABC became central to debates on free speech, employee rights, institutional accountability, and the consequences of challenging media power.

Her book, Women Who Win , profiles Australian women who defied expectations and overcame cultural and legal barriers, with Lattouf’s own experiences woven throughout.

“I began researching women who took on what seemed to be impossible odds and won, and it was when I was at my lowest, and most vulnerable,” Lattouf said.

“That’s why I started the book, because knowledge has been a tool of comfort for me.

“I was terrified. I had insomnia, panic attacks, and because of the level of vitriol and the number of threats, I was constantly vigilant in public, but part of the reason I kept going was because of the strength of the women I connected with and learned about.”

As a mother of two daughters, Lattouf worked to remain stoic and protect them from the media attention and public threats. Upon learning that the verdict would be live-streamed, her composure was rattled.

“I hadn’t prepared for that. When I found out, it was just too much. That night, I was on the couch in the dark after putting my kids to sleep. My partner was away, and I just started to cry.

“My older daughter came to ask what was wrong. I was honest and said, ‘Mummy’s really scared and very tired’. She gave me this big hug and said, ‘Mum, you did the right thing, you only told the truth’.

“Having my 13-year-old daughter perfectly execute feminist and human rights talking points, I felt immense pride, but also sadness that her world isn’t as innocent as I would have liked it to be.”

Lattouf and the father of her children are both of Lebanese descent. She believes that, at this time, Lebanese lives are undervalued by political leaders and the media.

“At a time when Palestinians are being ethnically cleansed, it was as much about protecting children as it

was being proud of my lineage.

“My mother was a refugee from Lebanon during the Civil War, and endured atrocities I never knew,” she said.

“When she started seeing the images in Gaza, she started to share how she went through rubble and pulled out bodies, and sometimes there were limbs not attached to anybody, and how she carried injured children to medical care, and slept on the floor of evacuated schools, hungry.

“Much of what we were witnessing at the time being inflicted on Palestinians, my mother had experienced.”

Lattouf said her mental health is improving and that her journalistic principles had not changed.

“Backing myself as a woman, sticking to my values in public interest journalism, to human rights, and my pride in my Arab Australian heritage – none of those things has changed one iota,” she said.

“I was attacked by the Murdoch press; I’m still attacked by, and surveilled by the pro-Israel lobbyists, and the ABC – all hoping I would shut up, and I did no such thing.

“All of the things I believed and was doing before I got sacked, I’m still doing now. I’ve not changed, which is what I’m probably the proudest of.”

Antoinette Lattouf will appear at Byron Writers Festival 2026.

L–R: Roman Krznaric, Richard Denniss, Melissa Lucashenko, Jack Toohey, Evelyn Araluen and Steve Toltz.

L–R: Kirra Pendergast, Bob Carr, George Megalogenis, Julianne Schultz, Ben Roche, Marian Wilkinson and Isabelle Reinecke.

Lex Hirst

Anna O’Grady

Peri Wilson

Antoinette Lattouf

Brendan Fredericks

Alex Adsett

Kathryn Heyman

Maggie Walters

Opinion/North Coast News

‘Nationals and water should never be mixed’

Politics surround a new CSIRO report proposing mega-dams to mitigate Lismore flooding

David Lowe

More justification of this adage has arrived with Nationals’ MP Kevin Hogan’s response to the next level stupidity known as the final report of the Northern Rivers Resilience Initiative (NRRI).

Following the 2022 Lismore floods, the CSIRO was engaged by NEMA, the National Emergency Management Agency, at the behest of the then Morrison Coalition government, to embark on the NRRI.

This project continued under Labor.

Ten massive detention dams

Four years and over $11 million later, those involved have concluded that a series of ten massive detention dams in the upper reaches of the Richmond catchment – along with other mitigation works to be built across sensitive environmental and agricultural areas – might, in the best case scenario, reduce a future Lismore flood by up to two metres.

Napkin calculations

Napkin calculations suggest that this megaboondoggle could be built for the extremely optimistic price tag of $2 billion.

The federal member for Page, Kevin Hogan, says $2 billion makes sense, because it’s a lot less than the $15 billion cost of the 2022 Lismore floods.

There are a few problems with this, beginning with the most obvious: climate change-accelerated floods of the future are likely to be worse than those of the past.

Does delaying movement off the floodplain make any sense?

While the cost of flood damage is shared with insurance companies and individuals, government is being asked to pick up the entire tab for mitigation. Is it fair to expect the rest of the state and country to pay for Lismore being built in the wrong place?

Um, what about…

Even if this ridiculous plan could somehow be funded and built before the next major flood event, the CSIRO admits than even the massive mitigation works proposed wouldn’t stop Lismore flooding catastrophically.

And there are other issues. How will landowners be compensated for dam construction and new upstream flooding issues? Where are inundated plants and animals supposed to go?

Who would decide when to empty these temporary dams, in the event of ongoing heavy rain?

Who would clean out trapped flood debris and monitor dam wall integrity?

Who would take responsibility for blackwater

events when the dams were emptied, and for increased landslide risks caused by short- or long-term holding ponds?

Supposedly these questions will be answered by spending another $3 million on further flood resilience planning across the catchment (already committed by the Minns and Albanese governments) but when the NRRI idea is proven uneconomic and scientifically loopy, the Richmond region will simply be that much closer to the next flooding disaster and even further from a real solution.

Nationals-aligned Lismore Council

Meanwhile the National Party-aligned Lismore Council is moving Council assets and operations back down to the Wilsons River, to help prop up local business interests, while proposing to sell off its own safety net in flood-safe Goonellabah.

The NRRI is essentially the old Lismore levee idea on steroids; an expensive, shortterm fantasy of controlling nature which creates false hope and is doomed to fail.

Deja vu again

It would be nice if Australia could remember its own history, instead of following the likes of Barnaby Joyce, who once said ‘Water is wealth and a dam is a bank.’

The National Party’s obsession with dams and concrete dates back at least to the Bradfield Scheme, with drought and flood-proofing fantasies always untethered to Australian realities. The recent Urannah and Dungowan Dam proposals come to mind.

Just to our north, the Wivenhoe Dam was touted by Qld premier Joh BjelkePetersen as a permanent solution to Brisbane’s flooding and water supply woes, following 16 deaths in 1974.

It worked for a time, but later led to over 6,500 victims of various kinds having to be compensated in the legal settlement following serious flooding in 2011.

Lismore would do better to learn from Gundagai, another NSW town situated in an obviously flood-prone area, which took multiple floods, the deaths of 91 people and the destruction of half the town before the government finally took the advice of the people who had been living there for thousands of years and moved the settlement up the hill.

The Widjabul/Bundjalung name for Lismore translates as swampland.

Sooner or later, politicians of all stripes will have to face facts and learn to live with nature, or get out of the way.

The solutions to increasingly severe flooding will not be found in Nationals’ pipe dreams.

A closer look at the CSIRO flood modelling

A network of ten proposed water detention basins across the Richmond River catchment could have kept the March 2022 flood peak below the Lismore CBD levee, according to a recent CSIRO report prepared for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Released 30 June, the report is the second output of CSIRO’s Northern Rivers Resilience Initiative, commissioned after the February-March 2022 floods. It uses a detailed hydrodynamic model of the entire 7,000 square kilometre catchment to test whether flood mitigation measures

proposed by councils and the community would have reduced flooding in the 2008, 2017 and 2022 events.

CSIRO modelled two ‘bundles’ of works.

The smaller, Bundle 1, includes five detention basins – at Fawcetts, Eden, Rock Valley, Dunoon and Corndale – plus an upgrade to the Tuckean Swamp/Bagotville barrage and the reopening of Boundary Creek to the ocean.

Bundle 2 adds five more detentions, at Collins Valley, Barlings, Bentley, Goolmangar and Booyong. Storage capacities range from 11.3 gigalitres at Barlings to 94.3

gigalitres at Rock Valley.

The report says measures were shortlisted from feedback gathered at community and council consultations which drew 688 submissions.

For the record February 2022 flood, when the Lismore gauge peaked at 14.87m, the modelling shows Bundle 1 would have cut the peak to 13.75m and Bundle 2 to 12.80m – both still above the 10.65m CBD levee.

For the second, smaller peak on 31 March 2022 (11.02 m), Bundle 1 brings the level to 10.10m and Bundle 2 to 9.30m, both under the levee. That’s only possible

because the detentions had already been drained after the February peak. For the 2017 flood, Bundle 2 would have kept Lismore’s peak under the levee by about 0.4m; Bundle 1 would not have.

The authors stress the detention designs are indicative only – detailed engineering, cost-benefit analysis, environmental approvals and government sign-off are yet to happen. The model also can’t control local rainfall runoff within towns, meaning parts of Lismore’s CBD, known locally as ‘the basin’, could still flood even when the river itself stays under the levee.

Page MP Kevin Hogan. Image David Lowe

Northern Rivers Football come home winners

Two weeks before Queensland’s 2026 StepOut FQ Academy State Championships, Northern Rivers Football (NRF) were invited to participate in the tournament and brought home a FQ Academy State Championship.

‘Despite not yet being an FQ Academy League club, the organisation embraced the opportunity to compete against some of the state’s most established academy programs,’ said a spokesperson for NRF.

