The Byron Shire Echo Issue 41.07 – July 29, 2026

THE MANOSPHERE IS SUCH AN EVOLUTIONARY CUL DE SAC – JEREMY FRANSIS The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 41 #07 • July 29, 2026 • www.echo.net.au

Developer stands by controversial Mullum co-living project despite design changes

Going with the Flo in Bangalow

Paul Bibby The developer behind a proposal for a high-density 50-room co-living development in the heart of Mullumbimby has lodged amended plans in response to concerns raised by Byron Shire Council (BSC) but has declined to amend the project’s overall scale and design.

‘The Nest’, project by Cadre is a three-storey building to be constructed on the corner of Whian and Stuart streets. Alongside the 50 rooms would be a cafe, co-working space, and commercial premises.

The revised application for the development, which is now open for public feedback, includes updated architectural plans, traffic and waste reports, engineering drawings, a revised public art proposal and a new heritage statement addressing issues identified

by Council during its assessment.

There are revised communal living and open space plans, additional solar access analysis, updated landscaping and heritage treatments, changes to the building’s external materials, and additional bike parking spaces.

The changes follow strong community opposition when the proposal was first exhibited.

Residents argued the development’s scale and bulk were excessive for the site and inconsistent with the character of Mullumbimby, warning it would dominate ▶ Continued on page 7

Big fines for digging creek channel ▶ p4

Sam Curtis, Indi and Gary Ashton at the pulsing heart of Flo Records in Bangalow who are celebrating their third birthday in style on Saturday, 8 August with a free, family-friendly community gathering around their Station Street store. It will feature local DJs and music throughout the afternoon, before the celebration moves across the road to the A&I Hall for a record fair. ‘We are bringing together independent local sellers, collectors and music lovers from across the region,’ said Gary (read more on page 35). Photo Jeff Dawson

Pod villages to close by end of the year – what’s the plan?

Hans Lovejoy

the 2022 floods.

House You founder, Chels Hood Withey, said in a statement that despite contacting NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA), MPs, community housing providers (CHP) and other NSW government agencies, there were no straight answers to two questions: Why are 259 households being evicted from functional community

Five of the last six pod villages, housing at least 259 households between them, are set to be closed by the end of this year with Wardell being the last and final pod village to be left of the original 11.

The pod villages were established across the region by the NSW government in the wake of

Ceglinski NSW Surf Life Saving Officer of the Year ▶ p5

housing, starting 29 July, when there is nowhere else for these families to go and no final decision has been made as to what happens to the pod villages after December 2026?

And, when the need for housing in our community is this severe and rental vacancy this low, why can’t the pod villages continue as the community housing they already 16 PAGE LIFTOUT

Politicians babble on and on, but who’s even listening? ▶ p8

THE ART OF

LIVING IN THE

NORTHERN

are – in place, or relocated together with their residents – managed for continuity by the CHPs already doing this work?

Responding to The Echo a spokesperson for the RA said, ‘RA is moving into the next phase of its Temporary Housing Program and is working with Homes NSW and other partners to support resident ▶ Continued on page 7

The art of living in the Northern Rivers ▶ centre pages

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NDIS respite day care proposed for Myocum Paul Bibby A small NDIS respite day care centre has been proposed for a rural residential property at Myocum, with the applicant seeking approval to regularise unauthorised building works and allow the ongoing use of an existing building to support people living with disability.

The development application relates to Building 4 at 257 McAuleys Lane, where owner Kylie Lyne is seeking consent to operate a respite day care centre from an existing 110-square-metre building.

According to the Statement of Environmental Effects, the facility would be operated by a registered NDIS provider and provide

support services for people with physical or mental health disabilities, including NDIS participants. It would not provide overnight accommodation.

Long history Planning documents describe the proposal as a small-scale facility comprising a main activity room, office, storage area, bathroom and covered deck on the 3.65-hectare rural residential property.

The application follows a complicated planning history for the site.

A previous deferred commencement consent granted in 2022 lapsed after its conditions were not satisfied within the required timeframe. Subsequent

approvals and building information certificates regularised other structures on the property, but Building 4 remained excluded from those consents, prompting the current application.

The planning report argues the proposed use is permissible within the site’s R5 Large Lot Residential zoning and is consistent with Byron Shire’s planning controls. It concludes the proposal has been assessed against relevant environmental planning instruments and development control plans and requests that Council grant development consent.

The application is currently on public exhibition, with Byron Shire Council yet to determine the proposal.

Byron’s A&I Estate, Sunrise and Habitat biz invited to connect

Council slams brakes on Ewingsdale Road crossing

The Byron Bay Chamber of Commerce is inviting businesses from the Arts & Industry Estate, Sunrise and Habitat precincts to come together for Estate Exchange – a free networking event designed to strengthen local connections and encourage collaboration between neighbouring businesses.

The event will be held on Thursday, 6 August at Stone & Wood Brewery, bringing together businesses from across the three precincts to meet, share ideas and discover new opportunities.

The event is free with registrations essential as places are limited. Register at https://events.humanitix. com/the-estate-exchange.

Paul Bibby A proposal to install traffic lights on Ewingsdale Road – at what councillors described as a location ‘from nowhere to nowhere’ – has been overwhelmingly rejected, with calls instead for a long-overdue masterplan for the increasingly congested corridor.

The signalised pedestrian crossing on Byron’s busiest road was proposed as part of the West Byron Urban Release Area development to satisfy a condition imposed by the Land and Environment Court requiring a safe pedestrian and cyclist crossing facility.

Staff endorsed traffic lights Council staff had recommended endorsing the crossing at Council’s June meeting ahead of a final sign-off from Transport for NSW. Instead, councillors unanimously voted against the proposal, asking the developer to seek a modification of the development consent and investigate alternatives, including crossings at nearby roundabouts, a future overpass or underpass, and a corridor-wide masterplan for Ewingsdale Road.

They also noted that very few people currently live in West Byron and that future pedestrian infrastructure should be guided by precinct planning rather than rushed into place.

Cr David Warth questioned the wisdom of placing traffic lights immediately after a roundabout on one of

the Shire’s busiest roads.

‘Cars would be coming out of the roundabout, accelerating, and then having to slow down for traffic lights in a very short space of time,’ he said.

‘I think we need to have a look at that whole corridor before we just approve a one-off.’

Deputy Mayor Jack Dods said piecemeal solutions risked turning the main gateway into Byron Bay into ‘a dog’s breakfast’.

‘This is the primary entry into Byron Shire. It should be a cohesive, considered design that these applicants can respond to,’ he said.

‘Traffic lights to nowhere’ Mayor Sarah Ndiaye was even more scathing, likening the proposal to ‘an episode of Utopia’.

‘Popping a set of traffic lights in the middle of nowhere, our first set of traffic lights between two roundabouts in a place nobody crosses, it just seems insane,’ she said.

The proposal arose after engineers ruled out an underpass because of flooding, acid sulphate soils, drainage problems, cost and crime concerns, while an overpass was also considered impractical because of its size, cost and the lengthy wheelchairaccessible ramps required.

Council will now seek changes to the development consent while investigating broader, long-term options for managing what is rapidly becoming one of Byron’s busiest transport corridors.

Eight potential house entitlements for Elements DA

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Last week The Echo reported that the additional two housing entitlements granted in the community title (CT) development application (DA 10.2025.275.1) by Elements of Byron resort at the former Club Med site, 144 Bayshore Drive, Byron Bay would increase the house entitlements to 11 across the rezoned area.

Elements of Byron have clarified that while the original rezoning allowed for the potential of nine house entitlements, they ‘currently have six and are proposing a maximum of eight’.

‘There remains the

potential to subdivide the residual lot to the north west [of the approved CT], with a landholding of around 30 hectares, to yield up to two additional dwelling entitlements. Should that occur there would then be eight dwelling entitlements across eight lots across the subject land,’ a spokesperson told The Echo.

Two additional lots created as part of the DA outline the public access to the beach and create a ‘community lot across the land zoned C2 environmental conservation, which will have no development’. www.echo.net.au

Local News

Mullum stores call out increase in stealing Aslan Shand According to some local shops in Mullumbimby there has been an increase in the number of thefts over the last six to twelve months, costing businesses significantly.

‘We are losing thousands of dollars a week to theft,’ Dino’s IGA Mullumbimby owner Dino Rosa told The Echo.

Another local chemist agreed with Craig Watson from Soul Pattinson Chemist that many of the thefts are ‘very brazen’.

‘It is a regular occurrence; things are being stolen every day. I understand that people are struggling, but these thefts impact the viability of local businesses,’ said Craig.

Dino says IGA moved the Covid tests and condoms behind the counter because they just kept getting stolen.

‘Good cuts of meat are getting stolen and some people are coming in and doing it so brazenly. We can see people just picking up several cuts of meat, putting it in their jumper, and just walking straight out. It’s not your typical kids either,’ he said.

Increasing since Covid Woolworths have also confirmed they have seen a steady increase in theft since Covid.

‘We know the majority of our customers do the right thing and we thank them for showing our team the respect they deserve,’ a spokesperson told The Echo.

‘Theft is a major driver of violence and aggression in retail stores and over the last three years we have invested $46 million on anti-theft measures and other initiatives to keep our team and customers safe.’

Mitre 10 in Mullumbimby said they had also seen a steady increase in theft over the last three years and were

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Wayne Pettit, IGA Store Manager Amanda Coyne, and Matthew Perry at Dino’s IGA Mullumbimby have seen a big increase in theft. Jeff ‘Light Fingered’ Dawson regularly looking at ways to reduce it.

‘We are cracking down on theft,’ said Jenelle Stanford from Mullumbimby Newsagency.

‘Some people and kids are really blatant in their attempts to steal from the store. We have increased cameras and have had to ban some people from the store.’

Reported retail theft Retail theft across Byron Shire was 29 per cent below the NSW average in the 12 months to March 2026 according to NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR).

According to their crime mapping tool retail theft in Mullumbimby appears to have gone through several spikes and troughs over the last two years.

BOSCAR statistics are based on incidents that are detected by or reported to NSW Police.

‘Police take reports of stealing offences seriously and investigate all reports of shop theft,’ said a spokesperson for the Tweed-Byron Police.

‘Reducing anti-social and criminal behaviour

across the Tweed-Byron area remains a priority for police, with proactive strategies in place to prevent offending and enhance community safety. Officers regularly use CCTV footage and other investigative avenues to identify offenders and hold them accountable.

‘Police will continue to conduct high-visibility patrols and targeted operations to disrupt criminal activity and deter offending.

Anyone who witnesses suspicious or criminal behaviour is urged to report it via the Police Assistance Line on 131 444, or Triple Zero (000) in an emergency or if an offender is still on scene. Information from businesses and the community plays a critical role in police investigations, and every report helps police

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take action to keep the community safe.’

Police can place a prohibition on specific customers, banning them from returning to specific stores.

All retail outlets confirmed that they place the safety of their staff and customers first and are careful in how they manage people stealing from their stores.

‘I don’t get my staff to confront them or hold them or do anything like that because I just don’t know how that’s going to turn out,’ Dino explained.

‘I’ve seen some really bad instances where confrontation creates someone just going off their brain and hurting people. We just want people and customers to be aware of it as an issue for local stores.’

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Local News

North Coast news online

Meet The Echo’s editorial team

Aslan Shand is The Echo editor including news, letters, and sports. Daughter of Echo cofounder Nicholas Shand, Aslan is a current shareholder. Aslan has worked at The Echo since 2016 and is in charge of The Echo’s overall content.

Paul Bibby is a journalist and avid council watcher working on both the digital and physical paper. Paul is a former Sydney Morning Herald journalist and has worked with The Echo since 2017.

Jeff Dawson is a director and shareholder of The Echo, employed since 1987 by evil forces to misdirect serious Echo management meetings with banter tangents, quips, and photo-babble.

Eve Jeffery is a journalist and Echo entertainment editor.

Eve takes photos and has done almost every role at The Echo since she began working at the paper back in 2011.

David Lowe is a filmmaker who writes news stories and political comment for The Echo in his spare time. You can catch his political comment every Monday in The Echo online.

The Echo also employs regular Opinion and Comments contributors such as Southern Cross University Dean of Law David Heilpern, Mandy Nolan, Jo Immig, Sunil Badami and former MPs Richard Jones and Catherine Cusack and a host of others contribute in different ways, such as our poofreader Neil Young.

Dress up and support Mullum High’s Trivia Night Byron Council warns of big fines Pop quiz: Where can you test your trivia prowess, go home with incredible prizes and raise funds for student wellbeing? Yes, it’s Mullumbimby High School’s (MHS) annual Trivia Night, coming up on Friday, 21 August in the newly renovated school hall. Doors open at 5.30pm, trivia fun begins 6pm.

This is a fun community event. Expect trivia rounds covering all your favourite topics, plus giveaways, hilarious games and abundant raffle prizes. Guests are invited to dress up in MHS blue and yellow, with more prizes for best outfits! Cakes, tea, and coffee available with a limited number of Malaysian curries available for preorder when you book your table at https://mhspandc. com.au.

Places are limited. Book

for digging creek channel to sea

Mullumbimby High School P&C getting ready for a fun night of trivia. Photo supplied in now as a table of eight friends, or join individually.

Adults only. Every raffle and table ticket sold goes directly to MHS Student Wellbeing Centre. Please bring cash to buy tickets in the over $9,000 in raffle prizes to be won!

(ATM available if needed).

MHS Trivia Night is a spectacular evening.

Generous local sponsors

include: Mullumbimby Comprehensive Health Centre; Willett Partners Accountants, Brunswick Heads; DINO’s IGA, Mullumbimby; and Conscious Grounds.

Grab your thinking caps, rally your team, and get ready for an incredible evening of connection with the local school community. Let the trivia begin!

With a channel being illegally dug from Tallow Creek to the sea, Byron Council is warning the community that it is not only illegal, but ‘can result in significant environmental impacts such as large-scale fish kills’.

In a statement, Council say, ‘Sudden drops in water levels expose aquatic vegetation, depleting oxygen in the water’.

Illegal opening can result in a fine of up to $110,000!’

About Tallow Creek Council say, ‘Tallow Creek is classified as an ICOLL (Intermittently Closed and Open Coastal Lake or Lagoon)’.

‘The entrance/mouth of Tallow Creek ICOLL may be closed to the sea from

Illegal channel dug at Tallow Creek. Photo Byron Council time to time and for varying periods, by natural beach building processes.

‘Opening of the mouth generally occurs by natural means with rainfall.

‘Council works closely

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with NPWS, Arakwal, Marine Parks and Fisheries to monitor and manage water levels in Tallow Creek for flood risk and maintain the significant natural values of the area’, they said.

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Local News It’s a run, it’s a walk, it’s sculpture Local filmmakers encouraged to share their stories at Byron Bay Film Festival – it’s the Chinny Charge Aslan Shand The sun has come out from behind the rain clouds and now is the time to start preparing for the Chinny Charge, if you haven’t already.

Get set to run, or walk if you prefer, on Saturday, 19 September, registrations are open and filling up at www. eventwizards.com.au, with early bird registration closing on Monday, 31 August. The entry fee is $50 for runners and $25 for non-competitors (walkers). If you leave it to the last minute, it is $75 on the day if there are spaces available. The prices have been kept the same as previous years in recognition of the current challenges around cost of living.

Kids get to run first from town to the base of the mountain and back. Then it is the serious adult runners – some manage to get up the mountain and back in just over 30 minutes. After that, it is the fun runners and walkers who head off to enjoy the once-a-year opportunity to take a stroll and enjoy the

The Chinny Charge is a chance for everyone to enjoy a walk and run up Mullumbimby’s local Mount Chincogan.

Photo Jeff Dawson mountainside views from our local Mount Chincogan. Everyone heading up the mountain must be 12 years old or over.

Sculpture and fun While those keen on a run or a hike up the mountainside are adventuring, kids and adults alike can enjoy a sculpture exhibition at the Civic Art Space at the Civic Hall in Mullumbimby and some fun activities for children in the park next door.

‘I’m very excited about bringing out this creative

side of the potters of North Coast Ceramics,’ exhibition organiser Suvira MacDonald told The Echo.

‘On the mud trail we see a lot of tableware and things like that, this is a more creative opportunity with a range of freestanding and mounted sculptures’.

The exhibition is being sponsored by The Banya bathhouse who are supporting a range of local creative initiatives including The Echo and Creative Mullum’s recent short story competition.

Ceglinski NSW Surf Life Saving Officer of the Year Brunswick SLSC patrol captain, Simon Ceglinski, has been awarded NSW Surf Life Saving Officer of the Year at the 12th annual Rotary Emergency Services Community Awards (RESCA) at Bankstown Sports Club.

The honour was in recognition Simon’s longtime service and commitment to surf life saving and ongoing efforts to show that our diversity is what makes us stronger, as national lead for Lifesavers with Pride’s Rainbow Beaches initiative.

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Brunswick SLSC patrol captain, Simon Ceglinski. Photo supplied

Local filmmaker Quinn Ingram-Arnold has been out shooting a short film that he’s hoping to have in the Byron Bay International Film Festival. Photo Jeff Dawson Entries are open for the Byron Bay International Film Festival’s (BBFF) Local Filmmakers section, which provides an opportunity for filmmakers living in the Northern Rivers to screen alongside international productions at one of Australia’s longest-running and most respected regional film festivals.

20 years Celebrating its 20th anniversary this October, Festival Director J’aimee SkipponVolke says supporting local filmmakers has always been central to BBFF’s vision.

‘For 20 years, BBFF has celebrated stories from around the world while remaining deeply connected to the creative community that surrounds us. The Local Filmmakers section is about giving Northern Rivers filmmakers the opportunity to

share their work with local audiences, visiting industry guests, and an international festival community.’

Joel Bryant, whose film Flowing Wood won Best Byron Film at last year’s festival, encourages other local filmmakers to enter this year’s festival.

‘Winning Best Byron Film at BBFF was incredibly special. It’s a festival that genuinely values authentic storytelling and gives local filmmakers the chance to share their work alongside films from around the world.

If you’ve created something that means something to you, I’d encourage you to enter. You never know who your story might connect with.’

BBFF welcomes films of all lengths and genres, from emerging filmmakers through to experienced professionals.

Eligible films must not have screened publicly before January 2024 and cannot be resubmissions.

Filmmaker Matty Hannon, whose documentaries The Road to Patagonia and Haus Tumbuna both screened at BBFF, says the festival helped expand his audience.

‘The festival provided an incredible platform and industry exposure that significantly impacted my career trajectory.

Entries for the Local Filmmakers section close on Monday, 17 August.

Northern Rivers filmmakers are encouraged to submit early. For entry details visit: https://bbff.com.au/ submissions.

The 20th Byron Bay International Film Festival will be held from 16 to 25 October, celebrating two decades of independent cinema, creativity and community.

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North Coast News

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‘Information gaps’ surround CSIRO mega-dam flood study News from across the North Coast online

www.echo.net.au Rous celebrates trainee achievement Northern Rivers water, weed biosecurity, and flood mitigation organisation, Rous County Council (Rous) say they are proud to celebrate the achievement of one of its trainees, who was selected to participate in the NSW government’s Fresh Start Aboriginal Recruit and Supervisor Network. www.echo.net.au/2026/07/ rous-celebrates-traineeachievement/

Data on domestic and family violence sees slight decline Survey measures suggest domestic and family violence (DFV) has declined in NSW over recent years, according to new analysis by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR). Yet the NSW peak body body representing over 200 specialist domestic violence services, said domestic and family violence is a complex and deeply underreported crime.

Truck show rolls into Casino from 31 July With all 550 truck entry spots snapped up in less than an hour, organisers say the North Coast Petroleum Casino Truck Show is gearing up for another massive event. www.echo.net.au/2026/07/ truck-show-rolls-into-casinofrom-31-july/

Australian of the Year Award – nominations close 31 July Time is running out to have your say on who should be considered for the 2027 Australian of the Year Awards, with just ten days left in which to submit your nomination at australianoftheyear.org.au.

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.

Grants news across Northern Rivers region There have been a number of government announcements about grants, for local sport, active ageing, and domestic violence prevention.

Lismore MP Janelle Saffin says sporting organisations across the Lismore electorate can apply for their share of a $50,000 funding pool following the opening of the NSW Government’s Local Sport Grant Program.

www.echo.net.au

Hans Lovejoy

– not just the two included in the report’.

He called for details around every dam, ‘so everyone can easily see whose homes, whose farms and buildings, and which forests will be destroyed, which roads will be unusable for weeks, which areas are at risk of landslips’.

L

ismore and Kyogle locals expressed frustration at public meetings around a controversial CSIRO report aimed at reducing flooding.

Residents are asking for more detailed mapping, as the proposal could have significant impacts on properties, farmland and critical habitats. Other smaller meetings were held in Ballina and Woodburn.

The flood report suggests two options (bundle 1 and 2), with bundle 2 being a network of ten massive water detention basins across the Richmond River catchment, which scientists claim could have kept the March 2022 flood peak below the Lismore CBD levee.

The report comes without plans for offsetting the enormous impacts it would have – a further report to address these concerns is planned.

Released 30 June, the report is the second output

Lismore residents at the CSIRO flood meeting. Photo supplied of CSIRO’s Northern Rivers Resilience Initiative, commissioned after the FebruaryMarch 2022 floods.

Lismore mayor Steve Kreig was successful in adopting bundle 2 into Lismore City Council’s Flood Risk Management Plan.

Federal Page MP Kevin Hogan (Nationals) is also supportive of the plans.

Kyogle meeting Paul Daley, Creative Director at A Lush Forest Media, was at the Kyogle meeting

and wrote on social media, ‘It’s an enormous amount of temporary flood storage, on the order of 40 Rocky Creek Dams spread across the upper Richmond catchment.

‘Unbelievably, with an $11 million feasibility budget, there was no microphone, or no plan to actually answer questions from the community as an open forum’.

Daley called for more detailed maps and, ‘the full extent of inundation for every one of the ten megadams proposed in our hills

Contamination not considered Evans Head Residents for Sustainable Development Inc said, ‘The problem with the CSIRO study is that it is a hydrological study, which does not consider the potential contaminating effects of the Richmond on the Evans.

‘The Evans River Estuary has already been badly contaminated by the Richmond, reflected in the death of a once thriving oyster industry.’

Meanwhile, a new Facebook group, Northern Rivers Flood Action Now, is

in favour of the temporary detention dams, and claims that the dams proposed by CSIRO are instead ‘temporary flood gates’.

They said, ‘During a significant flood event, gates close and water is temporarily held upstream – slowing the peak that hits towns downstream.

Once the flood peak passes, the gates open, the water drains completely and the land returns to exactly what it was before’.

‘Between flood events, the river flows normally. The gates are open. The land is dry’, the group says.

Yet Kyogle mayor Danielle Mulholland says she has re-read the CSIRO report and said, ‘They can call the detention basins anything they want, but at the end of the day, a body of water 650 metres wide is going to erode riparian zones, impact on prime agricultural land, impact the roads and bridges we have fought so hard to get funding for, [and] destroy critical habitat.’

Tweed planning panel preference accusations unpacked Hans Lovejoy

T

weed councillor Kimberly Hone accused her fellow councillors of negotiating preference deals with an unnamed Northern Regional Planning Panel (NRPP) member.

She was subsequently expelled from the chamber on 16 June with a police escort after she refused to retract her remarks.

The Echo has been provided with comments from the man The Echo believes Cr Hone was referring to – planning academic at Bond Uni, Ned Wales.

And with Cr Hone seemingly having made unsubstantiated claims around the matter, thus far she has refused to address the public

Councillor Kimberly Hone

Ned Wales

record as laid out by Tweed Shire Council.

The Echo asked her to address three of her claims, yet she did not reply by deadline.

They are that the mayor expelled her, and that her actions were allowed under new legislation. These claims are factually incorrect, according to the public record.

As for her allegations of preference deals, Mr Wales

told The Echo he cannot recall preference deals at the time of the 2024 Tweed Council election.

Cannot recall He ran with Kimberley Lloyd as independents, and he was unsuccessful in gaining a seat.

He said, ‘270 people voted for me’. Regarding his 2026 role with the NRPP, Wales said, ‘As panel members,

H5 bird flu detected in Queensland State government agency Biosecurity Queensland says it has recorded its first suspect positive case of H5 bird flu in a wild bird. They said in a statement, ‘The suspect positive test result is from a dead petrel found on Moreton Island (Mulgulpin)’.

‘The Biosecurity Sciences Laboratory in Brisbane returned initial H5 bird flu results and further testing is underway at the CSIRO

6 The Byron Shire Echo July 29, 2026

laboratory in Geelong. This suspect positive case follows 17 detections of H5 bird flu in Western Australia, South Australia and NSW. ‘There remain no detections in poultry, nor evidence of large-scale deaths in any animals in Queensland.

‘Do not touch sick or dead wild birds or wildlife.

‘The department will update the community when the confirmatory results are

received which is expected in the coming days’.

Highly contagious They say bird flu is a highly contagious viral infection of birds, including poultry.

‘If you suspect bird flu in any species of animal, you must report it immediately to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888’. For more info visit www.dpi.qld.gov.au/birdflu.

we have no contact with councillors, only planning staff and state government officials. Our vote is only two – the state government have three.

‘I was appointed to the panel in 2009, and have been reappointed over the years, because of my industry expertise in planning.’

Mr Wales rejected any wrongdoing and said he was surprised at the accusation

by Cr Hone.

Mr Wales was one of four members appointed to Tweed Council’s Northern Regional Planning Panel (NRPP) on 5 June, 2025.

National attention Just after Cr Hone was ejected from the chambers, she and her husband – an evangelical pastor – sought to capitalise on the issue, claiming freedom of speech was at stake.

Over the years, Cr Hone has cultivated a somewhat polarised persona as a political figure.

Cr Hone posted a series of Facebook videos soon after leaving the meeting, saying she had been ejected ‘because we are no longer allowed to say what we think or feel’ and describing the process as ‘a brand new rule brought in by the mayor’.

Her husband, Wez Hone, posted separately, calling it ‘typical behaviour of the loony left’ and adding, ‘we have a mega phone called the internet’.

His post drew roughly 9,500 reactions, 1,500 comments and 1,400 shares – more engagement than any of Cr Hone’s own four posts.

MP Barnaby Joyce shared it to his own following within about four hours.

Joyce wrote that Cr Hone had been removed ‘not because she was violent, swearing, yelling, but merely asking questions and disagreeing with Labor and the Greens party’, and framed it as a case of ‘the political elite enforcing what they see as the entitlement of enlightenment’.

His post drew about 22,000 reactions, 5,400 comments and 3,300 shares.

Pauline Hanson also shared the footage. Her post drew about 2,900 reactions, 771 comments and 160 shares.

Council’s own corrective material reached a fraction of that audience.

Two posts from Mayor Chris Cherry drew a combined 379 reactions and 36 shares. A Council Facebook post recorded 21,695 views, 262 reactions and 16 shares; a Council Instagram post recorded 676 views. www.echo.net.au

Local News

Memorial plaques face 15-year review under draft policy Paul Bibby From memorial benches overlooking the ocean to plaques honouring local identities, Byron’s commemorative tributes could face regular review under a proposed Council policy.

The draft Memorials and Plaques in Open Spaces Policy, which is currently on public exhibition, sets out how future requests for memorials on Councilmanaged land would be assessed and maintained.

Among its provisions is a requirement that all memorials be reviewed after 15 years, with Council able to retain, relocate or remove

them depending on their significance, condition and the future use of the site.

The policy says the review process is intended to balance the community’s desire to commemorate people and events with the need to ensure parks and other public spaces do not become cluttered over time.

‘It is recognised that with time a particular location may become saturated with plaques and memorials,’ the policy states, adding that in such cases ‘it would be appropriate to consider strict limitations or a moratorium of future installations at a particular location or area.’

Gavin Arthur's plaque is at the bench under the Bruns lifesaver tower. Photo Jeff Dawson The draft policy also proposes that no new memorials or plaques be approved for Main Beach parklands,

including Apex Park, Dening Park and Clarkes Beach, until a broader foreshore Plan of Management and

Master Plan has been adopted.

Anyone seeking to install a memorial would need to demonstrate the person, group or event has a significant connection to the Byron Shire and the proposed location, while also providing evidence of community support.