Over five days in Moreton Bay the championships brought together the state’s leading academy teams in Football Queensland’s premier youth tournament. 87 teams representing 39 clubs competed in the premier event, providing a high-performance environment for Queensland’s most promising young footballers.

Winners – U17 Girls

Northern Rivers Football was represented by four teams with the U17 Girls

crowned 2026 FQ Academy State Champions.

‘Playing with confidence, composure, and attacking quality, the girls scored freely while conceding just one

goal across six matches,’ said the NRF spokesperson.

‘Their success was no accident. After years of hard work, countless training sessions, challenging

themselves in older age groups and boys’ competitions, their unwavering commitment saw them lift the State Championship trophy and bring it home to the Northern Rivers. The U15 Girls also exceeded expectations, finishing third in Queensland after an exceptional week of football.

In the boys’ competition, the U16 Boys produced an outstanding campaign, finishing sixth overall. The U15 Boys rounded out an impressive week with a top ten finish.’

Northern Rivers Football Head of Football James Rowe said the week was about much more than medals and final placings.

‘We knew it would be a huge challenge going up against established Academy League clubs that had been preparing for this tournament all season, while we had only a matter of weeks to assemble our squads. What our players and coaches achieved over the week was outstanding.’

Byron Shire Rebels Men’s XV vs Casino

Hywel David

The Rebels Men’s XV rugby side held on for a 41-38 victory over Casino at Albert Park in one of the more dramatic finishes of the season, coming from level at 31-31 to secure the win with a Luke Cleaver try late in the game.

Casino drew first blood, their number seven chasing a loose ball knocked from a lineout and kicking it through to open the scoring at 5-0. The Rebels responded by driving into Casino’s territory and battering against the tryline until Sam Valpy got over himself to level at 5-5. More Rebels pressure followed, and after a Casino lineout

was intercepted the Rebels worked the ball wide where Oli Shakeshaft handed off one defender and pushed through another to touch down. 5-10.

Tough game

A poor Casino lineout in their own 22 was intercepted by Rory Miller, who made ground before releasing Jude Eastwell, who shouldered through a defender to score. Valpy converted to make it 5-17. The Rebels continued to build, with Corey Stocks and David Flynn both crossing in the 24th and 34th minutes respectively, Valpy converting both to send the Rebels into half time with a comfortable 12-31 advantage.

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Casino came out with renewed purpose after the break and went on a remarkable scoring run. They got the ball wide early, chipped it over the Rebels’ line and scored to make it 19-31, before adding another try out wide to close the gap further to 26-31. The momentum was firmly with Casino and they levelled the game at 31-31, finishing from a short lineout pass near the corner flag. With the game in the balance, a Casino player failed to wrap in the tackle, earning a yellow card and handing Valpy a penalty kick which he converted to edge the Rebels back in front at 31-34.

Casino pressed again and

threatened to retake the lead, pushing deep into the Rebels’ 22, but the defence held firm. The Rebels broke quickly from their own half through a series of strong carries before Luke Cleaver picked from a ruck and touched down between the posts. Valpy converted to put the Rebels 31-41 clear. Casino had one final push, grinding through the Rebels’ defensive line in the closing stages to make it 38-41, but the final whistle came without further addition to the score.

Jude Eastwell was named Man of the Match. The Rebels travel to Casuarina RUC next Saturday to face Lismore, kick off 3.15pm.

Byron Bay bodyboarder Bodi

Hugin has won the Australian leg of the International Bodyboarding Committee (IBC)

Junior World Tour Rising Series after an outstanding performance at the City of Gold Coast Future Pro’s.

Held across 11 and 12 July at Duranbah Beach there were two days of competition in excellent conditions. Competitors took to the waves to try to secure valuable IBC Junior World Tour points and qualification towards the IBC Junior

Men Grand Final in Spain. In the championship both Hugin and Chase Thompson traded scores throughout an intense battle before Hugin claimed victory. In a thrilling final, 18-year-old Hugin defeated Port Macquarie’s Thompson by just 0.36 points to become the 2026 Future Pro’s champion. The final competition results saw Bodi Hugin in first place ahead of Chase Thompson, while Ossian Mackenzie and Archie Williams shared third place.

Taking on the challenge

Jin Wu Koon karate juniors Jessie, Oscar, and Sage competed in their first AMAC karate competition at Nerang on Sunday, 19 July.

‘It was their first tournament but they all tasted success,’ said their teacher Richard Light.

In the 11-12 years mixed kata Jesse came second with Oscar narrowly beating Sage. The three boys then competed in the 11-12 years point sparring in a big field of over 20 mixed competitors.

‘Sage won a tight fight against Oscar with him and Jesse showing great form in both making it to the final. It was Jin Wu Koon vs Jin Wu Koon in a display of speed, focus and skill that was won by Jesse with Oscar a close second,’ said Sensei Light.

Art by Chrissie chrissieartwork@gmail.com

Bodi Hugin junior world tour win

Jesse, Oscar, and Sage at their first tournament. Photo supplied

The U17 Girls were crowned 2026 FQ Academy State Champions. The U15 Girls finished third. Photos supplied

Gold Coast Future Pro’s 2026 winner Bodi Hugin in a barrel. Photo Tim Oliver

Women’s co-living project gains traction

Hans Lovejoy

Aco-living project for women over 55 is gaining momentum in the North Coast, with a local organisation claiming it is attracting investment and has nearly the funds to deliver its first dwelling in Victoria.

Women 4 Homes founder, Dionne Payn, told The Echo that, ‘The women investing in the project are separate from the women who will live there as renters’.

She explained, ‘The coowners pool their funds to purchase and own the property, and a separate group of older women pay affordable rent to live there. The model is designed to serve both groups, but they are not the same women’.

Ms Payn says Tintenbar woman Geraldine Crumpton ‘is one of about 20 women who have joined their forces and money to purchase their first co-living property.’

‘As an elderly woman who once came close to homelessness herself, Geraldine knows firsthand the terrible stress that comes from feeling vulnerable and uncertain about the future’.

Transforming existing homes

Ms Payn says co-living involves internally transforming an existing four-bedroom, two-bathroom property, into five to six micro-apartments, each with its own ensuite, sitting area, bedroom and basic cooking facilities.

‘The common areas include a full kitchen and laundry shared by each of the

residents in the property’.

‘The model is designed to serve two groups of women: those with capital to invest, and those who need an affordable, secure place to call home’.

‘The co-living home is designed for women who are looking to downsize, want the company of other women, or need a housing option that works for their income.

‘The women investing in the project have a “tenants in common” structure, meaning they can manage their stake independently of what the other owners do, just like any other investment’.

NSW legislation

Ms Payn says that the NSW legislation which applies for the project comes under 'boarding houses' within the Housing SEPP (State Environmental Planning Policies).

‘The Housing SEPP is a NSW planning framework. In Victoria, which is where the first home will be, it’s different legislation', she says. In perpetuity

‘The homes are designed to provide affordable rent in perpetuity, with the current rent sitting at around $340 per week, with furnishings and all bills included in

that weekly rent.

Background

‘I came to Australia to do my PhD in Science, which I finished in 2009', Ms Payn says. ‘In 2013, I got involved with property development, doing about three small projects before the Ocean Shores, Rajah Road, development [opposite the shopping centre]. Since then, I have been involved in raising funds for affordable housing projects.’

‘We are around 80 per cent funded for the regional Victorian home’, Ms Payn adds.

She says she started the company after watching the housing gap for women get wider and wider.

‘I kept seeing women who had done everything right: decades putting everyone else first, raising children, supporting partners, holding families together, only to end up with nowhere to go after either divorce, illness or job losses'. She added, 'Women over 55 are the fastest-growing homeless population in Australia'.

Ms Payn provided the following information:

Structure

‘Structure: Women 4 Homes is a for-profit,

for-purpose company. It is not a not-for-profit or a trust, and we do not have a board’.

‘The investment model is based on a tenants in common structure, which means each co-investor holds a legally defined share of the property and is named on the title. This is the same structure used in standard property co-ownership, and gives each investor full legal standing over their individual share, independent of the other owners.

Investor safeguards

She says there are several layers of protection in place to protect investors. 'Funds are held in a solicitor’s trust account prior to the property purchase', she says.

‘Any surplus funds for the renovation are held in a project bank account, with a nominee from the co-owners named as a co-signatory alongside Women 4 Homes as the project manager, meaning no single person controls the funds.

‘Each co-investor also signs a co-owners’ deed that sets out exactly what the project is and how it will be run', she says.

To get involved, visit www. Women4Homes.com.

Interactive map makes exploring The Mud Trail easier

Clay lovers can step into the creative world of Northern Rivers’ ceramic artists with greater ease as the 2026 annual Mud Trail launch their new interactive online map featuring all 25 open studios.

Visitors to the 14th North Coast Mud Trail will see the map is designed to help plan the journey, it provides an easy-to-use guide to each participating ceramic studio, making it simple to navigate between artists, explore the region, and create a personalised trail experience.

Diverse studios

The interactive map showcases the diverse range of studios taking part in this year’s event, offering visitors the opportunity to meet ceramic artists, watch demonstrations, purchase

handmade works, and experience the creative process firsthand.

President of North Coast Ceramics, Venessa Skye,

says the new map makes it easier than ever for people to explore the Mud Trail at their own pace.