The policy retains several existing restrictions, including prohibiting memorials for domestic pets on public land, preventing plaques from being attached to living trees, and ruling out memorials with religious or political affiliations.

It also makes clear that memorials are not

necessarily permanent, stating: ‘Byron Shire Council does not guarantee to retain a memorial after a period of 15 years.’ Instead, memorials may ultimately be ‘retained, relocated, and/or removed’ following a review of their significance and physical condition.

Council says the policy is intended to provide a consistent and transparent framework for memorials while preserving the character and amenity of the Shire’s public open spaces. The draft policy is on public exhibition, with submissions invited before it returns to Council for consideration.

Weed grant for Byron wetland Pod villages coming to an end – what’s next?

A $40,650 NSW government grant to help with weed control in the Sandhills Wetlands precinct at Byron Bay has been welcomed by Byron Shire Council.

'Sixty-one weed species were recorded in the area as part of the Environmental Impact Study for the Sandhills Wetlands project,'

said Mr Robertson, Acting Manager Works.

‘The grant will be the start of a major focus on bush regeneration in that area that will see the invasion of weeds brought under control, creating the space for native species to thrive.

■ Read online: echo.net.au.

Mullum Nest’s co-living DA ▶ Continued from page 1

neighbouring homes, worsen traffic and parking pressures, increase flood risks and set an unwelcome precedent for future development in the town.

Some of those concerns were echoed by BSC, which subsequently issued a detailed request for further information (RFI) questioning whether the proposal complied with key planning controls relating to communal living and open space, room sizes, heritage compatibility, bicycle parking, flood management, and building compliance.

Despite those concerns, Cadre has rejected several of Council’s conclusions, arguing the proposal already complies with the relevant planning controls.

In response to Council’s assessment, the applicant states: ‘We firmly believe that there is no shortfall in communal living space’ and ‘We firmly believe that there is no shortfall in communal open space’, disputing Council’s finding that the proposal falls below the required standards.

The developer also argues www.echo.net.au

Council has incorrectly interpreted the floor area calculations for some rooms and maintains the groundfloor co-living areas do not front the street and therefore comply with the Housing SEPP. The biggest point of disagreement, however, remains the building’s height and heritage response.

Rather than reducing the proposal to two storeys, as suggested by Council officers, Cadre argues the site’s long-standing commercial zoning justifies the threestorey design.

A detailed heritage statement prepared by Harley Graham Architects says the proposal has been refined to better reflect both Mullumbimby’s commercial centre and adjoining residential streets, describing the approach as ‘regional typological hybridisation’ that combines a masonry commercial base with lighter, residential-inspired upper levels.

Council will now consider the amended documentation as it continues its assessment of the development application.

▶ Continued from page 1

transitions, while considering how villages and pods can be repurposed to best support ongoing housing needs’.

‘Supporting residents to transition to appropriate long-term accommodation remains the priority and RA is working closely with Homes NSW and CHPs. ‘CHPs are working directly with each resident to understand their individual circumstances and connect them with available housing options and support services. [They are] taking a staggered approach to ensure that every resident can receive the maximum amount of support in securing other housing options.

‘Decisions about the future use of each site are

expected to be finalised before the end of 2026.

‘The closure of five temporary housing villages in 2025 were successfully managed as intended, with residents exiting the program with stable housing outcomes, with no instances of exits into homelessness.

‘Reusing temporary housing pods aims to reduce waste and maximise the value of public investment, while supporting ongoing housing outcomes for communities’, RA said.

Administrative funding gap Ms Hood Withey has accused the NSW government of potentially making residents homeless ‘because of an administrative funding

gap, and a lack of collaboration between the agencies responsible for keeping people housed until reuse is settled, or until actual housing options exist, i.e. more public and community housing delivered across the Northern Rivers’ ‘Worst case is Mullumbimby, where we still don’t know if the site will stay or go. Whatever the outcome for any individual site, there is no valid reason residents need to vacate by 3 November. We have seen the eviction notices handed to Brunswick Heads residents.

‘We’ve been told directly that the pods must be handed back to the NSW RA by 18 December because the four-year NEMA funding period is ending, and whatever comes next – a new

operator, relocation, reuse, or something else – needs separate funding that is still being finalised.

‘Residents have already lived through the floods, years of displacement, and repeated uncertainty. They do not deserve to end up living in their cars because a funding period ran out before the next one was organised. This is a housing matter now, and the NSW government and Homes NSW need to take responsibility for it. Forced eviction and homelessness for hundreds of families – while the pods themselves will likely sit empty until reuse is actualised – is indefensible and entirely preventable.’

■ Read full story in The Echo

online: www.echo.net.au.

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July 29, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 7

Comment

North Coast news online

Why voters have stopped listening

I

The Byron Shire Echo

Volume 41 #07 • July 29, 2026

Changing face of Byron

T

rying to get a park in Byron Bay these days can be a little tricky with the amount of tradies and construction teams blocking off alleys and sections of road to park and get deliveries. And it doesn’t look like that is changing any time soon, with multiple large developments going through the NSW state government’s State Significant Development (SSD) and Regionally Significant Development (RSD) development approval process – both which bypass Byron Shire Council (BSC).

The question is what is this doing to the face of Byron? Known for its eclectic vibe and character that has defined the town, Byron has fought to maintain its character with strict height limits and other planning controls through development control plans (DCP) and town master plans. However, with constant pushes to breach height limits by developers and the state government appearing to bypass local planning laws around height, bulk and scale, when anyone mentions ‘affordable housing’ or ‘retirement living’ and at least three high-density development applications (DAs) going to the state government, bypassing BSC, it looks like the fight to keep Byron from turning into the Gold Coast is on once again.

Currently heading into the SSD pipeline are the former Glen Villa cabin, caravan, and camping site at 80 Butler Street and 12 Bay Street, which has a proposal for 200 ‘retirement living’ apartments with a starting price for a lease at $2.5 million. There is a mixed-use proposal for 190 apartments on Jonson and Browning Streets, and The Swell Hotel on Butler Street for 70 dwellings, and wellness facilities. And these don’t include the likes of the DA for the former Quicksilver surf shop at 2 Jonson Street, Byron Bay that seeks to exceed the height limit by 3.38 metres. Former National Party Deputy Leader and Member for Ballina from 1988 to 2015, Don Page has come out in defence of Byron’s height limits, previously telling The Echo, ‘We, as a community, fought hard to bring in the NSW Coastal Policy in 1990 to protect Byron from becoming another Gold Coast. No highrise is an important part of Byron Bay’s character and distinguishes us from the Gold Coast in a very positive way. It is an important principle to protect.’

The Sydney CBD, North Sydney and Parramatta core CDBs were removed from the SSD pathways because those areas already have bespoke local environmental plans (LEPs), major precinct frameworks, and planning controls that the government did not want overridden, explains People of Byron convenor Brooke Crowle.

It is time to call on the state government to look at the impacts that these developments have on the town’s character and future together, rather than individual, isolated projects. Perhaps it is time to have Byron removed from the SSD and RSD pathways so that the unique character of the town can be managed effectively. There are clear and specific controls through our local environment plan (LEP), DCP, and master plan, that have been developed over decades to protect the town’s character and surrounding coastline and local environment.

Find out more about the SSD and RSD at the People of Byron website www.peopleofbyron.com/journal-byroncentric/ statesignificantdevelopments.

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

t appears from the polls that Western democracies are lurching to the populist right. Voters across Australia, US and the UK are increasingly dissatisfied with major party duopolies – or as many call them, the ‘uniparty’.

It’s hard to tell them apart, given that the ALP, US Democrats, and UK Labour have embraced the same neoliberal ‘trickle down’ economic policies that the Grand Old Party (GOP/ US Republicans) and Tories first rolled out in the 1980s.

What’s clear is that neoliberalism’s deregulation, privatisation, and low taxation haven’t served most people or societies well, entrenching inequality as they’ve concentrated wealth for billionaires, while leaving the rest of us behind with stagnating wages, unstable employment, and inadequate services.

With rising cost-of-living pressures and increasing housing unaffordability, voters are desperate. They want to feel heard, rather than talked at or about. But it often seems that politicians don’t have much to say outside of the party line.

Which is why politicians who communicate effectively will always command their attention. From Lincoln to Churchill, FDR to JFK, great leaders have offered clear visions with inspiring rhetoric.

When’s the last time you heard a politician speak like that?

You might say Barack Obama, whose 2004 Democrat National Convention speech launched him into the presidency.

But hope, no matter how audacious, is a high-minded aspiration, and Obama’s eloquence – like Kevin Rudd’s programmatically specific verbosity – doesn’t speak to the very people now turning to right-wing populists like Pauline Hanson, Nigel Farage, or Donald Trump.

You wouldn’t call any of them great orators, but they cut through not just by saying the things their supporters want to hear, but in a way they understand.

Tabloids like The Daily Telegraph pitch their copy to a reading age of around nine years old, meaning a primary school student can understand them. Broadsheets, particularly left-leaning ones like The Guardian, sit at around 14.

What’s that mean? Well, if you’re disenfranchised and unskilled, and Obama invokes ‘bending the arc of history from sea to shining sea’, you’re not going to feel he’s not talking to you, or even over you, but that he’s talking down to you.

‘Neoliberalism’s deregulation, privatisation, and low taxation haven’t served most people or societies well, entrenching inequality as they’ve concentrated wealth for billionaires.’

– Sunil Badami Despite all the contradictions and gaffes, when the likes of Trump or Tony Abbott use slogans like ‘drill baby drill’ or ‘stop the boats’ you not only remember them, you can see them. Just as you can see them eating the cats and the dogs, or the big, beautiful wall that will keep them out, and stop them taking your jobs and women. It’s something Hanson constantly does, even as she swans about with billionaire Svengali Gina Rinehart. As she said of Barnaby Joyce’s trainwreck 7.30 interview: ‘People are fed up with this, honestly. There’s so much that’s happening out there… people are losing their homes, their mortgages, kids can’t get jobs, no future for themselves, people living in their cars, homeless … And they’re worried about Barnaby telling his dog to sit down.’

As her daughter Lee said of her: ‘She may not be the most eloquent person in the world but… she’s not necessarily the polished politician that speaks the same talking points as everybody else.’

It can sound as though many politicians are just avoiding the question, rather than trying to explain anything.

Albanese prides himself on caucus discipline that stays on message. But when it sounds like politicians are just talking to themselves to score points off each other, is it any surprise so many voters have stopped listening too?

That makes right-wing populists’ simple solutions seem so much easier to grasp, even if the actual policy details are vague, and, like the ‘establishment’ politicians they say they aren’t, they often evade questions about their policies or shadowy finances.

But given how badly the status quo is working for most of us, it’s clear people want drastic change, and they’ll turn to anyone who can promise it.

In the US, socialist Democrats like Zohran Mamdani and Alexandra Ocasio Cortez are successfully taking the fight to MAGA as they challenge the Democratic leadership’s centrist

stance – which despite Trump’s historical unpopularity, is still failing to cut through – by addressing the real issues facing their Gen Z target audience: cost of living, housing stress, and job insecurity in ways they can relate to.

Having said that, Australian politics – and its many powerful rent-seeking interest groups and mainly conservative media – discourages substantive change. No government has dared reform as boldly as Whitlam, Hawke, or Keating did over 30 years ago. And we all know where John Hewson and Bill Shorten’s big ideas landed them. Since Howard, it’s been about ‘small targets’ which do little to address anything.

But as outspoken former minister Ed Husic said at this week’s ALP National Conference: ‘The public want to see politicians, particularly in our camp, stand up for something. We don’t sign up for the status quo. We sign up for change.

That’s not always going to be an easy process.’

Still, after 18 disastrous months of Keir Starmer’s say anything, do nothing premiership, new British Labor PM Andy Burnham – who resoundingly thumped Reform in the by-election that returned him to parliament – spoke in plain English, without notes, and seemingly from the heart as he entered No 10, offering communities outside London abandoned by political elites a greater say in their futures.

He still faces many intractable problems caused by austerity, Brexit, and Trump, but at least he acknowledges these as he promises change. Whether he delivers – or can deliver, given the challenges – is another matter.

But for now, he offers some kind of hope for it, and for many with little else, that’s better than nothing.

■ Sunil Badami is a writer, academic

and broadcaster. He’s appeared in nearly every major Australian media outlet, and is a regular on ABC Radio and TV.

The Byron Shire Echo

Volume 41 #07 July 29, 2026

Established 1986 • 22,000 copies every week

www.echo.net.au Phone: 02 6684 1777 Editorial/news: editor@echo.net.au Advertising: adcopy@echo.net.au Office: 64 McGoughans Lane, Mullumbimby NSW 2482 General Manager: Simon Haslam Editor: Aslan Shand Deputy Editor: Hans Lovejoy Photographer: Jeff Dawson Advertising Manager: Anna Coelho Production Manager: Ziggi Browning

Nicholas Shand 1948–1996 Founding Editor

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The Echo acknowledges the people of the Bundjalung nation as the traditional custodians of this land and extends respect to elders past, present and future.

Disclaimer: The Echo is committed to providing a voice for our whole community. The views of advertisers, letter writers, and opinion writers are not necessarily those of the owners or staff of this publication.

‘The job of a newspaper is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.’ – Finley Peter Dunne 1867–1936

© 2026 Echo Publications Pty Ltd – ABN 86 004 000 239 Reg. by Aust. Post Pub. No. NBF9237

8 The Byron Shire Echo July 29, 2026

Volume 9 ~ 2026-2027 Your free guide to the flourishing health and wellbeing industry of Byron and the Northern Rivers Late

st magazine and website refresh

OUT N OW!

www.byronhealing.com.au www.echo.net.au

Letters to the Editor www.echo.net.au/letters Rubber band supplier Thanks to The Echo, I always have a supply of rubber bands, yet I never buy them.

I think the tag line under the masthead could read, ‘Supplying the Byron Shire with rubber bands since 1986’.

Thanks for all the good work that you do.

Jen Jacobs Brunswick Heads

Bonobo by Raes Sorry I am late to the conversation, but I just can’t let it go.

As a local resident I have to walk or drive past what I would call this monstrosity several times a day and I simply cannot understand how this was approved by Byron Shire Council.