‘Whether you’re visiting one studio or planning a weekend adventure, the map helps connect visitors with the incredible talent spread across our region.’

The Mud Trail celebrates the area’s thriving ceramics community and invites art lovers, collectors, families and curious travellers to experience the unique stories, skills and creativity behind each studio.

The interactive map is available now and can be accessed from www.northcoastceramics.com.

The new Mud Trail map makes exploring participating ceramic studios easier to find. Photo supplied

Women 4 Homes founder, Dionne Payn. Photos womensagenda.com.au

The Good Life

Dining Guide Good Taste

Check the vital details of some of the region’s finest foodies.

BRUNSWICK HEADS

PACIFIC BISTRO AT BRUNSWICK HEADS BOWLING CLUB

Fresh, affordable meals. Relaxed, family-friendly setting. Classic pub favourites, premium steaks, burgers and specials, including our popular Saturday Curry Night.

Open: Tuesday to Sunday for lunch 12pm–2pm and dinner 5pm–8pm

Address: 107 Tweed St, Brunswick Heads brunswickbowlingclub.com/

BYRON BAY

THREE BLUE DUCKS

At The Farm enjoy a wander in the fields, meet the animals, and picnic in the sun… there really is something for everyone.

Open: Monday – Friday 8am–4pm

Saturday 8am– 6.30pm Sunday 8am–8pm

Address: The Farm, 11 Ewingsdale Rd, Ewingsdale www.threeblueducks.com/byron

NO BONES BYRON BAY

Vegan Kitchen + Bar

$20 Carbonara Mondays, all night (until sold out).  HAPPIEST HOUR: 5-6pm every night: $8 local taps, $14 cocktails, $10 mocktails, $9 natural wines Live jazz by Mondo Hum, first Fri each month

Open: 7 nights from 5pm

Address: 11 Fletcher Street, Byron Bay @nobonesrestaurants

ROCA BYRON BAY

Latin fusion restaurant blending deeply rooted Latin American traditions, with innovative techniques and a flair for presentation.

Open: every day except Wednesday 6.30am to late Address: 14 Lawson Street, Byron Bay www.rocabyronbay.com.au

FOREST BYRON BAY

Rainforest views, farm-to-table dining, and a menu showcasing the best of Northern Rivers produce.

Open: 7 days: Breakfast 7.30–10.30am Lunch on verandah from 12–3pm Dinner 5.30–9pm

Address: 77-97 Broken Head Road, Byron Bay crystalbrookcollection.com/byron/forest

BOMBAY TO BYRON

AUTHENTIC INDIAN FOOD

Serving Indian food to Byron Bay for last 12 years.

Open: Monday 4.30pm–9.30pm  Tuesday to Sunday 12 noon–3pm and 4.30pm–9.30pm

Address : 3/93 Jonson Street Byron Bay  Contact: 02 6680 7437 bombaytobyron@gmail.com

MANNA HAVEN

100% whole food, plant-based, house-made meals that are delicious and full of love.

Celebrating 20 years in Byron!

Open: Mon to Fri 11am–3pm

Address: 97 Jonson Street, Byron Bay mannahaven.com.au

BAYSIDE YAKINIKU CLUB BY YUKO

Authentic Japanese Charcoal Restaurant

Premium Australian Wagyu, homemade sauces, fermented food, rice bowls and deli salads.

Open: Wednesday to Sunday Lunch 12pm–3pm

Dinner 5.30pm–8.30pm

Address: 1/14 Bay Street, Byron Bay Contact: 0493 565 508 @bayside_yakiniku _club

The Good Life

Nourishing power of bone broth

Bone broth has become a staple in many kitchens, but at the Mullumbimby Farmers Market, Oliver’s Hens is giving this age-old nourishing food a fresh local flavour with small-batch broths made from their own organically-raised, pasturefed chickens.

Every batch begins with whole laying hens that have spent their lives roaming on pasture and eating certified organic feed. The birds are roasted whole, including the feet, necks and meat, before being slowly simmered with onions to create a rich, deeply flavoured broth.

‘It’s a cross between a traditional stock and a bone broth,’ explains Oliver.

‘Using the whole bird means you get the collagen and gelatin from the bones, feet and necks, while the meat adds extra nourishment and naturally occurring antiinflammatory compounds. It’s a real double whammy.’

The feet and neck are especially rich in collagen. During the long, slow cooking process, this collagen transforms into gelatin, giving the broth its distinctive jelly-like texture when chilled – a sure sign of a

Byron Farmers Market is growing skills as well as

Byron Bay Herb Nursery has been offering paid employment and training to people with disabilities for 38 years, and recently teamed up with Byron Farmers Market to give their employees wider experience working at the market each Thursday morning.

The initiative is part of the Open Employment Pathways Program, which was created to allow supported employees the opportunity to gain experience, qualifications and new skills for the open employment market.

The nursery’s Open Employment Liaison Officer, Dean McLeod, says a big component of the program has been to partner with local businesses for work experience placement.

nutrient-rich broth.

Bone broth has been enjoyed for generations and is renowned for supporting gut health, providing a natural source of collagen, and supplying protein and minerals in an easy-to-digest form. Whether enjoyed as a warming cup on its own or used as the base for soups, risottos and slow-cooked meals, it’s a simple way to add extra nourishment to your day.

For Oliver, it’s become part of a regular routine.

‘I drink a cup of broth every second morning,’ he says. ‘It’s incredibly nourishing, and I honestly can’t remember the last time I was sick.’

Alongside its chicken broth, O’Leela Farm, the partnership between Oliver’s Hens and Leela Farm, also produces a rich beef bone broth using bones from their own 100% grassfed cattle, ensuring every ingredient is locally and ethically produced.

Find Oliver’s Hens and O’Leela Farm every Friday at the Mullumbimby Farmers Market from 7am to 11am at Mullumbimby Showground.

‘We reached out to several local businesses and straight away Byron Farmers Market was super receptive and enthusiastic about the program,’ Dean says.

‘So, for the past few months we have been coming along to the market to help with operations such as the reusable cup and plate system, and the pack down at the end of the market.’

Dean says the program has been a resounding success for all involved. So much so that the team is looking at extending it.

‘It’s really been amazing,’ he says. ‘We have taken a number of our supported employees to the market over the past three months and each person has been building new skill sets in hospitality and operations, which can be transferred to

new positions and added to everyone’s resumes.

‘Every week is different and it’s been so fun to connect more with the local community. The supported employees look forward to it every week. In fact, the social interaction is one of our favourite parts.’

The feeling is mutual from the market’s perspective.

‘It has been a really great experience,’ says

Farmers Market manager Tom Carey. ‘We have received so much positive feedback from stallholders and customers alike. We look forward to the team coming each week. It really puts a smile on everyone’s face.’

Dean says people with disability are vastly underrepresented in most aspects of society, especially employment.

‘Programs like this help people living with disability to get out into the community, which promotes awareness, opportunity and diversity. All our lives are better for it.’

Byron Farmers Market is held every Thursday from 7am to 11am at Butler St Reserve, and Bangalow Farmers Market is held every Saturday from 7am to 11am in Piccabeen Park.

Byron

Some of the Byron Bay Herb Nursery team gaining work experience at Byron Farmers Market. Photo supplied

Oliver’s Hens at Mullum Farmers Market. Photo supplied

Allie Godfrey

Making SPACES

Konpak

Innovative lighting design for your next building project

Custom homes built for the Northern Rivers climate

Live in a Konpak home, built for the changing seasons of life.

Based in Murwillumbah, Konpak design and build compact, architecturally-considered tiny homes made for modern living. Whether you’re seeking a backyard rental, a multi-generational living solution, or just a simpler lifestyle, Konpak offers functional, beautiful dwellings that don’t compromise on quality.

Each home is locally built and delivered ready to live in which means no on-site construction stress. Our team works closely with you to customise your space and make the most of every square metre.

Big on lifestyle, small in size, Konpak is about building smarter, not bigger..

300 Lundberg Drive, South Murwillumbah (by appointment only) Call Cody 0434 272 353 konpak.com.au @konpak_homes

LA Lounge is a family-owned business and one of Australia’s trusted names in luxury lighting.

They provide professional lighting design, detailed documentation packages, and premium-quality light fittings for residential, multi-residential, and commercial projects. The experienced team creates tailored lighting plans that combine functionality, comfort, and elegance while incorporating the latest technologies, including DALI-compatible and circadian lighting solutions.

Whether you’re building a home, apartment development, or commercial space, LA Lounge helps bring your vision to life with expert advice and innovative design.

Visit their gallery online or book an appointment at our Burleigh Heads showroom to discover how exceptional lighting can transform your project. www.lalounge.com.au jason@lalounge.com.au

Metsa builds custom homes across the Northern Rivers, with a focus on performance as much as looks. That means tackling the region’s real challenge: humidity. Guided by Passive House principles, Metsa homes stay naturally cooler in summer, warmer in winter, and resist the mould and moisture that plague typical coastal builds.

No foggy windows. No musty smell. Just fresh, filtered air and a home that feels good to live in, year-round.

It’s quality building with long-term wellbeing in mind — mould-resistant construction, low-toxin materials, and a process built around getting it right the first time.

Curious how it works? Explore Metsa’s Passive House guide on their website.