Surely it does not satisfy the ugly test or ‘fitting for a centre of town’ test? It looks like an institution built in the 1960s/70s, not an upmarket holiday destination befitting Byron Bay. We are horrified. How was this design and structure ever allowed to be built in the centre of town?

Amanda Chadwick Kingscliff

Thanks Norm I played a show at the Byron Theatre last December on the Steinway grand piano.

Leading up to the show, I had a couple of chances to try out the piano. It sounded lovely, but the keys were quite stiff and required a relatively heavy-handed approach in order to make sure the hammers consistently made contact with the strings.

But, come the day of the show, it had been transformed. Norman Appel had worked his magic on it earlier that day, and he did far more than simply get it in tune. He made it an absolute dream to play. The keys were responsive to a delicate touch.

He knocked down the barrier between instrument and player, allowing the two to gel together. People tend to compliment a gorgeous instrument and fail to realise that it is only as good as the one who tunes and cares for it.

Byron has a real treasure in their piano community, and that treasure is Norm.

Thanks Norm.

Christopher Yates Brisbane

‘When a clown moves into a palace, they don’t become royalty. The palace turns into a circus’ – (slightly amended) Turkish proverb.

Rotten development Something is rotten with the 57 Station Street, Mullumbimby DA proposal.

If former mayor Simon Richardson doesn’t recuse himself from the NRPP decision on the 57 Station Street development proposal, then the basis of this proposal will have no social licence.

The Greens mayoral lineage that began with Mayor Richardson, through to Mayor Lyon, and now to Mayor Ndiaye, has infested this proposal from inception.

No one can explain why this site was chosen, the most difficult, congested, and complicated of all the proposed sites, or why it was secretly sold to a state government developer for a dollar.

With state MP Smith against the development proposal, I encourage everyone interested in transparent representative local government to write a submission against this diseased idea to tell the NRPP to reject it.

Tim Winton-Brown Mullumbimby

Yo Pauline To Pauline Hanson – sometimes Pauline, good people come from ‘bad’ countries and ‘bad’ people come from ‘good’ countries.

David Gilet Mullumbimby

Lismore’s idiocracy Do we allow idiots to have advocacy? It appears so!

I applaud David Lowe’s article [last week] titled ‘Nationals and water should

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. www.echo.net.au

never be mixed’.

It seems that the politics of vested interests gives rise to the bizarre madness of taking Lismore infrastructure and housing options back down the hill, from Goonellabah… back onto the floodplain! Who would suggest such idiocy?

My father-in-law, Frank Lancaster, was an engineer with Lismore City Council for almost 30 years. As a highly respected and awarded city engineer, (after the unprecedented 1974 floods), he met with profound resistance from established and entrenched business families, when he and his team of planners began implementing action and advice to take the town out of an increasing disaster zone – and shift it up the hill to higher ground.

It seemed a no-brainer at the time. To that end, the Council chambers shifted to Goonellabah, and then operated completely out of the flood-risk zone.

During that era, any businesses and community that had remained in the low-lying basin, only continued to experience ever-increasing flooding and environmental disasters, along with the attendant personal and financial tragedy. Greater societal trauma only compounded with each subsequent event. Very unfortunately, anyone who bought in to the old downtown structure put themselves patently at the risk of financial loss. I know so many who invested unknowingly just before the 2022 floods. They can never regain their costs.

And yet, at this very moment, particular business people in this current era, together with certain wellrecognised climate-denying politicians, are once again staring down reality and plain simple inevitable truth – with a clear and obvious

blind lack of logic!

What is the very obvious problem for our community?

It is an ever-building emotional trauma, economic and social cost, in a time of the escalating onslaught of increasing flood disasters for the Lismore basin?

What is their current answer to the problem?

They urge just simply try to coerce (or force) vulnerable businesses and community to head back down off the high ground, back into the valley! Back into the next trauma inevitably coming again very soon! They urge us to preserve the same absolute folly! They urge us to preserve the impossible!

It is questionable ‘leadership’ in the extreme.

As of this moment, let’s now decide to choose leaders of greater wisdom, prudence, and innovation, for the sake of all of us, and our children, and our grandchildren, and many generations to come.

I certainly miss my old father-in law, Frank, with his enterprise, imagination, vision, expertise, and outright common sense.

He’d be absolutely disheartened, and devastatingly sad, with where Lismore and many of its unfortunate people now find themselves.

What a bedraggled catastrophe we are condoning while trying to maintain the original dream.

What a tragedy! Idiots advise. Unless we choose otherwise.

Jamie Hoile Lennox Head

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Power bills Anne Stuart, I feel you are largely correct in your letter (July 22), but would like to share my thoughts on two issues.

The first is the fixed component of one’s power bill: at ▶ Continued on page 11 July 29, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 9

WHOLESOME INGREDIENTS

Functional Smoothies WHOLESOME INGREDIENTS

10 The Byron Shire Echo July 29, 2026

www.echo.net.au

Letters ▶ Continued from page 9 present electricity retailers can choose to charge more or less than the supplier (Essential Energy in our case) charges for this fixed service.

When I reviewed my option for retailers, I saw charges between $1.80 to well over $3 a day. The problem with this is consumers find it more difficult to compare retail offerings.

Add to that the different time-of-use times and charges, and it becomes even more difficult.

Hopefully one day AEMO may intervene and make the suppliers fix the daily charge (at supplier + markup) which would make it easier to compare plans.

The other point I would like to clarify is the effect of PV, EVs and private batteries on the grid.

There have been studies undertaken that the grid will accommodate these changes, but there may be requirements to limit things such as EV charging during the evening peak (roughly 5–7pm).

This is easily accommodated with ‘smart’ EV chargers, which can be controlled by the energy retailer.

Most people only need the vehicle in the morning, so there is adequate time to charge an EV. In time, we will see high current devices such as air conditioners or heating similarly controlled.

South Australia has shown that the grid is resilient, but there will need to be more storage such as batteries and pumped hydro, as well as the resources of consumers with private batteries and EVs being more efficiently utilised.

My current feeling is consumers are not joining virtual power plants owing to mistrust. This needs to change in the future to have a more resilient grid, so retailers need to build this trust by offering better returns for battery owners.

For anyone considering changing retailers, SolarQuotes (a South Australian website) has a tool to compare retail energy offers, and also lists all the current retail offers side by side.

The tool is a bit of a chore, but the ability to look at all offers side by side and even sort on daily charge or power cost is worth a look.

As an ex-Enova Energy coach, I personally use this resource, but have no financial ties to the site: oh, how I miss Enova!

Doug Foskey Tregeagle www.echo.net.au

‘No ruling elite will ever fund the specific education required to overthrow them. They will only teach how to decorate your corner of the cage’ – Assata Olugbala Shakur (1947–2025) was a US political activist, revolutionary, and fugitive who was a member of the Black Panther Party, and later the Black Liberation Army.

Standard of living set to bomb Australians are about to experience the biggest drop in their standard of living in more than 100 years. We are at the historic end of the expansion of western civilisation.

If US bombs bridges and power plants in Iran, (a war crime), then Iran may destroy the fuel refineries in the Middle East. When combined with the ongoing destruction of Russian oil refineries, this could cause several years of global fuel shortage.

In the months ahead, we may see a restriction of the liquid fossil fuels, which power both the economy and the global food supply.

Fuel demand will have to be greatly reduced, either voluntarily, by unaffordable prices, or by legislation. The Australian National Liquid Fuel Emergency Response Plan allows for fuel rationing.

There are going to be those with pedal power, equine or electric transport and a way to sustain that transport and those without such transport, who likely won’t have much transport, except public transport. Therefore, we are entering into a phase, we have never experienced before. Unfortunately, next year we may see fuel rationing, food shortages, lawlessness in Australia: all the consequences of a distant war.

Peter Olson Goonengerry

Swinging AI club Two stories have been told for a long time.

The caveman with the big club, got what was wanted.

Dominance over others by supplying violence to other cavepeople, to gain power over others. There was also a story told about how to love your own living – an essential method to survive the club and value life. Stories passed on to others then, as time proceeded, history was recorded in the written word.

What’s changed in today’s world, with all the modern tech and so-called advancements? The big club is still supplying violence to people in many forms.

They are installing the ‘advanced AI club’ into all essential methods used by people to live their life. Submission to the process is an inbuilt requirement. Without your agreement, this club swings, even when you have the latest mobile tracker. The caveman club methodology, and how to love your own living, are still active stories today.

Two choices, remaining throughout human history.

The leaders now control and use a technological multifaceted big club and use it on people. They are also individually living a life, and don’t understand, how to love your own living. Before the club can be used, life and love are already happening.

Robert Podhajsky Ocean Shores

Bangalow Bowlo Bangalow is the hub of much of Byron Shire, and in recent years, with the huge population growth, has confirmed that status with the huge investment in it and surrounding areas.

The state and federal governments contributed over $140 million to refurbish the Norco Factory after the 2022 floods. Why can’t they, along with Byron Council, do the same to regain control of the Bowlo?

Respected local and former Australian Rugby League Test team captain, Ken McCaffrie, was a past Norths RL president – he would be rolling over in his grave. Surely it has a Council zoning for community social and sporting use?

It is, with the adjacent sporting fields, Bangalow’s number one community asset.

Max Bolte Lennox Head

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July 29, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 11

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Articles

Meet the solitary frugivore bowerbird Byron Bird Buddies

O

n a chilly winter’s morning, we’re strolling with a friend through her glorious garden in the heart of the Blue Mountains.

Approaching a majestic cypress tree, we spy, beneath a bush at its foot, a scattering of bright blue plastic objects, a few blue feathers and a u-shaped structure made from thin bits of stick, straw and dry grass. The hues of blue are a dead giveaway.

‘Not sure where he is, probably quite close by and watching us,’ Margaret says of the resident Satin Bowerbird.

‘Even though he’s lived here for 20 years that we know of, he’s still nervous.

He flies off fast if we try to approach him.’

His bower is very fine work, neat and tidy.

Margaret says outside breeding season, he only visits his bower occasionally, sometimes rearranging the pieces of blue decor, which lie within a metre or so of it.

‘He pays a lot more attention to it in spring when he’s getting ready to mate,’ says Margaret. ‘He really fusses around and starts bringing in yellow objects to help lure the females. At least ten – sometimes up to 20 – females appear in the garden to check out his work. They’re quite particular and inspect him and his bower closely.’

Satin Bowerbirds (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus) abound here in the Northern Rivers too, along with two other species: Regent Bowerbirds (Sericulus chrysocephalus) and the Green Catbird (Ailuroedus crassirostris), the latter being the only one not to build a bower.

All three are forest dwellers belonging to the

Satin Bowerbird. Photo wikipedia.org / Summ Ptilonorhynchidae family.

According to current classifications, there are about 20 bowerbird species. Found only in the Austro-Papuan region, some are endemic to Australia, others to New Guinea and two occur in both areas.

The Northern Rivers bowerbirds generally stay close to home and live a largely solitary life, outside breeding season. Being frugivores, fruit is their favoured food, occasionally supplemented by insects.

The two bower builders are sexually dimorphic – meaning there is a distinct contrast in look between males and females – and polygynous, meaning males mate with many females and don’t take on parental duties.

Yowling cat call The Green Catbirds dare to differ, mating for life in monogamous relationships, with pairs staying together year-round. While the males don’t build bowers, they do clear a court area, and use brightly coloured fruit or flowers, held in the beak, with which to lure females.

Green Catbirds are recognisable from their striking plumage of white spots on a vivid green background.

And the call of the catbird once heard is never forgotten – somewhere between a

yowling cat and a mewling baby.

The scientific world has been looking at these birds as back as 1839, when famed ornithologist, John Gould, first encountered a Satin Bowerbird and bower in the wild, naming both.

His observations included two important facts: that only males build bowers and that they were used specifically for courtship displays.

But why on earth do they go to so much trouble?

Charles Darwin’s visit down under In January 1836, during his famous Voyage of the Beagle, Charles Darwin went out of his way to observe Satin Bowerbirds in the Blue Mountains.

He proposed that the female birds were selecting a mate based on the quality of the bower, an idea that supported the ‘female choice’ aspect of his theory of evolution.

Much has been learned since then, such as two main architectural styles of bower.

Performance space In both, the male performs on the court to attract potential mates, some using an impressive array of sounds and mimicry to announce the location of the bower

and ward off competitors and prey, as well as to woo females. Some male bowerbirds, including our Satin, also throw in a few dance moves.

More recently it has been suggested that the bower helps the male control the visiting females’ view of him and his display, which includes quick changes of selected decorations held in his beak as he appears, disappears and reappears either in the narrow ‘avenue’ window or by counteracting her movements around the maypole.

Mating takes place either in the bower or – in the case of the maypole – on the court before the female flies off to build the nest where her solo parenting will take place.

The types of objects and colours selected for court decoration vary according to bowerbird species and their location.

As hopes of seeing the resident Satin Bowerbird recede, Margaret suggests heading inside for some warmth and a hot cup of tea.

Sitting at the kitchen table, gazing into the garden, who should reward us with a view of his lustrous dark purple sheen, bright, lilac-coloured eyes and strikingly yellow feet but the king of the garden himself, swooping down onto the grass to peck around in the soil.

‘You know the males start off with green feathers, just like the females,’ says Margaret. ‘It takes about seven years to develop this beautiful “satin” look.’

She turns back to the window.

‘He’s always wellgroomed and takes great care of himself. A bit cheeky sometimes, but not brazen.

Isn’t he gorgeous?’

We can’t help but agree.

Feds promise to increase council funding

T

he federal Labor government has promised to restore adequate grants to councils across Australia to address the financial crisis in local government.

The announcement came at the ALP National Conference, held over the weekend.

The peak body representing the state’s 128 councils, or local government areas (LGAs), LGNSW warmly welcomed Sunday’s announcement, saying the newly formed Local Government Federation Compact ‘includes

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councils and communities across NSW and indeed across the nation’.

Five-year compact

LGNSW President Mayor Darcy Byrne. Photo supplied a commitment to annually increase the level of Financial Assistance Grants (FAGs) to councils across Australia’.

LGNSW President Mayor Darcy Byrne said, ‘This is an important breakthrough for

‘Along with the increase in financial assistance, the five-year compact will: ‘Ensure Roads to Recovery funding can be used to purchase plant and equipment to enable councils to carry out their own road maintenance with their own trained workers, to the extent possible; ‘Support and increase the availability of apprenticeships in local government,

as well as other employment programs in a local government context; ‘Deliver new capabilities to improve outcomes in housing, planning, emergency management and aged care; and ‘Ensure the government publishes an annual summary of funding for local government.

‘For too long, the lack of secure and untied funding has prevented councils from making the investments needed in local infrastructure and services,’ Cr Byrne said.

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July 29, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 13

The

Good Life Good Taste Dining Guide

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

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

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

www.echo.net.au/good-taste

14 The Byron Shire Echo July 29, 2026

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Outback Tom on food, adventure and precious days

T

om Forrest lives two lives, between unlikely celebrity and a modest outback block in the Kimberly region of WA, which he shares with his grandfather.

The proud Yorta Yorta man known as Outback Tom has become a social media sensation showcasing outback living, cooking, tips and tricks with Grandad Steve – all with a hearty dose of Aussie humour.

In 2021, the duo began sharing bush cooking videos on TikTok, amassing over 290,000 followers around the world.

The marriage between tradition and technology has made ‘Outback Tom and Grandad’ celebrities, and Forrest is grateful for the platform to share their stories.

‘It’s incredible how far these videos get across the world and almost anywhere we go, people come up to say hello,’ he said.

‘Social media can be negative and positive, but in terms of creative opportunity, it gives aspiring storytellers a way to tell the story they want to, and find their audience and their community. Previously, it didn’t work like that. It was challenging to get into the industry, whether through university or knowing certain people, and often a privileged upbringing to break through.’

Travelling, cooking and storytelling are intertwined in Forrest’s work. ‘I’m a storyteller at heart. I was a journalist for over a decade and on my first TV show at 16. I always loved telling stories, even as a kid,’ he said.

‘Every video we make is storytelling; we’re just using the food as the driver.

It’s about celebrating what life is like in Outback Australia.’

The

Good Life

Forrest’s book Gone Bush contains recipes and stories of the pair’s travels, which he believes offers something for everyone.

‘While it’s tailored around camp cooking, every recipe can be made at home and is probably easier to make in the house if anything,’ he said.

‘It is based on our family recipes, which means cooking with family and friends.

They are meals to be eaten with others.

Even if you are not much of a cook, or camper, this book also encapsulates what life looks like out bush, with beautiful photos, showing off Outback Australia, and stories of Grandad and my childhood.’

Most importantly, it is an intergenerational story of love and companionship which the author said was an honour. ‘I am so appreciative and grateful for the

opportunity I have to spend my day-to-day life, work and leisure with my grandfather,’ he said.

‘I understand that not everyone gets this opportunity, and this is knowledge being passed down. My mum said to me just yesterday that relationships like these need to be cherished, and we need to make the most of them. We can hop in the plane and spend three days filming in Outback Australia going on crazy adventures, but that opportunity won’t always be there. So, whatever we do, the time is now. These are precious days.’

■ Tom Forrest will appear at the

Byron Writers Festival from 14 to 16 August. For more information, visit byronwritersfestival.com.

Photo: Outback Tom and Grandad Steve

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Read it online here July 29, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 15

14—16 August

Putting the planet centre stage As Byron Writers Festival marks its 30th year this August, some of the country’s sharpest minds turn to the defining question of our time: the future of the planet.

Investigative journalist Marian Wilkinson examines corporate power in Woodside vs the Planet: How a Company Captured a Country, revealing how Australia’s fossil fuel giant plans to keep producing gas out to 2070 even as the world commits to decarbonising.

Where Western approaches falter, ancient answers wait. Tagalaka man Victor Steffensen, whose bestselling Fire Country transformed conversations about caring for land, returns with The Knowledge, a pathway for healing the planet grounded in Indigenous knowledge systems.

As catastrophic wildfires overwhelm countries from Australia to Canada and Greece, Steffensen shares a simple yet profound belief: humans are part of the natural world, and the way forward is to realign ourselves with the Earth.

Economist Richard Denniss follows the money in More Fool Me: How the Gas Industry Tricked Australia, arguing that one of the world’s richest countries gives away billions of dollars of gas to multinational companies while being told it can’t afford decent schools and hospitals.

Fiction offers its own reckoning. Miles Franklin-shortlisted novelist Romy Ash returns with Mantle, in which geologist Ursula is called to the Tasmanian coast as a mystery illness spreads across the island.

Ash depicts a natural world in restless evolution, where the ground beneath our feet is anything but solid, and where change may signal not an end but a beginning. It is a moving meditation on how our fate is

entwined with the fate of the planet.

And hear ‘Saltwater Stories’ from Bundjalung storytellers Ella Noah Bancroft, Delta Kay and Dakota Feirer with Naomi Moran as they share tales of ocean, climate and Country.

• Explore more climate and environmentfocused sessions throughout the program at www.byronwritersfestival.com.

A fungi love story captured in time-lapse Award-winning filmmaker, directors and photography team, Catherine Marciniak and Stephen Axford have combined their expertise in art, science, and storytelling through their film Follow the Rain and are co-authors of a new book, Planet Fungi: A Photographer’s Foray.

Axford gained international recognition FORAY RAPHER’S A PHOTOG when his pioneering time-lapse photography of fungi appeared in Sir David Attenborough’s BBC documentary series Planet Earth II. His footage of luminous mushrooms, Stephen Axford and Catherine Marciniak such as Mycena chlorophos, and the rapid growth of The authors also investigate little-known And so I got in contact with mycologists. complex forest fungi was “Fortunately, I was taking some good among the first of its kind featured in an microscopic fungi.

“We wouldn’t have chocolate, or beer, or photographs, so they were attracted to the Attenborough series. images. Then, I met Catherine.”

The sense of wonder at his discoveries bread, so it’s pretty important,” Axford said.

“It plays a critical role in capturing carMarciniak characterises the couple as a inspired Axford to explore the mysteries both bon and storing it in the ecosystem.

In some fungi love story. on and beneath the forest floor. forests, up to 60 per cent of carbon capture “I was working at the ABC and Steve had “I’ll take a photograph of a mushroom, and in the process I’ll see 10 others, which I hadn’t occurs in the mycelium (the vegetative, root- put his photographs up on the internet, so we organised a meeting about a project, and seen before, because they’re partly hidden, or like part of fungi) in the soil.”

Their exploration of fungi also precipitated edited an audio slideshow together. because they’re so tiny, but you see all sorts a love story. For Axford, his initial interest had “We clicked and started dating and creof things – the interactions.” ating at the same time. So, that’s been the “It’s a kingdom of life (the highest biologi- helped him cope with profound grief.

“Soon after 2000, my wife died of breast journey of our relationship, really, love and cal classification), so the many roles they play cancer, and I got a life-threatening illness creativity. are quite varied,” Marciniak said. myself,” he said.

“We’re very grateful that we found each “Without them, forests wouldn’t exist, “I started wandering off into the bush other, but we’re also very grateful that fungi most ecosystems wouldn’t exist, our food with a little camera and one day I photofound us.” wouldn’t exist, and we wouldn’t exist.

Stephen Axford and Catherine Marciniak “Also, a lot of our medicines already use graphed a purple mushroom. I’d never seen fungi, such as statins, penicillin, transplant such a good specimen before, and I was so will appear at the Byron Writers Festival from rejection drugs, and many others, including taken that I started looking for more and 14 to 16 August. For more information, visit was stunned by the almost infinite variety. www.byronwritersfestival.com. new drugs to fight penicillin resistance.”

Planet Fungi

Catherine Stephen

16 The Byron Shire Echo July 29, 2026

Marciniak

Axford &

Tom May

Getting to Byron Writers Festival: need-to-knows As Byron Writers Festival gets ready to transform the heart of Byron in a few short weeks, here’s what you need to know about your journey to the festival before you arrive.

Park-and-ride at Cavanbah Centre To ensure a seamless journey into Byron’s town centre for the festival, you are encouraged to pre-purchase a full-day parking ticket for just $10. Festival parking will be at the Cavanbah Centre, 249 Ewingsdale Road, and a free festival shuttle bus will be operating between the Byron Bay Interchange (Butler St), Cavanbah Centre (Ewingsdale Rd) and the festival site from Friday 14 to 16 August.

There will be two buses running, departing from the Byron Interchange and Cavanbah Centre every half hour from 7.00am.

Final departure from the festival bus stop is at 10:00pm Friday, 9:30pm Saturday and 7:00pm on Sunday.

Collecting your wristband Whether you’ve got a Three-Day or One-Day Pass, you’ll need to exchange it for a festival wristband before you can access any of the passholder venues. There are two places within the festival precinct you can do this: the Festival Hub box office at Railway Park (open from 8:00am daily), and the Bay St Stage ticket desk (open from 7:45am daily).

Please ensure you collect your wristbands before attending any sessions as you need to be wearing one upon entry.

We recommend picking up your Byron Writers Festival wristband first thing, grab a program and a map, and then you’re set for a weekend of storytelling, big ideas, and bold conversations!

• Get your festival passes now at www.byronwritersfestival.com. www.echo.net.au

16 PAGE LIFTOUT

THE ART OF LIVING IN THE NORTHERN RIVERS

www.echo.net.au

July 29, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 17

THE ART OF LIVING IN THE NORTHERN RIVERS

The art of living in the Northern Rivers Welcome to Living Now 2026 In today’s ever-changing Australian property market, one thing remains constant: our homes are more than just bricks and mortar. They are our greatest investment, our sanctuary, and the backdrop to life’s most important moments.

Whether you’re buying your first home, preparing to sell, planning a renovation, building your dream house, transforming your garden, refreshing your interiors, or making the most of a rental property, Living Now is designed to inspire and inform.

Navigating the property market can be challenging. From understanding buying and selling costs, working with real estate agencies, and making sense of government incentives and taxes, to choosing the right trades, products and services, there are plenty of decisions to make. At the same time, creating a home you love – inside and out – should be an enjoyable and rewarding experience.

The Northern Rivers is home to a wealth of talented local businesses, skilled tradespeople and quality suppliers ready to help at every stage of your home journey. Surrounded by one of Australia’s most beautiful landscapes, our region offers endless inspiration for creating homes and gardens that are both practical and welcoming – a place to relax, entertain and make lasting memories.

Living Now showcases the best of what the Northern Rivers has to offer, connecting readers with trusted local businesses while providing practical ideas, expert advice and inspiration to help make informed decisions, whatever their budget, lifestyle or stage of the home journey.

Essential property resources Buying and selling property • www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/buying-and-sellingproperty • www.service.nsw.gov.au/guide/buying-a-property • www.moneysmart.gov.au/home-loans/buying-a-house • www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/taxes-duties-levies-royalties/transfer-duty

Grants and schemes • www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/grants-schemes • www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/building-grants-assistance-scheme

Building and renovating • www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/building-commission/ building-and-construction-resources • www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/building-commission/ current-and-future-homeowners/building-and-renovating-resources • www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/building-commission

Local councils • www.byron.nsw.gov.au

• www.lismore.nsw.gov.au

• www.tweed.nsw.gov.au

• www.richmondvalley.nsw.gov.au

• www.ballina.nsw.gov.au

Head to The Echo’s Service Directory for all your professional trade services The Byron Shire Echo’s Service Directory is a comprehensive listing of trades and services.

If you’re working on your home or space and need a job done, find a local tradie quickly and easily here.

Pages 41 to 43 of this paper.

• Air Conditioning • Blinds • Bricklaying • Carpentry & Joinery • Cleaning • Concreting • Driveways • Earthworks • Excavation • Electricians • Fencing • Garden Maintenance • Guttering/Roofing

• Handypersons • Landscaping • Painting • Pest Control • Plastering/Rendering • Plumbing • Property Maintenance • Septic Systems • Solar • Tiling • Tree Services • Window Tinting • And much much more!

www.echo.net.au/service-directory 18 The Byron Shire Echo July 29, 2026

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ECHO LIFTOUT

How are the government’s budget changes impacting the housing market?

David Lowe

With so much doubt flying around with what’s going to happen next, it’s worth having a look at what happened when governments previously tinkered with CGT and negative gearing. How did that work out?

The changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax (CGT) announced in the last federal budget have been met with vociferous attacks from both directions – for going too far and not going far enough – which the Albanese government has interpreted as meaning they’ve got the balance pretty much right. So how are these changes panning out for prospective homeowners?

Long ago in a distant galaxy Once upon a time, Australia had no general capital gains tax. In 1985, ignoring howls of protest, Treasurer Paul Keating brought one in, and indexed the purchase price to inflation (much like Jim Chalmers in 2026). Also in 1985, Bob Hawke and his treasurer changed the treatment of negative gearing (in much the same way as the recent changes under Chalmers) but reversed course after two years, following heavy lobbying from moneyed interests. There’s no clear evidence that any of this increased housing supply.

Briefly, the old situation was that if an investor owned a rental property and it made a loss, they could deduct that loss against taxable income.

There was also a flat 50 per cent discount on capital gains for individuals (introduced in 1999), which increased the financial benefit of using negative gearing as an investment strategy, particularly when properties were sold after they had increased in value, leading in turn to an accelerating market in investment properties as the residential market artificially ballooned, and there became a severe shortage of affordable housing.

John Howard’s government kept the existing negative gearing situation, but altered the capital gains tax regime in 1999 to make property much more attractive as an investment. This resulted in some people becoming extremely wealthy from multiple housing investments (including members of parliament from all parties, it must be said), while a great many others were locked out of the housing market altogether.

Now (at least for established homes bought after 12 May 2026) property owners won’t be able to use a rental loss to reduce their other taxable income. In terms of capital gains, the old 50 per cent tax discount for individuals and trusts on assets held for more than 12 months will be replaced by inflation indexation of the asset’s cost base (less lucrative), with a minimum 30 per cent tax rate.

Lost in much of the noise around all this has been the fact that the modification to negative gearing will only affect established homes purchased since budget night, not newly built homes or existing investments (which will be ‘grandfathered’), and most substantial changes will not kick in until July 2027.

With housing prices spiralling out of reach for many Australians, the government has argued that these changes will address a basic social need by encouraging investment in new housing.

With housing prices spiralling out of reach for many Australians, the government has argued that these changes will address a basic social need by encouraging investment in new housing. They say the new approach makes the tax system more equitable, while protecting investors who have made financial plans based on the old system.