Build once, build well, build Passive House. www.metsabuilding.com.au

@ metsabuildingco hendo@metsabuilding.com.au Hendrik 0426 894 565

Swap a Bottle

Chris King Constructions

Time

to plant potatoes

During the Northern Rivers’ rainy season, excess humidity creates the perfect environment for mould growth in both air conditioning systems and homes. Artisan Air reminds homeowners that most modern air conditioners feature a dehumidifier setting – a powerful yet often underutilised function that removes moisture without overcooling spaces.

Running the dehumidifier mode regularly during wet weather prevents mould development inside the unit while protecting furnishings, walls, and belongings from moisture damage. This setting uses less energy than full cooling mode, making it an economical humidity control solution.

For homes requiring additional moisture management, Artisan Air supplies dedicated dehumidifiers that work independently or alongside existing systems. These standalone units provide targeted control in problem areas like bathrooms, laundries, and bedrooms, ensuring comprehensive protection throughout the home.

02 6680 9394 hello@artisanair.com.au www.artisanair.com.au

Windows and doors not working properly?

As we move firmly into winter, the team at Swap a Bottle are ready to help keep your hot water hot and those gas heaters burning! Let the local family business help keep your family sorted in these chilly days and nights ahead!

Based in Murwillumbah, Swap a Bottle is a small family business that services from Tugun to Byron. With distributors north and south to help everyone stay warm and keep cooking!

If you’re not happy with your current supplier then give Swap a Bottle a free call on 1300 727 013, drop them an email, or head straight to their webpage to book in your next gas cylinder!

Changing suppliers is easy and simple! Let your choice to support local make a difference to you and the community we all live in.

You are also welcome to bring in your BBQ bottles for refill as long as they are in date.

10 Kite Crescent, South Murwillumbah Free Call: 1300 727 013 swapabottlegas.com

For more than two decades, Chris King Constructions has been building some of the Northern Rivers’ most thoughtful and finely crafted homes. Today, the company is recognised for its focus on healthy, highperformance buildings that respond intelligently to the unique challenges of the subtropical climate.

Combining traditional craftsmanship with modern building science, the CKC team delivers homes that prioritise comfort, durability and wellbeing. Through carefully considered building envelopes, moisture management strategies, and climate-responsive design, they create homes that remain comfortable year-round while supporting healthier indoor environments.

Working collaboratively with clients, architects and designers, Chris King Constructions believe great homes are about more than aesthetics alone. Every detail –from orientation and ventilation to material selection and construction methodology – is considered to ensure the finished home performs as beautifully as it looks. The result is architecture built for the future: energyefficient, resilient, healthy and enduring homes that enrich the lives of those who live in them.

chriskingconstructions.com.au info@chriskingconstructions.com.au 0421 612 342

Potatoes can grow in the ground, in large pots, or in a potato grow bag with a flap on the side so you can check them as they grow, which takes 3–4 months. Use certified disease-free seed potatoes for the best results. Place them with the shoots pointing up about 30cm apart and cover with 10-12cm of soil.

If you’re growing them in a container, put about 15-20cm of soil in the bottom and put the tubers on top of that. As the shoots grow, fill more soil up around them. Spuds will form between the seed piece and the top of the soil, so you will get more if you add soil as the plants grow.

Keep them moist and stop watering when the leaves turn yellow. After two or three weeks, you can harvest small ‘baby’ potatoes, or you can wait a little longer for them to grow bigger.

140 Bangalow Road, Byron Bay @edenatbyron edenatbyron.com.au 02 6685 6874

Fret no more! Don’t replace… REPAIR and SAVE with Working Windows.

Jake and Toby are local experts specialising in the repair and, if necessary, replacement of windows, doors, flyscreens and security screens.

With 10+ years experience in timber, aluminium and uPVC products, they pride themselves on always delivering top-quality, eco-friendly results that best benefit you and your environment.

Contact them today via phone or email, or check out their website for more information.

Jake 0435 506 465 Toby 0405 793 994

workingwindows1@gmail.com

workingwindows.com.au

Byron Arts & Industry Estate

Creative, small-batch, hand-made, state-of-the-art, artisan, innovative, ethical, imaginative, hyper-local, leading-edge, quality, EXPLORE premium, master, handcrafted, accomplished, cutting edge, organic, designer, eclectic DISCOVER ingenious, beautiful, unique, sensational, avant-garde, original, visionary, inspirational, expert, brilliant, gifted, ahead of the curve. YOU wonderful, compelling, THERE experiencing, witnessing, engaging. NOW.

1. AKADEMIE

Akademie exists to elevate the standard of Pilates by redefining how it is practised, taught and studied. Rooted in classical Pilates and shaped by modern concepts, their method values discipline, alignment, inclusivity and repetition. They invite you to deepen your practice with precision, purpose and long-term results. A curriculum for the body. A philosophy for life.

Unit 26/73 Centennial Circuit hello@akademie.com

2. LOCO LOVE

Loco Love creates artisanal chocolate magic, designed to bring more beauty, presence and love into everyday life. Crafted in Byron Bay with organic ingredients, sustainable cacao and genuine wholefoods, every creation honours nature, conscious craftsmanship and the wisdom of ritual. Each chocolate is an invitation to slow down, awaken your heart and remember the magic that already lies within you.

63 Centennial Circuit

@locolovechocolate locolove.com

3. BODHI LIVING

Bodhi Living showcases a carefully-curated collection of furniture, homewares, rugs and lighting, sourced both locally and globally. They have introduced a range of collections designed in-house, including sofas, dining tables and seating using natural and sustainable materials such as rattan and wood.

The brand encapsulates the freedom of spirit, and the soul of the individual, as represented through their home.

Shop 1/18 Centennial Circuit bodhiliving.com.au @bodhi.living

Habitat Precinct

Habitat is a cleverly designed village in Byron Bay, where you can live, work and play, all in one place. Over 20 years in the making, Habitat combines the best of old-school Byron (community, creativity, respect for the environment) with the latest in design and thinking (renewable energy, car sharing, hybrid live + work spaces) along with plenty of shops, cafés, and good times, it is a little oasis within one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

HABITAT

4. BYRON BAY SALVOS

STORE

Packed with quality pre-loved clothing, homewares, furniture, books and more at great prices. Discover great deals on well-known brands and make sustainable shopping even sweeter.

Now Accepting Donations

The Salvos welcome clean, good-quality items. Your donations help support programs making a real difference locally.

Shop sustainably. Support local. Give back. Discover something special today. Great brands. Great prices. Great cause.

5 Banksia Drive

5. OUR TIMELESS THREADS

Visit Our Timeless Threads (The OTT Shop), a nurse-led, not-for-profit op shop and creative hub at 18 Acacia Street. Rummage through racks and textile bins, up-cycle fashion waste, host or join community-led workshops, bring your clothes to quarterly preloved community markets, and learn from seniors in our skill-share sessions.

Donate, volunteer, discover unique finds, while igniting intergenerational connections through creativity, sustainability, fashion and music.

The OTT Shop, 18 Acacia Street Contact Maia Willow: 0404 813 643 ourtimelessthreads.org @ourtimelessthreads

Get out of town! Visit Habitat where you can shop, eat, drink and recharge, all in one place. Think standout wellness, beauty and fitness studios, seriously good food, and a unique mix of flagship stores. Made for slow mornings, post-work resets, and long, lingering lunches in the sunny courtyard.

1 Porter Street

habitatbyronbay.com

@habitat_byronbay

6. BYRON FAMILY LAW

Byron Family Law is a boutique family law firm established in Byron Bay. Through collaborative and resolution-focused practices, they support clients to separate more kindly and to rebuild following divorce or separation.

They work in collaboration with local counsellors, conveyancers, accountants, mediators, and health and wellness professionals to support you and your family to not only survive, but thrive following a separation.

18 Parkes Avenue

02 6687 2774

byronfamilylaw.com.au

7. RICHARDSON MURRAY LAW

Practicing exclusively in family law, Richardson Murray offers legal advice and guidance in matters of separation, divorce, parenting arrangements and property settlements.

With considerable experience in all matters of relationship breakdown, including domestic and family violence, Richardson Murray are known for their compassionate approach and commitment. Their dedicated team aims to deliver the best possible outcomes for clients.

42 Parkes Avenue richardson-murray.law

Mungo from the Bardo

Crossword by

Mungo MacCallum

6. Firm god holds soft fibre (5)

7. Stunt diver, friend and colleague of 16 down (5)

8. Clarke stuck in chewing gum base – a record (9)

13. Mortals met in utter confusion (9)

15. Computer part makes note of reptile

Quick Clues

ACROSS

STARS

BY LILITH

We’ve done the retrograde reframe, reset and rejig, now as Mercury moves forward again, this week’s Sun joining Jupiter in Leo is everyone’s cue to relax and reboot…

1. Personification of cold, especially by and for children (4,5)

6. Pertaining to a city, or to citizenship (5)

9. Luggage compartment in automobile (3,4)

10. Ruler of more than one country (7)

11. Imprint (5)

12. A calling forth of some experience (9)

13. Aggressively masculine (5)

14. One qualified to act in place of a doctor in emergencies (9)

17. By virtue of office (Latin) (2,7)

18. Small river boat (5)

19. Discarded housing for molluscs found on beaches (9)

22. Seeps (5)

24. Result of gathering, especially of cattle (7)

25. Indian title ‘great soul’ (7)

26. Cobbers (5)

27. Outside marriage (2,7) DOWN

1. Sporty types (US college slang) (5)

2. Thinly sliced raw meat or fish (Italian) (9)

3. Never failing, risk free (9)

4. See 5 Down

5,4. War, fire, pestilence and death in the Book of Revelations (3,4,8,2,3,10)

6. Coconut fibre (5)

7. Italian composer of operas (5)

8. Historical record (9)

13. Giant whirlpool (9)

15. Very small identification tag, usually injected under skin (9)

16. Another Italian composer of operas, slightly less famous (9)

20. Grown up (5)

21. Hell (Greek) (5)

23. Put off, cease moving (5)

#18 Last week’s solution #17

Take a Bow

Mandy Nolan

Why do they tie bows on new cars?