Critics have suggested that negative gearing and CGT were never the main cause of the housing crisis, and the government should instead be focusing on supply constraints, population growth, planning rules, and interest rates.

Mega or minor?

In May, Treasurer Jim Chalmers pitched Labor’s changes to negative gearing and CGT as part of ‘the most important and ambitious budget in decades’, but his own department’s modelling has been far more modest. They expect house price growth in Australia to slow by maybe two per cent in the next two years, with a boost to the number of residential owner-occupiers (as opposed to investors) of around 75,000 over the next ten years – all with negligible effect on rents.

Other experts anticipate a bigger price effect than Treasury.

Because negatively-geared investor loans for existing properties account for an estimated 20 per cent of all new

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home loans, some analysts think prices could fall by as much as nine per cent, with a slowing of credit growth. This would help buyers in terms of entry price, but it’s a much sharper adjustment than the government is modelling.

Commbank says that while the reforms will reduce investor competition with first-home buyers in the established residential real estate market, overall turnover is likely to fall, with grandfathered investors now having a stronger incentive to maintain their assets under the old tax treatment, rather than sell them. Fewer listings will maintain existing high prices.

It’s yet to be seen how the construction and rental supply question is going to play out. If redirecting investors into new builds genuinely lifts construction, then supply and rents will stay roughly neutral. If the tax changes thin out the availability of established rental properties, then renters (many of them future first-home buyers) will be worse off, at least in the short term.

Mortgage brokers and property analysts are reporting that some investors are already delaying or cancelling purchases of established homes because the tax advantages will be reduced after July 2027.

Overheated real estate markets around the country, including Sydney, are currently seeing softer prices, but interest rates, economic conditions, and consumer confidence are also playing a role in that. Anecdotally, things have cooled somewhat in the Northern Rivers, with auctions becoming less competitive and smaller deposits being required than in the recent past.

Labor’s critics in 2026, such as the Australian Property Institute (who note the country’s residential property market is worth a staggering $12 trillion), say there’s no consensus that home buyers will be better off under the latest changes, and claim that renters will definitely be worse off.

In a recent statement, API described the negative gearing reform as the most widely cited downward pressure on residential prices, even more than the capital gains tax reform and the outlook on interest rates. They say the shortage of housing supply remains a massive problem that the government is failing to address.

State by state, API members say the situation for property investors is most grim in Victoria and NSW. Clearly not everyone can win from lowered residential property prices, even if that’s one of the outcomes the government is seeking.

The Coalition says the changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax are creating uncertainty, won’t deliver desired outcomes in terms of housing, and represents a broken election commitment from the ALP. They say taxpayers on lower marginal tax rates – including some retirees – will pay more tax on capital gains than they would have under the previous system, disrupting retirement strategies, and have pledged to overturn the changes, if and when they are returned to government.

Those on the opposite side of the political spectrum have argued that the government’s reforms are far too modest and slow.

The truth is that no one quite knows exactly how the latest changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax are going to pan out, but many people are relieved that at least Anthony Albanese and Jim Chalmers are doing something, anything, to deal with the ongoing housing crisis.

After all, housing is supposed to be a human right, not just an investment.

July 29, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 19

THE ART OF LIVING IN THE NORTHERN RIVERS

Cactus Hill + Home breathes new life into a Mullumbimby landmark For generations, the building at 69 Burringbar Street was known as Bridglands Building, a place where the local community came to buy furniture for their homes. Today, that tradition continues in a new and inspiring way with Cactus Hill + Home, a thoughtfully curated destination celebrating beautiful interiors, sustainable living and local creativity.

customers something genuinely unique while celebrating the talent found within the region.

Beyond retail, Cactus Hill + Home also provides complete interior solutions. Whether styling a single room, preparing a property for sale or delivering a full commercial fit-out, the team offers services ranging from home staging and interior styling through to furniture specification and project delivery.

More than just a homewares store, Cactus Hill + Home has been created as a place to explore, gather inspiration and discover pieces that tell a story. Every corner invites visitors to slow down, browse and imagine how carefully chosen furniture, artwork and homewares can transform the spaces they live in.

The shop itself is curated by Ann, Bianca and Saffron, three women with a shared passion for interiors but each bringing their own individual style and design perspective. Their combined experience in styling and interiors is reflected throughout the store, where furniture sits alongside textiles, lighting, ceramics, gifts and kitchenware in relaxed, layered displays that feel both aspirational and welcoming.

A defining feature of Cactus Hill + Home is its exclusive furniture collection. Furniture carrying the Cactus Hill + Home name has been designed and manufactured through more than 26 years of industry experience and is available only in the Mullumbimby store. Since purchasing the business ten months ago, Ann and Martin have continued their long-established work designing and supplying furniture for respected

international clients while embracing their new home in the Northern Rivers.

Sustainability is central to the business philosophy. Every effort is made to create furniture using responsible manufacturing practices and quality materials designed to last for generations rather than seasons. Packaging has also been reimagined, replacing plastic with recyclable cardboard wherever possible.

The belief is simple: well-made furniture should become part of a home’s story, evolving with changing tastes rather than being replaced.

The store’s carefully selected homewares reflect the same values. Brands including Sage x Clare,

The Perfume Oil Company, Caddis, IZIPIZI, Freque of Nature, Indigo Love, Baya Living and Armadillo Rugs have been chosen not only for their beautiful design but also for their commitment to ethical production, natural materials and sustainable practices.

Supporting local makers is another important part of the Cactus Hill + Home story. Throughout the store, visitors will discover work by Northern Rivers artists and craftspeople, including ceramicists, furniture makers, lamp makers and visual artists.

The aim is to create a platform where local creativity can sit comfortably alongside established Australian and international design brands, offering

Adding another chapter to the Cactus Hill + Home story is the reopening of the Furniture Hall.

Together the team has refurbished this loved Church hall and turned it into a beautiful space which will now be open on the last weekend of every month, offering an ever-changing collection of exclusive furniture, statement pieces and one-off treasures not normally seen in the main showroom. Private viewings will also be available by appointment, with future plans including upholstery and interior workshops that invite the community to learn new skills while connecting with craftsmanship and designer.

The next monthly opening takes place from Friday 31 July to Sunday 2 August, coinciding with the publication of this feature. Whether you’re searching for a signature piece, looking for styling inspiration or simply curious to see how one of Mullumbimby’s best-known buildings has been reimagined, Cactus Hill + Home offers an experience well worth discovering.

69 Burringbar Street, Mullumbimby www.cactushill.com.au

Home interiors Furniture Property Styling Gifts

02 5643 9333 • 69 Burringbar Street @ cactushillproject • www.cactushill.com.au 20 The Byron Shire Echo July 29, 2026

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ECHO LIFTOUT

Smarter homes for a better future For many years, the Australian housing market has been driven by the belief that bigger is better. Larger homes have become the norm, often at the expense of affordability, energy efficiency and long-term liveability. Eco Essence Homes believes it’s time to rethink that approach, embracing a future where thoughtful design, smarter planning and quality construction deliver greater value than simply adding more square metres.

Better performing homes The company’s philosophy is built around creating homes that perform better – for the people who live in them, for the environment and for the future. Every Eco Essence Home is carefully designed to achieve an 8+ Star NatHERS energy rating, using intelligent, passive design principles to maximise natural light, cross-ventilation and year-round thermal comfort.

The result is a home that requires less energy to heat and cool, reduces running costs and provides a healthier, more comfortable living environment.

Sustainability at the core Sustainability is central to everything Eco Essence Homes does, extending well beyond energy ratings. The company focuses on efficient use of space, minimising material waste and designing homes that adapt to changing lifestyles. Through flexible floor plans, dual-living options and homes that evolve with growing families, Eco Essence Homes creates practical housing solutions that deliver lasting value rather than unnecessary size.

Carefully considered to stand the test of time By carefully considering every stage of the design and construction process, Eco Essence Homes reduces waste, improves resource efficiency and builds homes designed to stand the test of time.

This approach benefits both the environment and homeowners through lower maintenance, reduced energy consumption and enhanced long-term value.

Eco Essence Homes believes great homes should be measured by how they perform, not simply by their size. By combining innovative design, quality craftsmanship and sustainable building principles, the company is helping shape a future where homes are healthier, more economical to run and thoughtfully designed to enrich the lives of the people who call them home. Because at Eco Essence sustainability isn’t an added feature, it’s built into every home from the beginning.

07 5520 0720 www.ecoessencehomes.com.au

High-performance healthier homes by design

We believe your home should support your wellbeing. That’s why we focus on natural light, fresh air, thermal comfort and sustainable materials to create healthier living environments.

Local knowledge.

Local expertise.

As a locally-owned builder, we design homes specifically for the Northern Rivers climate, helping families build smarter and live better.

★★★★★★★★ 8+ star performance

Designed to exceed today’s standards, our homes are engineered for exceptional energy efficiency, reducing household energy use while improving year-round comfort.

www.ecoessencehomes.com.au • 07 5520 0720 www.echo.net.au

July 29, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 21

THE ART OF LIVING IN THE NORTHERN RIVERS

Creating spaces where life feels better The spaces we choose have the power to shape how we live, work, rest and connect. At EcoTiny, every project begins with a simple idea: thoughtful design can make everyday life better.

Home means something different to everyone. For some, it’s a place to gather with family. For others, it’s somewhere to slow down, reconnect with nature or simply enjoy life’s quieter moments. Whatever form it takes, the spaces we surround ourselves with have the power to shape how we feel every day.

It’s this idea that continues to inspire everything EcoTiny creates.

Founder Bastien has spent years building homes with one guiding belief: the spaces we live in should do more than simply look beautiful. They should support the way we live, encourage us to slow down and create a genuine sense of connection to the world around us. His passion for craftsmanship, natural materials and thoughtful design became the foundation of EcoTiny, where every project is created with the intention of enriching everyday life through beautifully made spaces that feel both timeless and At EcoTiny, every deeply personal.

project begins with a

Designed and handcrafted in Byron Bay, simple idea: thoughtful EcoTiny draws inspiration from the relaxed design can make home is designed to feel connected to its lifestyle and natural beauty of the Northern surroundings while providing everything everyday life better.

Rivers. Working with local suppliers and needed for modern living. skilled trades wherever possible, each For others, it’s an eco pod. A beautifully crafted project reflects a genuine commitment to extension that creates extra space for the way people live craftsmanship, sustainability and supporting the community that today. Whether it’s a home office, welcoming family and friends, surrounds it. Every detail, from carefully selected natural materials a creative studio or an opportunity to generate additional to considered layouts and finishes, is approached with care, income, eco pods are designed to adapt as life evolves while creating spaces that are built to last and made to be enjoyed for generations. complementing the character of the existing home.

For some, creating a place where life feels better begins with a tiny home. Handcrafted in Byron Bay, EcoTiny’s homes embrace simplicity without compromising on comfort, functionality or intentional design. Whether nestled in the hinterland, overlooking the coast or positioned on a rural property, each

22 The Byron Shire Echo July 29, 2026

And now, EcoTiny is bringing that same philosophy to wellbeing with its newest project, The Oasis. More than a mobile wellness sanctuary, The Oasis combines a handcrafted sauna with premium hot and cold bathing experiences, creating a place to slow down, recharge and reconnect. Whether it’s an invigorating

cold plunge to begin the day, a restorative sauna session or a warm soak beneath the stars, it invites people to embrace simple rituals that nurture both body and mind.

For EcoTiny, sustainability is about more than reducing environmental impact. It’s about creating spaces people genuinely value. Spaces built with care, crafted from quality materials and designed to stand the test of time. Because the spaces that are loved are often the ones that last the longest.

Every EcoTiny project is created with the same intention: to help people live more intentionally, reconnect with what matters most and enjoy spaces that enrich everyday life.

We don’t just build spaces. We create places where life feels better. www.ecotiny.com.au

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ECHO LIFTOUT

Glendowie Carpet One – local knowledge, quality flooring and trusted service For almost four decades, Glendowie Carpet One has been helping Northern Rivers homeowners transform their living spaces with quality flooring solutions, expert advice and personalised service. Established in 1987, the locally owned and operated Ballina business has earned a reputation for reliability, product knowledge and a genuine commitment to customer satisfaction.

As a proud member of the Carpet One cooperative since the 1990s, Glendowie Carpet One combines the personalised service of an independent retailer with access to an extensive range of premium flooring products and competitive pricing.

Conveniently located on Clark Street in Ballina, the showroom showcases a comprehensive selection of flooring solutions to suit every style, budget and lifestyle. Whether customers are renovating a family home, updating an investment property or building from the ground up, the experienced team provides guidance through every stage of the selection process. The range includes carpet, luxury vinyl planks, sheet vinyl, engineered timber, bamboo, cork, laminate, hybrid flooring and commercial flooring products, ensuring a solution for every application.

Showroom to You One of the business’s standout services is its innovative Showroom to You experience, allowing customers to view flooring samples in their own homes. By seeing products under natural lighting and alongside existing furnishings, homeowners can make more confident decisions while enjoying the convenience of expert advice delivered directly to their door.

Glendowie Carpet One also understands that purchasing new flooring is a significant investment. Its professional installation team ensures every project is completed to the highest standard, backed by quality workmanship and comprehensive warranty

protection. As part of the Carpet One cooperative, the business benefits from significant buying power, enabling customers to enjoy premium products at competitive prices without compromising on quality or service.

Beyond flooring, Glendowie Carpet One has built lasting relationships throughout the Northern Rivers by actively supporting local sporting clubs and community initiatives. This long-standing commitment reflects the company’s belief that successful local businesses should contribute positively to the communities they serve.

Servicing Ballina and surrounding areas including Lennox Head, Byron Bay, Bangalow, Mullumbimby, Alstonville, Lismore,

Brunswick Heads and Yamba, Glendowie Carpet One continues to deliver tailored flooring solutions supported by decades of industry experience. From the initial consultation through to professional installation, every project is approached with the same focus on quality, service and customer care that has defined the business for nearly 40 years.

By combining trusted local expertise with access to world-leading flooring brands and innovative services, Glendowie Carpet One continues to help homeowners and businesses create beautiful, practical spaces designed to stand the test of time.

3/5 Clark Street, Ballina 02 6686 3855

Need flooring?

Visit Carpet One • Nearly 40 years of trusted flooring expertise.

• Extensive range of premium flooring solutions.

• Carpet, timber, hybrid, vinyl, laminate, bamboo, cork and commercial flooring.

• Showroom to You – view flooring samples in your own home.

• Expert advice and installation backed by quality workmanship and warranty.

• Servicing Ballina, Byron Bay, Lennox Head, Bangalow, Lismore and the wider Northern Rivers.

3/5 Clark Street, Ballina • 6686 3855

www.echo.net.au

July 29, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 23

THE ART OF LIVING IN THE NORTHERN RIVERS

Lighting: discreetly functional or wonderfully engaging… nothing in between “Lighting offers a wonderful opportunity to enhance the intimacy and individuality of any space. It colours how we experience, relate and remember a place, a room, a gathering. It can also strengthen a building’s composition, whilst adding to its functionality and intrigue. Our belief is that lighting should be either discrete and functional or wonderfully engaging… nothing in between. If done well, lighting is the most economical way to add real value to any building project.”

Nature’s influence and Brad’s eco philosophy has carried through, evident in both his simple yet elegant organic designs, and illumebydesign’s sustainable practices. A speaker at Design Show Australia on Why Sustainable Australian Design Matters, Brad believes we should strive to make a positive difference where we can. “This goes down to the choice of design materials and processes, packaging, power, transport, everything. Both clay and glass are 100% recyclable, we’re partially solar powered, use bio or recycled packaging where possible, and our travel is offset with tree planting.”

The grandson of a Croatian fisherman, Bradley Cole spent much of his childhood on, or in the ocean, sailing, snorkeling and fishing. He was surfing by the age of 10, and later surfing adventures led to a deeper connection with nature and an affinity with natural forms, texture and colour. He studied architecture and film production at university before establishing his own architectural practice with a strong focus on sustainability and conscious design.

d esi g n er br a dl e y c ol e

When short on suitable lighting options for a Melbourne hospitality venue he was working on in 2009, he resolved to design and fabricate his own lights. The positive response lead to more custom lighting commissions, requests for lighting consultancy and eventually an illumebydesign product range in 2013. Since then, along with moving to Byron in 2017, Brad has been commissioned to design numerous lighting creations for

"lighting should be either discrete and functional or wonder fully engaging … nothing in between"

All illumebydesign’s ceramic lights are made in the Byron Arts and Industry Estate with low temperature fired clays before being sealed with a 100% natural sealer. Low firing clays create less carbon emissions in heating the kilns during firing. Their bisque-fired ceramic lights are then sealed with an ancient sealer derived purely from olives.

It’s more commonly used to seal terracotta floors. It’s resilient and nontoxic. commercial and residential projects around Australia, and even in the USA, whilst illumebydesign’s ceramic and glass product ranges continue to evolve.

Recent commissions include all the feature lighting for Little Creatures’ new hospitality venue in Fremantle, and a lighting installation in Byron’s Forest Restaurant, Crystalbrook.

“We also try our best to work with, and support local producers where possible. Our ceiling canopies, for example, are manufactured here in Australia by a family business. Obviously there’s far cheaper options, but supporting each other locally strengthens our community. A percentage of our ceramic luminaires sales also goes to a group who cook and serve meals to

illume bydesi gn

Lighting offers a wonderful opportunity to enhance the intimacy and individuality of any space.

those sleeping rough in Southport.”

Until two years ago, illumebydesign’s glass was also produced in Australia, but due to crazy price increases it’s now produced in Prague.

Known as the glass capital of the world this has resulted in higher quality glass and expanded design possibilities. “We still work with local glass blowers on some lighting commissions, but all our glass pendants are blown in Prague.”

Drawing inspiration from Byron’s exceptional natural beauty illumebydesign’s handcrafted lights can add a sense of tranquility and wonder to any space. Alternatively, if you’re looking for an eye catching grand statement piece or brand-aligned feature lighting, Brad can design and fabricate customised luminaires specifically for you. illumebydesign also offers lighting consultancy and design for your home or business, and can supply all your project downlights, LED, strip, and landscape lighting.

By appointment at 12A Centennial Circuit, Byron Bay sales@illumebydesign.au illumebydesign.au

ill u meby desi gn. au sales@illumebydesign.au ill u meby desi gn follow us on instagram & DM "Pod" for a chance to win a Beach White clay Pod pendant light. Winner announced 1st Oct26

Byron Arts + Indi Estate

handcrafted ceramic and glass luminaires + custom designed feature lighting

there’s a little bit of Byron in every illumebydesign luminaire 24 The Byron Shire Echo July 29, 2026

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ECHO LIFTOUT

Mullumbimby Pools – your award-winning swimming pool builders A swimming pool becomes the heart of the backyard – a space where families gather, friends connect and lasting memories are made

For many homeowners, a swimming pool represents far more than a place to cool off on a hot summer’s day. It becomes the heart of the backyard – a space where families gather, friends connect and lasting memories are made. For the team at Mullumbimby Pools, creating these spaces has become both a profession and a passion.

expert advice. Whether troubleshooting a faulty chlorinator, selecting the right equipment or seeking guidance on water quality, customers benefit from knowledgeable local staff who are committed to practical solutions rather than unnecessary upselling.

Family owned and operated by Jake and Natalie O’Brien, Mullumbimby Pools has built a reputation throughout the Byron Shire for quality craftsmanship, honest advice and personalised service. With more than 30 years of combined industry experience, the local business successfully delivers everything from award-winning luxury concrete swimming pools and spas to complex renovations and ongoing maintenance.

Unlike many companies in the industry, Mullumbimby Pools takes pride in maintaining direct involvement throughout every project.

The experienced, fully insured team personally oversees each stage of construction, ensuring every pool is completed to the highest standard. This hands-on approach reflects the company’s commitment to integrity, transparency and quality workmanship.

The business offers far more than new pool construction.

Whether a pool requires renovation, leak detection, equipment upgrades or regular servicing, the team provides comprehensive solutions designed to maximise performance and extend the life of every installation. From resurfacing and filtration upgrades to modern redesigns and electronic leak detection, each service is tailored to meet the individual needs of homeowners and commercial clients alike.

Maintenance is another cornerstone of the business. Recognising that a swimming pool is a significant investment, Mullumbimby Pools offers flexible servicing options, including scheduled maintenance, one-off cleans and holiday care while owners are away. Their technicians service residential and commercial pools throughout Byron Bay, Ballina, Bangalow, Lennox Head, Mullumbimby, Brunswick Heads and surrounding communities, helping clients enjoy crystal-clear water and reliable equipment all year round.

Supporting these services are retail stores in Mullumbimby and Bangalow, where customers can access free water testing and a complete range of pool chemicals, spare parts, accessories and

At the heart of Mullumbimby Pools is a simple philosophy: exceptional pools are created through craftsmanship, quality products and genuine customer relationships. Every project is viewed as an opportunity to create an outdoor space that is both beautiful and functional, while every service call reflects the company’s dedication to preserving the longevity and enjoyment of each pool.

As more homeowners invest in creating outdoor spaces that enhance everyday living, Mullumbimby Pools continues to demonstrate that successful pool building extends well beyond construction. Through expert advice, ongoing support and an unwavering commitment to quality, the business has established itself as one of the Byron Shire’s trusted names in pool construction, renovation and maintenance – helping local families enjoy their own backyard oasis for many years to come.

02 6684 4846 info@mullumpools.com www.mullumbimbypools.com.au

We build exquisite award winning swimming pools We build | We maintain | We repair

• • • • • •

Pool building Pool renovations Upgrading equipment Full automation services Heating and pool cleaners Servicing and maintenance

Mullumbimby

Bangalow

12 Smith St, Mullum Industrial Estate (02) 6684 4846

Shop 1, 5 Lismore Road (02) 6683 4494

www.echo.net.au

M-F: 8:30am–5pm, Sat: 8:30am–12pm info@mullumpools.com mullumbimbypools.com.au

July 29, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 25

THE ART OF LIVING IN THE NORTHERN RIVERS

Elevating living with timeless stone – discover Stone Style Mullumbimby Tucked away in the heart of the Byron Shire, Stone Style Mullumbimby is a destination for those looking to elevate their residential or commercial spaces with thoughtful, organic, and creative surface treatments. Proudly located in the Northern Rivers region, Stone Style has earned a reputation for supplying unique natural stone and porcelain materials that blend functionality with beauty.

Stone Style offers materials that enhance every environment with a touch of elegance and authenticity.

At the Mullumbimby showroom, customers are welcomed into a curated space that showcases a wide selection of natural stone tiles and pavers, wall cladding, stepping stones, and porcelain feature tiles. Each has been selected with design, quality and durability in mind. Whether you’re working on an interior renovation, pool area upgrade, or large-scale landscaping project, Stone Style offers materials that enhance every environment with a touch of elegance and authenticity.

Managed by Emma, the showroom is a space where inspiration meets expertise. Emma brings a fresh eye and a deep understanding of current trends, guiding homeowners, designers and builders through the selection process with a focus on style, practicality and cohesion. Clients can explore an array of surface solutions for both indoor and outdoor use, including pool mosaics, decorative features and architectural cladding, all within a warm and welcoming environment.

Just a two-minute walk around the corner from the showroom, Stone Style’s Trade Store and Distribution Centre on Manns Road offers convenience and comprehensive support for tradespeople and professionals. This space is managed by Tom, who works closely with local tilers, builders and landscapers to ensure they have access to everything needed to get the job done.

Stocked with trusted trade essentials including glues, grouts,

sealers, tools and accessories, the Trade Store supports Stone Style’s product offering with brands like Mapei and Ardex, both known for their reliability and high-performance formulations.

Together, the showroom and trade store work in harmony to provide a seamless experience for customers, from design inspiration and material selection to professional advice and on-site essentials. It’s a complete, design-led service grounded in the belief that surface treatments should be both functional and beautiful.

With locations on the Gold Coast and Mullumbimby, Stone Style is proud to be part of the Northern Rivers community, collaborating on projects across the region that celebrate nature, craftsmanship and good design. The Mullumbimby hub, in particular, serves as a creative meeting point for locals and visiting professionals alike, offering a hands-on experience with materials that stand the test of time.

Whether you’re a homeowner starting from scratch, a designer with a vision, or a trade professional needing fast access to stock, Stone Style Mullumbimby is ready to support you at every stage of your project.

Mullumbimby Showroom: 6/10 Towers Drive, Mullumbimby Open: Monday to Thursday 7:30am–4pm, Friday 7:30am–3pm, Saturday 8am–midday, closed Sunday and public holidays

Mullumbimby Trade & Distribution Centre: 10 Manns Road, Mullumbimby Open: Monday to Thursday 6.30am–3pm, Friday 6.30am–2pm

02 8599 4120 • hello@stonestyle.net.au Instagram: @stone_style__ / @stonestyle_trade www.stonestyle.com.au

www.stonestyle.com.au • 02 85994120 • Trade Store: 10 Manns Road Mullumbimby • 6/10 Towers Drive, Mullumbimby 26 The Byron Shire Echo July 29, 2026

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ECHO LIFTOUT

The smart way to buy a tiny home in the Northern Rivers There is a real difference between a tiny home that photographs well and one that is genuinely well designed, well built and comfortable to live in.

Tiny homes can offer a more intentional way to live, but buying one should not mean taking a blind leap of faith.

In a market that has grown quickly, tinyhome buyers can face scams, hidden costs, unclear inclusions, inconsistent build standards and paperwork that does not provide the protection they expect.

Two homes may look almost identical online, yet differ enormously in the materials behind the walls, the quality of the chassis, the warranties offered, and what is actually included in the price.

the THA Marketplace is for you. It allows buyers to compare vetted tiny homes and understand the details that matter: specifications, inclusions, compliance documentation, build history and the practical differences between comparable homes.

That is why Bridget Rose built The Tiny House Agency (THA).

As a licensed real estate agent and tiny-home design specialist, Bridget represents buyers in a space where they have too often been left to work it out alone. THA helps buyers make informed decisions before they commit: understanding what they are buying, comparing builders properly, asking the questions that are easy to miss, and choosing a home with confidence.

For buyers in the Northern Rivers, a tiny home can be a meaningful alternative: a home base close to family, a thoughtful downsizing decision, a private retreat, or simply a way to live with more freedom and less excess. But the right home is not just about size. It is about how it feels to live in every day.

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“There is a real difference between a tiny home that photographs well and one that is genuinely well designed, well built and comfortable to live in,” Bridget says. “Buyers deserve to know that difference before they spend their money.”

That principle is behind every THA recommendation. Builders are independently vetted, and Bridget helps clients look beyond finishes and floor plans to the details that affect comfort, longevity and value. The goal is simple: buyers should not be buying blind.

For those looking for a home available now,

Every home accepted onto the THA Marketplace is independently reviewed before it is listed. Ownership is verified, relevant compliance documentation is checked and build quality is assessed beyond what can be seen in polished photographs. It is a more informed way to buy a tiny home – and a trusted alternative to navigating the market alone.

That demand is also the reason Bridget created THA’s Signature Tiny Home Range, which is designed around what her clients repeatedly wished existed: elevated tiny homes with the thoughtful inclusions, practical features and liveability that make a genuine difference, without being treated as costly upgrades.

There are several THA Signature Range tiny homes underway in the Northern Rivers alone,

reflecting the growing demand for homes that feel considered, practical and complete – not compromised.

Rather than starting with a stripped-back base price and adding essentials later, the range brings those details in from the beginning. It is about giving tiny-home buyers a fairer option – and bringing a greater sense of dignity, quality and permanence to the tiny-home space.

Built with a company that shares Bridget’s passion for solving the housing crisis, every Signature home is 100% Australian made.

The range balances exceptional liveability, considered design and remarkable value.

Tiny homes designed to look as good as they function.

THA offers a more confident path to buying a tiny home with a licensed, regulated, insured and accountable agency. Whether you are looking for a vetted home available now or a home made to order, THA offers a smarter way to buy.