I have only had one new car. I bought it recently after breaking down on the roadside and being towed to the mechanic who had previously said ‘she is good to drive’. The repair was quoted at $20k. Ouch. That was double what the car was worth. So I decided to ‘buy’ something new. That wouldn’t break down. And by ‘buy’ I mean: go into debt with car finance.

When I picked up the car it had a big red bow. I’d seen this on Facebook. Happy people standing next to a car with a bow on it, and I‘d thought ‘what a wanker’. Now I was that wanker. They don’t put bows on second-hand cars. When you drive off in a car bought on the roadside for $5k no one sticks a bow on it. They just hope the money clears before it breaks down.

I remember looking at the bow and wondering what it means. A bow is what you put on a gift. A gift is what you give to someone. For free. I have never given someone a present that they bought for double its value. I think, has this car yard given me this car? Is this a gift?

Then I realise that I have been given something: debt. I don’t know about you, but six years of monthly repayments for a depreciating asset with not much resale value feels like a pretty shit gift. Sure, I appreciate that I was considered worthy of a car loan. That a faceless finance company figured I was a risk worth taking.

So what is the bow all about? I guess it’s about making this exciting moment of a new car feel festive. And in a way I guess it is. Especially for a woman in her late 50s who has never had a new car before. Remember the ad? Oh what a feeling? When the newly minted debtor would leap into the air? The thrill of that feeling of driving a long distance and feeling close to 90% sure that you are going to make it there and back definitely deserves a thumbs up. Maybe a leap, but not a fancy ribbon.

ARIES: The Sun and genial Jupiter in a fellow fire sign which also happens to be your fun zone is a vibrant, confident and entertaining placement. The planet of expansion in the sign of creativity sees you shining brightly this week, with your naturally expressive style inspiring others.

TAURUS: Planet Chiron currently settling in for the long haul in Taurus is beginning to clarify what’s genuinely worth spending your time, energy and resources on. And help you trust your own instincts to make sustainable decisions, feel more at home in your body and develop healthier relationships – lucky you!

GEMINI: Your planet mentor Mercury gets into forward gear again, though still in sensitive mode, so be aware of what’s not being said. This week’s celestial scenario suggests that success is more likely through tuning into instinctual Twin‘s gut feelings and hunches than logical Twin’s hard facts and stats.

When I picked up the car it had a big red bow. I’d seen this on Facebook. Happy people standing next to a car with a bow on it, and I‘d thought ‘what a wanker’. Now I was that wanker.

My friend Sylvia told me that in Uganda a car is a symbol of wealth – no one has one. She showed me a video of a new car arriving in her community and the whole village dancing around it. Drums beating. Men and women dressed in their finest, shaking their bodies with joy and abandon. Some of the older women were so excited they were literally rolling over the bonnet. Not from a hit and run. For fun! I imagined my whole family dancing in the car dealership. My mother, my aunts, my siblings, my children. Like a car wedding. For a few hours. It made me smile. I love the thought of that – it

CANCER: With communications planet Mercury in your sign taking a positive turn around the astral j-curve this week, life settles into a more Cancer-friendly vibe, misunderstandings begin to unravel and you can feel confident again to trust your impulses, rely on your intuition and express yourself freely.

LEO: The Sun joining jolly Jupiter in your royal sign to announce happy birthday cat majesties is your call to enjoy applause, tribute and a spot of hearty partying. And celestial south node also moving into Leo helps extend your personal ambitions and individual creativity to benefit the wider audience they deserve.

VIRGO: This week’s celestial emphasis in your sector of winding up cycles that have run their course brings a sense of relief and completion. With Mercury back in gear, you can take a break from stress-testing every single idea, because Venus in your sign is keen to have some well-earned fun.

LIBRA: With your sponsor planet Venus in the sign whose love language expresses through practical acts of service rather than grand romantic gestures, this week suggests showing your affection by thoughtful problem-solving and quietly taking care of those small, time-consuming details that make someone’s life easier.

SCORPIO: This week’s fiery celestial influx warms your Scorpio waters, which is always pleasant, and with Mercury back on track power struggles look set to ease. Plus Chiron in your opposite and complementary sign on the astro wheel moves trust issues, if not to resolution, then at least to a clearer understanding.

SAGITTARIUS: The sun synching with your planet boss Jupiter in a fellow fire sign can’t help but light up your week. And with Mercury on the move again, but still in sensitive, touchy-feely mode, tune into your intuitive side before sharing with others, especially during the upcoming weekend’s Sagittarius moon.

acknowledges the massive energy and resource input it takes to make something we take for granted.

But the weird bow. It’s clearly now an Instagram thing. You take a photo of you and your fancy new car and post it on Instagram. So now you haven’t just signed up for years of debt, given money to a finance company in interest, and paid a car business for their product, you are participating in creating free content – advertising. For them.

And you don’t get to keep the bow. It’s a magnet that sticks to your car for a moment for a pic and then they take it off. Rude. So I decide, if I’m going to carry years of debt for what is basically a liability, I am going to take the dam bow. It’s hard to drive with the thing flapping in your windscreen. So I pulled over at a servo and had an idea. Pay the bow forward. Maybe there’s people who need the bow more than me. So I popped it on the bonnet of a beaten-up 1990 Ford Festiva. So that the owners might be reminded that life is a gift. The power of bow.

■ Mandy Nolan’s column has appeared in The Echo for almost 25 years. She is a writer, comedian and artist, is the preselected Greens candidate for Ballina and was the Greens candidate at the past two federal elections.

CAPRICORN: Sometimes we need an unexpected twist of fate to shake us out of default mode, though Capricorns prefer taking charge of this themselves before it becomes necessary. Venus in a discriminating fellow earth sign is currently auspiciously placed for giving your routines, schedules and workspace a stylish upgrade.

AQUARIUS: The astrological lunar nodes are shifting the north node into your progressive sign for the first time in two decades. Over the next 20 months this Aquarian transit supports communityminded teamwork and encourages the human family to collaborate in designing smarter ways to live, work and care for each other.

PISCES: After the recent onslaught of July’s trying times it would be easy to get carried away with this week’s entertaining influx of jazz, pizzaz and razzamattaz and why not? Though actually savvier to also look behind the upfront appeal of attractive options via a few backstage reality checks.

LEO THE LION

MANDY NOLAN’S

Editor: Eve Jeffery

Editorial/gigs: gigs@echo.net.au

Copy deadline: 5pm each Thursday

Gig Guide deadline: 5pm each Friday

Advertising: adcopy@echo.net.au

P:

W: echo.net.au/entertainment

Front

Bar Frenzy at The Northern

Two nights. Ten bands. No barriers. No backing tracks. Just ten bands turning the Front Bar inside out across two nights.

The Front Bar Frenzy lineup at the Northern Hotel is very much centred on the Northern Rivers’ emerging original music scene. Overall, expect garage rock, indie rock, punk, psych rock, alt-country and rock ’n’ roll rather than cover bands or mainstream pop.

Featuring Barry McLay, Colbey, The Fem Grems, Jack Tully & The Seers, Johnny T, Purple Disturbance, Ratmongers, Rustt, Smokey Cake, TV Misery

Get down early, happy hour from 4.30pm. 24 & 25 July at The Northern, Byron Bay. Free entry.

The DINGO is coming

A new music and arts festival is coming to the Northern Rivers, with Bangalow set to host the inaugural DINGO Music & Arts Festival across four days from 8-11 October. Anchored in jazz, and programmed through a contemporary lens, DINGO brings together internationally acclaimed musicians, leftfield selectors, performance artists, chefs and thinkers for four days of performances, conversations and shared experiences. Unfolding across Bangalow’s halls, galleries, record stores and public spaces, the festival invites audiences to move through the town at their own pace, discovering unexpected encounters where music, art and community intersect.

Leading the inaugural program are three-time Grammy nominees Hiatus Kaiyote, London’s acclaimed Kokoroko, legendary Philadelphia selector Rich Medina, internationally celebrated DJ Coco Maria, alongside Australian artists Nai Palm, Miss Kaninna, Harry James Angus and Barney McAll

Completing the program is a handpicked lineup that traverses jazz, soul, hip-hop, electronic music and contemporary club culture, featuring Steve Spacek, Mr Rhodes, Andras, Don Glori, Benjamin Walsh Quartet, Greg Sheehan’s The Life Of Life, Finn Rees, David Versace, D.D. Mirage, Clever Austin, Horatio Luna, DJ Mike Gurrieri, Lake Kelly, YL Hooi, Uncomfortable Science, Albrecht La’ Brooy, Cazeaux O.S.L.O, Edd Fisher, EMOM: Northern Rivers, Flo Records DJs, Free Jazz Church, Good Morning Tapes, Helen Franzmann & Nick Huggins, La Sape Records, Mangrove Symposium, Musical Bonanza, Tralalablip, Zac Stars and more.

Beyond the music, DINGO presents artist talks, inconversation events, performance art, an avant-garde life-

drawing salon, DJs, beat-making and rhythm workshops, deep listening sessions, sound installations, curated local food and drink experiences, and a Guinness World Record attempt to create the smallest jazz club in the world.

DINGO has both ticketed and free events, so everyone can get involved, across venues that include public and creative private spaces, encouraging patrons to explore the hidden gems alongside the main stages including the Bangalow A&I Hall, Moller Pavilion, Old Scout Hall, Flo Records, Bangalow RSL, You Beauty, The Lumber Yard, and Station Street, alongside an opening celebration at the Northern Hotel Byron Bay and a closing party at the Beach Hotel Byron Bay plus after-parties and some secret venues TBA.

Festival Director Si Jay Gould said DINGO was conceived as a festival deeply connected to both place and curiosity. ‘We weren’t interested in creating another festival that could happen anywhere. DINGO is built around Bangalow itself, where every venue and public space becomes part of the experience. This isn’t a jazz festival but the whole festival “is jazz”. We wanted to bring together artists from different worlds to improvise, take risks and collaborate into new possibilities.’

The festival has been developed by a Northern Rivers team led by Festival Director Si Jay Gould, with music programming by Flo Records, Main Arm Records, Mangrove Symposium, Musical Bonanza, La Sape Records and arts programming by Dr Stuart Grant, food and beverage curation by Mosey On Inn Group (The Eltham, Ciao Mate, You Beauty) and Salty Mangrove. Production is handled by Moniker Audio in collaboration with SAE students. Tickets are on sale now: dingofestival.com.

Grems, Smokey Cake, TV Misery, Colbey Duelling Piano Bar

MAIN PIC: KOKOROKO. RIGHT: RICH MEDINA AND HIATUS KAIYOTE. BELOW RATMONGERS

Wild for the women of Afghanistan

On one side of the globe, there are women stripping off their clothes in the name of liberation. On the other, women have been stripped of their rights to be seen, heard, and participate in society.

It has been heartbreaking to hear about the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan where women and girls are being stripped of their most basic human rights – denied education, employment, speech, visibility and freedom of movement. All women deserve to be seen, heard and fully expressed. No woman should stand alone in this journey.

The Wild Women Army are a local burlesque collective, dedicated to the full expression of the feminine. Join them as they offer a day for our community to come together and dance for those who cannot.

A full-day festival, open to all, featuring dance, yoga, burlesque, sensual embodiment, performances, great food, body painting, art portraits and art auction, markets, raffles, prizes, community, and so much more, including a DJ set by Cha Cha Bang with vocals by Vanessa Lawless and a performance by Grace Thunder Saturday from 10am at Durrumbul Hall, Main Arm, close 8pm. All proceeds go towards organisations with direct impact such as LearnAfghan.org – get your tickets at www.wildwomen.army.

Big Gig - free comedy at Ballina RSL

Every month, Ellen Briggs presents a free comedy night featuring some of the best local, national and international comedians. An author, comedy writer and professional MC, Ellen is happiest on stage performing stand-up. Comedy wasn’t part of the original plan – she joined a comedy course while writing a book to sharpen her writing skills. After performing her first five-minute set, she was hooked. Soon after, she became a finalist in the prestigious RAW Comedy competition and won a national Foxtel comedy competition voted on by industry peers and managers. She hasn’t looked back since.

Warm, engaging and effortlessly funny, Ellen has a natural ability to connect with audiences from the moment she steps on stage. Her genuine, relatable style wins people over quickly, allowing her to take audiences on a hilarious journey that is uniquely her own.

This month, Thursday 30 July, features the brilliant Jackie Loeb, with support from Josh Continho and MC Mark McConville

A comedian, actor, singer and writer, Jackie Loeb has built an acclaimed career in stand-up while maintaining a world-renowned love of sugar and carbs. She has appeared in Superstore, Better Things and on The Comedy Channel, and currently voices Ms. Mona in the Emmy-nominated Netflix animated series Trash Truck. Jackie was also a writer and cast member on the iconic sketch comedy series Full Frontal

A seasoned stand-up performer, Jackie has headlined comedy clubs throughout Australia and around the world. She is also a sought-after event host, regularly appearing for organisations including Kids Helpline, WeightWatchers, the LGBTQI Awards, Soccer NSW, the University of New England and Jack Daniel’s. Known for her sharp wit, warmth and infectious energy, Jackie brings laughs and memorable moments to every stage she steps onto.

Thursday 30 July. Doors 6.30pm. Free entry 18+ event. ballinarsl.com.au/event/.

A formidable lineup of Nordic films

The 2026 Hurtigruten Nordic Film Festival will screen at Palace Byron Bay and Ballina Fair from 23 July to 16 August, featuring the best new cinema from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. This year’s formidable lineup showcases cinematic legends, breathtaking landscapes and the unique storytelling and profound cultural insights that has earned Nordic cinema a distinct place in the film world.

Opening the festival is the powerful drama Árru from debut director Elle Sofe Sara, that follows a family of Sàmi reindeer herders whose community and way of life is threatened by a proposed mining project. Weaving together grounded drama with bursts of exquisite traditional song (joik) and movement, the film draws on cultural expression to explore a breathtakingly genuine connection to the environment.

In a festival exclusive, the highly anticipated Fjord, direct from winning the Palme d’Or at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, screens as the Festival Centrepiece. Shot on the picturesque western coast of Norway, the film stars Renate Reinsve and Sebastian Stan as a RomanianNorwegian conservative couple facing scrutiny after moving to the wife’s progressive, remote Norwegian hometown.

Another highlight is Festival Special Presentation The Love That Remains (Ástin sem eftir er), an Icelandic comedy/ drama from director Hlynur Pálmason (A White, White Day, Godland). This brilliant and bittersweet film tenderly captures a year in the life of a family of five, as the parents navigate their separation, exploring love, family and shared memories. It also features a ‘Palme d’Or’ winning performance from Pálmason’s own dog Panda, an Icelandic sheep dog.

There are many more highlights including: the dark comedy/crime thriller The Last Viking with Danish star Mads Mikkelsen (Another Round); The Kidnapping Of A President based on a bizarre true story in which a group of drunken officers attempt to kidnap Finland’s retired first president in 1930 and Home, a comedy about a woman reestablishing her life after a disastrous career setback on live TV. Visit nordicfilmfestival.com.au for the full lineup, session times and tickets.

JACKIE LOEB

FJORD

GIG GUIDE

WEDNESDAY 22

■ RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, DAN HANNAFORD

■ BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 6PM HARRY NICHOLS

■ COORABELL HALL 5PM EXHIBITION LAUNCH – ELEMENTAL: CONVERSATIONS WITH NATURE

■ WANDANA BREWING CO., MULLUMBIMBY, 3PM LOOSE GOOSE, BRAVE DAISY, LUCY’S HOUSE, LOS HOUSEPLANTS F.C., DJ LIZA, DJ TAZ

■ HOTEL BRUNSWICK 4PM JB’S BLUES BREAKERS

■ OCEAN SHORES COUNTRY CLUB 3PM OPEN MIC WITH DR BAZ

Everyone’s talking about The Odyssey

In a visionary reimagining of Homer’s timeless epic, Academy Award-winning auteur Christopher Nolan brings a masterful fusion of myth and spectacle in The Odyssey. Starring Matt Damon as the indomitable Odysseus, this highly anticipated adaptation chronicles the hero’s treacherous journey home after the Trojan War.

■ THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 6PM MATT ARMITAGE + DUELING PIANO BAR

■ BANGALOW HOTEL 7PM OPEN MIC WITH SLIM PICKENS

■ THE PADDOCK PROJECT, MULLUMBIMBY, 4PM CURRY JAM

■ OTTILIES, MULLUMBIMBY, 6PM MONDO JAZZ CATS

■ HOTEL BRUNSWICK 6PM BRAD COX W/ THE VANNS AND MAX JACKSON

■ BRUNSWICK HEADS PICTURE HOUSE 6.30PM VERY SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

■ WANDANA BREWING CO., MULLUMBIMBY, 3.30PM DJ SHIMON

■ MULLUMBIMBY EX-SERVICES CLUB 4PM HILLBILLY GOATS, 6PM MULLUM OPEN MIC WITH STEPHEN LOVELIGHT

CINEMA

■ MIDDLE PUB, MULLUMBIMBY, 6PM PIANO BAR W/ JOHN

■ DURRUMBUL HALL 10AM WILD FOR THE WOMEN OF AFGHANISTAN

■ BILLINUDGEL HOTEL 6PM HUBCAP STAN & THE SIDEWALK STOMPERS

■ PEARCES CREEK HALL 5PM JONO B SMITH, MANDY HAWKES, KSEA MUDGE, CHRISTINA WEBSTER

■ MIDDLE PUB, MULLUMBIMBY, 3PM OPEN MIC WITH THE SWAMP CATS

■ BILLINUDGEL HOTEL 1PM TAHLIA MATHESON

■ LENNOX HOTEL 4PM YAZMINDI

■ BALLINA RSL 2.30PM BALLINA BLUES CLUB FEAT NATHAN BARETTA

■ SHAWS BAY HOTEL, BALLINA, 3PM HAYLEY GRACE

With a gripping ensemble of talent, Nolan crafts a mesmerising tale of survival, sacrifice, and defiance. Joining Damon in this star-studded cast are Tom Holland as Telemachus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Zendaya as Athena, and Robert Pattinson as Antinous. Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong’o, Jon Bernthal, and Mia Goth round out the A-list ensemble.

After the dust of the Trojan War has settled, Odysseus (Damon), the legendary king of Ithaca, embarks on a perilous odyssey across the seas to reunite with his beloved wife, Penelope, and son, Telemachus. But the gods of Olympus - led by the vengeful Poseidon - have other plans, and each step he takes brings him deeper into a world where the boundaries between man and myth blur. Torn between loyalty, love, and vengeance, Odysseus must confront not only the supernatural horrors that lurk at every turn but also the depths of his own soul.

With breathtaking visuals, relentless pacing, and Nolan’s signature exploration of the human condition, The Odyssey is a cinematic tour de force and a journey through the ancient world that is as audacious and ambitious as the hero at its centre.

Screening at Palace Cinemas now – palacecinemas.com.au. Seven

THURSDAY 23

■ RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, CHRIS HOFFMANN

■ BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 6PM JB’S BLUES BREAKERS

■ BYRON THEATRE 7PM PEOPLE OF SURFING – WEST AFRICA

■ THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 6PM OLE FALCOR + DJ QUENDO + DUELING PIANO BAR

■ HOWL & MOAN, BYRON BAY, 7PM JOHNNY & THE C-SECTIONS WITH HAPPY FAMILY & VITAL MESS

■ GARDEN BAR, BYRON BAY, 7.30PM TEMPLE OF FIRE

■ HOTEL BRUNSWICK 6PM JASON DELPHIN

■ SAINT MARIES, BRUNSWICK HEADS, 6PM MONDO JAZZ CATS

■ THE TOP PUB, MULLUMBIMBY, 6PM TOP JAM NIGHT WITH THE MAX PAZ

■ LISMORE CITY BOWLO 7PM THE SUPPER CLUB SOUL BAND

FRIDAY 24

■ RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, FAT ALBERT

■ BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 5PM JOSH LOVEGROVE + 42 BAND

■ NORTH BYRON HOTEL 5PM DJ NAT WHITE

■ ELEMENTS OF BYRON 5PM ADAM HARPAZ

■ THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 7PM BARRY MCLAY, RATMONGERS, JACK TULLY & THE SEERS, RUSTT PURPLE DISTURBANCE + DUELING PIANO BAR

■ MIDDLE PUB, MULLUMBIMBY, 5.30PM BALCONY BEATS FT. ROB SYDNEY + KRAPPYOKEE WITH JESS

■ ST JOHN’S SCHOOL HALL, MULLUMBIMBY, 7.30PM ECSTATIC DANCE MULLUM WITH DJ DAKINI

■ HOTEL LISMORE 5.30PM LUKE VASELLA + DJ MUDCRAB

■ MURWILLUMBAH SERVICES CLUB 6PM CLASSIC GOLD

■ CONDONG BOWLS CLUB 5.30PM ROD MURRAY

■ CLUB LENNOX 7PM INO PIO

■ LENNOX HOTEL 9PM DRUNKEN MIDNIGHT CHOIR

■ SEAGULLS, TWEED HEADS, 2PM TOMMY MEMPHIS

■ CLUB TWEED 7.30PM FLOORBURNERS

■ TWIN TOWNS, TWEED HEADS, 8PM THE MERSEY BEATLES

■ COOLANGATTA HOTEL 8PM YOU AM I

SATURDAY 25

■ RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, THE TYLER DIRDENS

■ BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 3PM ALLY PALMER + SUNNY LUWE DUO + DJ MY HAPPY PLACE

■ BYRON THEATRE 2PM & 7.30PM BAD ROMANCE

■ THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 7PM JOHNNY T, FEM GREMS, SMOKEY CAKE, TV MISERY, COLBEY + DUELING PIANO BAR

■ HOTEL BRUNSWICK 6PM PACHA MAMMA TRIO

■ BRUNSWICK HEADS PICTURE HOUSE 7PM RIEBL TEDESCO MCGILL

■ SLIPWAY HOTEL, BALLINA, 5PM SLIM PICKENS & NEIL MCCANN

■ CLUB LENNOX 7PM THE FUNNY GOATS BAND

■ LENNOX HOTEL 9PM LIVIN’ LOVIN’ ZEPPELIN

■ WILLIAMS STREET KITCHEN & BAR, LENNOX HEAD, 5.30PM UNCLE BOB

■ BALLINA RSL 6PM ADAM HARPAZ

■ CHERRY STREET SPORTS CLUB, BALLINA, 8PM KAFFENE

■ HOTEL LISMORE 9.30PM ROCHELLE LEES

■ MURWILLUMBAH SERVICES CLUB 6PM SIMON ANAU

■ POTTSVILLE BEACH COMMUNITY CENTRE 7PM KALLIOPE ON THE SHORE

■ KINGSCLIFF BEACH BOWLS 1PM RICK BARRON

■ SALTBAR, KINGSCLIFF, 5.30PM DAN HANNAFORD

■ SALT & STONE, FINGAL HEAD, 2PM SAM BUCKLEY

■ TWIN TOWNS, TWEED HEADS, 7.30PM CHOCOLATE STARFISH

■ CLUB TWEED 7.30PM THAT RETRO BAND

■ SEAGULLS, TWEED HEADS, 7.30PM FOGARTY

■ COOLANGATTA HOTEL 7PM LAWN GAMES, JIB, ASHTRAY AVENUE, FUNKASAURUS

SUNDAY 26

■ RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, JOE CONROY

■ BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 4.30PM BARNES STORM

■ THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 5PM FELICITY LAWLESS + VINYL SUNDAY’S FT ERIC DOWNER + DUELING PIANO BAR

■ ELTHAM HOTEL 4PM SLIM PICKENS

■ SALT & STONE, FINGAL HEAD, 2PM ALBY PITMAN

■ CLUB TWEED 1PM WHITEY + SCOTT WHATMAN

■ CHINDERAH TAVERN 7.30PM THE WET FISH

MONDAY 27

■ RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, SLIM PICKENS

■ THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 6PM LACHIE DWYER + DUELING PIANO BAR

■ ELTHAM HOTEL 7PM PHIL JAMIESON

TUESDAY 28

■ RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, ARI LEVY

■ BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 6PM HAYLEY GRACE

■ THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 6PM MARSHALL OKELL + DUELING PIANO BAR

■ TWIN TOWNS, TWEED HEADS, 11AM THE GREAT GERSHWINS

WEDNESDAY 29

■ RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, TIM STOKES

■ BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 6PM NOAH ROBERTSON

■ THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 6PM HAYLEY GRACE + DUELING PIANO BAR

■ THE PADDOCK PROJECT, MULLUMBIMBY, 4PM CURRY JAM

■ OTTILIES, MULLUMBIMBY, 6PM MONDO JAZZ CATS

TO

COLOURS OF TIME (M) Thurs, Mon, Tues: 11:15AM, 3:10PM, 5:45PM. Fri, Sat, Sun: 10:45AM, 3:30PM, 6:00PM. Wed: 10:50AM, 3:10PM, 5:45PM

DISCLOSURE DAY (M) Thurs: 1:50PM. Fri, Sat, Sun: 3:45PM, 6:45PM. Mon, Tues: 1:50PM, 6:50PM. Wed: 3:15PM, 6:50PM JACKASS: BEST AND LAST (MA15+) Mon, Tues: 4:45PM, 8:30PM. Wed: 8:30PM

Sun: 10:45AM, 1:15PM, 6:30PM. Wed: 10:45AM, 1:10PM, 6:45PM MOANA (PG) Thurs, Mon, Tues: 11:00AM, 1:00PM. Fri, Sat: 11:00AM, 1:20PM, 7:10PM. Sun: 11:00AM, 1:20PM. Wed: 1:00PM, 6:00PM THE SHEEP DETECTIVES (PG) Daily: 10:50AM TOY STORY 5 (G) Daily: 10:50AM, 1:30PM ALL FILMS

MICHAEL (PG) Daily except Fri, Sat: 3:20PM. Fri, Sat: 4:30PM OBSESSION (MA15+) Daily except Wed: 8:30PM. Wed: 8:40PM TENOR: MY NAME IS PATI (PG) Daily except Wed: 4:15PM. Wed: 4:30PM THE INVITE (MA15+) Thurs, Mon, Tues, Wed: 3:40PM, 6:00PM, 8:20PM. Fri, Sat, Sun: 3:40PM, 6:00PM, 8:30PM THE ODYSSEY (M) Daily except Sun: 10:45AM, 11:30AM, 12:45PM, 2:15PM, 3:00PM, 4:15PM, 5:45PM, 6:30PM, 7:45PM. Sun: 10:45AM, 11:30AM, 2:15PM, 3:00PM, 4:20PM, 5:45PM, 6:30PM, 7:45PM THE WIZARD OF THE KREMLIN (MA15+) Daily except Wed: 1:20PM, 8:15PM. Wed: 1:40PM, 8:15PM TUNER (MA15+) Thurs, Fri, Sat: 11:00AM. Sun, Wed: 10:45AM. Mon: 11:00AM, 8:30PM. Tues: 11:00AM, 8:45PM.

MINIONS & MONSTERS (PG) Daily except Sat, Sun: 10:00AM, 1:20PM, 5:30PM. Sat, Sun: 9:45AM, 1:20PM, 5:15PM MOANA (PG) Daily except Sat, Sun: 12:30PM, 2:50PM, 7:30PM. Sat, Sun:

PALACE BYRON BAY

ECHO CLASSIFIEDS – 6684 1777

CLASSIFIED AD BOOKINGS

PHONE ADS

Ads may be taken by phone on 6684 1777

AT THE ECHO HEAD OFFICE

Ads can be lodged in person at the Mullum Echo o ce: Village Way, Stuart St, Mullumbimby

EMAIL ADS

Display (box ads) and line classi eds, email: classifieds@echo.net.au

Ad bookings only taken during business hours: Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm. Ads can’t be taken on the weekend. Account enquiries phone 6684 1777.

DISCLAIMER

DEADLINE TUES 12PM

Publication day is Wednesday, booking deadlines are the day before publication.

RATES &

PAYMENT

LINE ADS:

$17.00 for the first two lines

$5 .00 for each extra line

$17 for two lines is the minimum charge.

DISPLAY ADS (with a border):

$14 per column centimetre

These prices include GST.

Cash, cheque, Mastercard or Visa

Prepayment is required for all ads.

IN MEMORIAM

In Memory of Lola Helen Jacek (Noter) 12 Dec 1933 to 20 July 2025

Those we love can never be more than a thought away, for as long as there’s a memory they live in our hearts to stay.

The

If you live in Newrybar, Lennox Head or Ballina, but outside our current home delivery area, you can pick up an Echo from many locations, including: Newrybar Providore Newrybar; Richies IGA Ballina, Ballina RSL, One Stop Shop Ballina, Ballina Golf Club East Ballina, Brighton St Takeaway near The Shawsy, Seagrass Lennox, Lennox pub drivethrough, Station St Grocer Lennox

Miss you, Nanny Lola Tanya, Steve & family

Judith Anne Hales “Judy”

Passed away peacefully on Saturday, 11th July 2026, aged 78 years, surrounded by her loving family. Late of Blue Springs, Blue Knob, Nimbin. Judy will be remembered as a devoted volunteer, organiser and much-loved pillar of the Nimbin community. She was deeply cherished by her family and treasured by her many friends.

“May the long time sun shine upon you”

A graveside service to celebrate Judy’s life will be held at 11.00am Friday, 24th July 2026 at Nimbin Cemetery, Nimbin. Following the service, all are welcome to gather at Nimbin Hall from 12.00pm for Judy’s wake. In honour of her generous community spirit, guests are invited to bring a plate to share.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Dear community members.

We are seeking to use part of the wine shop (Luna Wine Store) for the consumption of alcohol on the premises at Unit 16/140-142 Jonson Street, Byron Bay. The unit is approximately 64m² in floor area and will remain primarily a retail wine store, with an ancillary area at the front of the shop for on-premises consumption. As this change of use is classified as a ‘small bar’ under liquor licensing, Byron Shire Council’s Community Participation Plan requires us to consult with the community prior to lodging a development application.

The proposal does not seek to increase the size of the shop, nor to change the hours of operation. The front area will have limited seating for 16 patrons, where wines by the glass will be made available in a casual setting.

COMMUNITY DROP-IN SESSION

When: Tuesday 4 August, 5pm to 7pm.

Where: Byron Bay Services Club, 132 Jonson Street, Byron Bay. Bookings: Not required – drop in any time during the session. Plans will be available to view on the day.

We welcome your written feedback until Friday 14 August

To find out more, view the plans beforehand, or submit feedback, please email info@mattwalkertownplanning.com

Thank you for engaging directly with us.

Masti Adler

Now

and Relationship Therapy 0403 730 304 awarecounselling.com.au

Mindfulness @ Work

Bring greater focus, clarity and calm into your workplace.

Certified Mindfulness Educator Paul Bibby 0401 926 090

“There are no ugly ducklings.”

– Loretta Young

Lil No Worries by Graeme Harkness

ECHO SERVICE DIRECTORY RATES, PAYMENT & DEADLINE

Deadline: For additions and changes is 12pm Friday

Line ads: $99 for 3 months or $340 for 1 year prepaid

Display ads: $70 per week for colour display ad. Minimum 8 week booking 4 weeks prepaid. Please supply display ads 85mm wide, 38mm high. New ads will be placed at end of section. Contact: 6684 1777 or adcopy@echo.net.au

Ben The Plumber

Cape Byron Property enters an exciting new chapter

For Cape Byron Property, success has never been measured solely by the number of properties sold. Instead, the independent Byron Bay agency has built its reputation on something far more enduring: trusted relationships, genuine local knowledge and an unwavering commitment to putting people first.

Since opening its doors in 2020, the boutique agency has grown almost entirely through repeat business and client referrals, earning a reputation for honest advice, personalised service, and strong results across the Byron Shire and Northern Rivers. Now, six years on, the boutique agency is entering an exciting new chapter.

Over the past month, Cape Byron Property has expanded from five to nine team members, welcoming two trusted property advisors, a luxury property specialist, and an executive assistant. It marks the most significant period of growth in the company’s history, driven by purpose rather than scale.

Founders Bryce and Rachel Cameron have carefully brought together a team of experienced professionals who share the

values that have shaped the agency from the beginning: integrity, collaboration, transparency and genuine client care.

The expanded team brings decades of combined industry experience and deep local knowledge, further strengthening the

agency’s capabilities across residential, prestige and commercial sales, as well as property management. Importantly, Cape Byron Property remains committed to delivering the boutique, highly personalised service that has become its hallmark.

“This isn’t about becoming the biggest agency,” Bryce says. “It’s about bringing together the right people to deliver exceptional property advice, personalised service, and outstanding results. Every person who joins Cape Byron Property shares a genuine commitment to our clients, our community and achieving the best possible outcome. That has always been our focus, and it always will be.”

As the Byron Shire continues to evolve, Cape Byron Property remains proudly independent, locally owned and deeply connected to the community it serves. With expanded expertise, renewed energy and the same unwavering values, the agency is well positioned for the future while remaining true to the principles that have guided it from day one.

The next chapter may bring a larger team, but the agency’s focus remains unchanged: trusted relationships, strategic advice, and exceptional care at every stage of the property journey.

■ www.capebyronproperty.com 1/58 Centennial Circuit, Byron Bay.

Telling it like we think it is since 1986. Did

Not only does The Echo have fantastic circulation and distribution figures, it also has the most attractive, interesting and talented readers.

15 GARDENIA COURT, MULLUMBIMBY

Property Business Directory

Photo: Tirza Abb

Backlash

‘When the world seems close to pear-shaped, when leaders fill you with despair, when things look dark and dreary, and love seems far too rare – CUDDLE A DUCK.’

– Sam Neil

Right-wing Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, has never been shy of turning politics into theatre. But the performance may have gone badly off script. Facing a parliamentary investigation into an alleged £5 million undeclared gift (possibly illegal), Farage chose an audacious escape route: resign to force a by-election in his seat of Clacton, pre-empting an investigation into his finances that could have ousted him, get re-elected by ‘the people’ and then presumably say it wasn’t a problem. Rather than split the anti-Farage vote, the major parties have refused to run candidates leaving the field open. Among the favourites are Nick the Incredible Flying Brick, from the Official Monster Raving Loony Party, and the bookmakers’ favourite, Count Binface – the intergalactic refuse receptacle whose costume is a wheelie bin from another planet. Farage may have resigned to avoid scrutiny. Instead, he has managed to turn his political survival into a contest where the biggest threat to his career is a man in a bin suit.

In 1987 over 600 people marched to close Pine Gap, with a willing contingent from Byron Shire including Jane Flower who jumped the fence, was chased by police, and then taken in a police van to Alice Springs. ‘It was exciting demonstrating at

rainbow

for

and

Pine Gap, but it is still going strong unfortunately,’ she told Backlash on Monday from her new home in London. This Monday saw 500 people march again led by the Hayes family, the traditional owners of Kuyunba – the sacred land that Pine Gap occupies – demanding the closure of the controversial military facility.

The media beat up around capital gains tax and negative gearing changes in the budget was just that. A recent Resolve Political Monitor Poll found that 61 per cent of all voters supported lower house prices. One Nation voters were keenest to keep house prices high, but nevertheless 55 per cent of them supported lower house prices, according to the Sydney Morning Herald

Bodywork for active humans

Splendour no longer! This time of year we’re normally dusting off our sparkling gumboots and

tutus

three days of great music and fun diversions at Splendour. Alas, three years has passed

all that is relegated to, ‘those were the days my friends’ compartment in our serotonin-soaked amygdala bit of our collective brain stem.

Photo Jeff ‘We Thought They’d Never End’ Dawson

FAMILY FRIENDLY