Book a call with Bridget to have licensed guidance and a person in your corner for your dream tiny home. www.tinyhouseagency.com.au 0493 560 837 info@tinyhouseagency.com.au Licensed agent #4863412 ★★★★★ 5.0 Google rating

July 29, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 27

THE ART OF LIVING IN THE NORTHERN RIVERS

Living sustainably into the future Aslan Shand Building and construction is a significant contributor to global warming and is a key sector that needs to look at how it is going to reduce its impact. According to the Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction 2025-2026 the sector accounts for around 37 per cent of global CO₂ emissions and nearly 50 per You can build healthy cent of global material extraction. So outcomes for you and how we build, how we live, and how we the planet into your create energy to support our lifestyles life by the choices are all vital questions we need to address you make. as individuals, in our communities, and around the world.

Sustainable living manifests in a range of ways, from living in tiny homes to high-tech sustainable builds that assess the impact of materials, the cost of transporting them, the longevity of their lifespan, cost of disposal, passive design, heating and cooling, energy supply and more.

There are two key elements that need to be considered when looking at the carbon emissions costs in your building and lifestyle choices: operational carbon and embodied carbon.

According to ecochain.com, “operational carbon reflects the emissions from running existing buildings – such as heating, cooling, lighting, and appliances. This operational footprint currently accounts for 28 per cent of total energy-related emissions (IEA 2023). And secondly, embodied carbon, by contrast, includes all emissions generated during the construction lifecycle, including raw material extraction, transportation, manufacturing, assembly, refurbishment, and end-of-life phases. This embodied footprint accounts for 7-11 per cent of global emissions.”

Low-key, low-impact housing Tiny homes are a type of housing that reduces its impact and creates sustainability by having a small footprint, usually 10 to 50 square meters. The small footprint also means that there is less energy use, less materials used in construction, and less impact on the environment, because of the smaller size than a traditional building. In NSW they have to be moveable either by towing or using a crane and truck.

Other types of low impact, sustainable housing can include rammed earth and mud brick, which often use material from the house site or property where the home is being built, reducing material transport costs. They are also breathable, insulating, and can have very low greenhouse gas emissions.

Straw bale and hemp houses are also considered sustainable approaches to building homes, depending on the accompanying materials and processes used in their construction.

Both these types of building materials provide good insulation, are breathable, as well as being more fire-resistant than a traditionally built home.

If you want to take it that one step further, you can look at building an earthship! They are homes that are built from natural and recycled materials, and are passive-solar homes built off-grid. They traditionally integrate their water, sewage, energy, and food systems to have low impacts on the surrounding environment, a low carbon footprint, and to run sustainably.

If an earthship is not your approach, then you can definitely go more high-tech, even using some of the materials already mentioned.

Modern approaches From prefabricated and modular houses, to reused and repurposed shipping containers, having your home built offsite can ensure that it meets higher standards for energy use, sustainability, and efficient use of materials.

28 The Byron Shire Echo July 29, 2026

Earthship eco-home concept. AI-generated image

With construction and development of many modules in one location there can be less waste materials, they can use sustainable construction materials, and the onsite construction is faster, all reducing the overall costs and creating a more sustainable product.

to achieve, but who are prepared to go beyond the current building regulations to achieve higher spec outcomes.

Passive House and Zero Carbon housing are taking things one step further in design, efficiency of build, and energy outcomes. They both look at producing an airtight dwelling that significantly reduces the need for heating and cooling as well as reducing energy use.

It can also be challenging to integrate a range of sustainable features with traditional construction approaches. This means builders need to increase and adapt their skills to new technologies, and often bring together approaches that are less standardised.

The Passivhaus Institute (passivehouse.com) sets out clear guidelines for Passive House designers which considers building design, energy needs, and includes high performance insulation, airtight construction and heat recovery ventilation, while maintaining optimal indoor air quality and comfort.

This innovative approach can often lead to more upfront costs in the development and building phases which can be challenging to budgets and risk the final outcome of the project if not effectively handled.

The Zero Carbon house does all that and seeks to have an annual net carbon footprint that is zero, or even net positive.

They will use modern technology to assist in achieving these outcomes and potentially end up as a carbon-free home.

Some of the big challenges include finding designers and builders who, can not only understand what you are seeking

Adapt to the challenges

However, you can build healthy outcomes for you and the planet into your life by the choices you make. It will take patience, the ability to adapt, for everyone involved in the project, and choices about what will deliver you the best outcome for your budget.

The overall key factor is when you build for sustainability, energy efficiency, longevity, and the environment is that you build healthier lives, not only for you, but for the planet as well.

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ECHO LIFTOUT

Beautiful outdoor spaces, made for living Louvre panels for flexibility

From quiet mornings on the deck to long lunches with family and friends, a well-designed, insulated undercover area brings the heart of any home outdoors year-round. And if the weather turns, a covered carport protects vehicles from the elements and makes the trip to your door a little more comfortable.

For those who like options, opening louvre roofs provide the ultimate outdoor area as weather changes. At the touch of a button, slimline louvres can open to let in light and breezes, or close to provide shade and shelter from the rain.

Based in Billinudgel, SHELTER Patios & Carports is a family-run business creating custom-designed patios, carports and outdoor living spaces to suit any budget.

Louvre panels offer a flexible way to enjoy natural light without being exposed to harsh sun – ideal for Byron’s alfresco lifestyle.

Founded by South Golden Beach local Hunter McKenzie, SHELTER is the culmination of his nearly 30 years working in construction and carpentry. The tight-knit team bring a wealth of experience to any project, so it’s no wonder that SHELTER is the preferred local installer for national manufacturers such as Delta Panels, Alspec and Luxe Cantiliver.

SHELTER’s experienced design consultants are happy to come and talk through the options to help turn underused areas into practical, welcoming spaces that look great and provide alfresco living options to be enjoyed in any season.

Custom built to budget Every SHELTER project starts with a site visit and a conversation about how the space needs to work. Whether the goal is a shady spot for entertaining, a bigger outdoor area for the family, or a carport that accommodates all the household vehicles, the design team works through the options with each client.

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Council compliance included

From roof profiles and Colorbond colours, to size, shape and finishes, SHELTER’s design consultants work to find a solution that fits every individual home, site and budget. The result is a tailored addition that feels like it was always meant to be there.

planning and a team that stays involved from the first site visit to the finished build.

Enhance outdoor living

Master builders with local experience

An insulated patio roof is a simple way to create another room without adding walls. It provides a comfortable place to relax, share meals and entertain, while helping keep the area cooler in summer and warmer in winter.

SHELTER is fully licensed and insured, with a team of design consultants, installers and operational managers who bring decades of experience to every job. It is the sort of service homeowners expect from a local familyrun business: straightforward advice, careful

Skylights, ceiling fans and downlights can be added to suit the way the space will be used.

Flyover patios can bring extra height and airflow, while patio rooms offer a protected outdoor extension that brings out the heart of any home.

SHELTER takes care of the details that can otherwise slow a project down. The team manages design, drafting, structural engineering and the council compliance process, including preparing and lodging the required documents.

SHELTER also arrange builder’s home warranty insurance and specialist reports, guiding every project with professionalism, through to completion.

Adding a quality engineered, insulated-panel patio or carport is a simple way to make more of a property – adding usable space, everyday enjoyment and long-term value.

Contact SHELTER to arrange a site visit and obligation-free quote 02 6680 2393 www.shelterpatios.com.au

July 29, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 29

THE ART OF LIVING IN THE NORTHERN RIVERS

The unsung heroes beneath Byron’s surface When people think of Byron Shire, they picture pristine beaches, rolling hinterland and a community passionate about protecting the environment. What many don’t realise is that a significant part of preserving our waterways and natural beauty happens underground.

Across Byron Shire, thousands of homes and businesses rely on onsite wastewater systems such as septic tanks and aerated treatment systems.

These systems play a vital role in protecting public health and the environment, but only when they are properly maintained.

What many don’t realise is that a significant part of preserving our waterways and natural beauty happens underground.

This is where the humble “suck truck” comes in.

While it may not be the most glamorous vehicle on the road, septic pump-out trucks provide an essential service that keeps wastewater systems operating efficiently. Regular pump-outs help prevent overflows, unpleasant odours and costly system failures that can affect both property owners and the wider community.

For local businesses such as Tweed Valley Septics and Liquid Waste Management, this work extends far beyond simply emptying septic tanks. Every day, operators assist homeowners, businesses, schools, caravan parks and rural properties across the Northern Rivers by safely collecting, transporting and disposing of liquid waste in accordance with environmental regulations.

With much of the region relying on onsite wastewater treatment systems, routine maintenance is more important than ever.

Population growth, ageing infrastructure and increasingly unpredictable weather events place additional pressure on these systems and highlight the need for ongoing professional servicing.

Local operators are often called upon during emergencies,

after flood events and throughout peak holiday periods when demand on wastewater systems increases significantly. Their work helps protect waterways, groundwater and the natural environment that makes Byron Shire such a special place to live and visit.

So next time you see a Tweed Valley Septics and Liquid Waste Management truck travelling along a country road or servicing

a local property, remember that it is doing more than just a dirty job. It is helping protect our environment, support local communities and maintain the lifestyle that makes the Northern Rivers unique.

0418 751 765 • Office: 02 6672 1644 daniel@danielgrayplumbing.com.au 1/9 Kay Street, Murwillumbah

e y b d o o G y a S ! s e o W c i t p e to S

• We pump out septics as a specialty • Born & bred locals • Qualified plumbers • Fully insured • Free septic inspection with every pump-out Contact Daniel and the team for ALL your septic system needs 02 6672 1644 or 0418 751 765 • www.tweedvalleyseptics.com.au 30 The Byron Shire Echo July 29, 2026

www.echo.net.au

ECHO LIFTOUT

Each stone holds a story for chisels and skill to reveal While most people drive past a pile of rocks without a second thought, some artisans see a dwelling, and delight.

satisfying about taking a lump of nature and, with nothing more than skill and will, turning it into something that might outlive you.

Perched on the hillside at The Farm in Ewingsdale, where goats, sheep and cows roam, a lone stonemason, Damian, chisels.

Curious passers-by wander over to ask, “What on earth are you building?”

The lessons go beyond masonry. Sure, you’ll learn how to split boulders, shape stone and build walls that have been standing the test of time for thousands of years. But you’ll also discover something that’s becoming increasingly rare: the confidence that comes from making something real with your own two hands.

An ancient craft is making an unlikely comeback. Forget concrete and modern machines, this is construction the oldfashioned way, with hammers, chisels, patience and a healthy appreciation for gravity.

While most students so far have been adults (and mostly blokes), Damian is keen to welcome more women and younger builders into the fold. Stonecraft isn’t about brute strength; it’s about what he calls artisanal imagination-seeing the shape hiding inside the stone and patiently coaxing it into existence.

Three years ago, Damian’s fascination with centuries-old stone buildings became Ye Olde Stone School, where ordinary people discover they can turn heavy boulders into beautiful buildings.

Guided by the timeless philosophy of structure, function and delight, every stone has a purpose, every wall tells a story, and the process is just as rewarding as the final result.

The workshop has become something of a magnet. Visitors regularly stop in to watch chips fly (literally), and children, especially those aged seven to twelve, are often impossible to drag away. Give a child a stone, a safe chisel and permission to make something, and suddenly screens become a lot less interesting.

Class focus

• Skills – traditional stone handcraft.

• Artisanal logic – understanding the “why” behind historic architectural details, including Vitruvius’ principles of structure, function and delight.

• Human agency – recognising there is not only the object being created, but also the maker who is transformed through the process.

Learn how to:

• Split raw boulders.

• Shape architecturally useful stone blocks.

• Handcraft textures that are visually appealing.

• Build stone into a traditionalstyle cottage. www.echo.net.au

Damian believes that’s because shaping stone taps into something we’ve always carried with us. Long before apps and algorithms, humans were picking up rocks and wondering, “What can I build with this?” There’s something deeply

Courses are designed for:

• Owner-builders and designers exploring stone as an architectural element.

• Tradespeople and handy people wanting to add traditional stone craft to their skills.

• Young pre-tradies interested in learning the fundamentals of traditional building before choosing a career.

‘Beyond a little skill is a lot of thrill.’

After all, very few people have ever held a traditional stone chisel, let alone split a boulder in half. That’s where Ye Olde Stone School comes in. Everything you need is provided, from specialist tools to expert guidance – so you can leave wondering why you ever thought rocks were boring.

With campuses at The Farm in Byron Bay and in Sydney, students are already leaving their mark.

Together they’ve begun building a nineteenth-

Perched on the hillside at The Farm in Ewingsdale, where goats, sheep and cows roam, a lone stonemason, Damian, chisels.

century-style stone cottage in the goat paddockcomplete with 350 millimetre thick walls, no cement, no concrete and plenty of challenge to modern assumptions. “Who said we have to use ready mix?” Damian asks.

When complete, it’ll shelter farm animals while quietly declaring that hand craft has benefits beyond the visible.

In a world obsessed with faster, cheaper and more convenient, Ye Olde Stone School offers something different. Slow down. Pick up a hammer. Split a boulder. Build something that will stand, and beautifully so, long after today’s lightweight fads have been forgotten.

“There is some difficulty involved, but beyond the skill there’s a beautiful thrill.”

With commitments taking Damian out of town for other projects – including Ye Olde’s stonecraft classes in Sydney – this August may be the final opportunity in 2026 for Northern Rivers people to attend one of these rare workshops.

If you’ve been meaning to learn the craft, now would be a good time to secure your place. damian@yeoldestoneschool.com www.truestonedesign.com.au

Class Details

Dates: 17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 25, 27 & 28 Aug Time: 8am – 2pm

Fees:

• Single Day – $270 • Four-Day Course – $770 • Eight-Day Immersion – $1,370 Group discounts are available.

More Information

Email: damian@yeoldestoneschool.com Website: www.truestonedesign.com.au Instagram: @ttrue.stone.design YouTube: www.youtube.com/@yeoldestonecottage July 29, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 31

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32 The Byron Shire Echo July 29, 2026

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www.echo.net.au

Sport

Fun competition for everyone at the Mullumbimby Tennis Open The 2026 Mullumbimby Open was an outstanding success, attracting 168 entries and featuring more than 400 matches across a thrilling weekend of tennis.

The tournament was made possible with the support of Bangalow Tennis Club and Riverside Tennis Club in Mullumbimby, whose assistance in hosting the event was greatly appreciated.

The standard of play was exceptional throughout the tournament. Local Byron Bay talent Che Ward thrilled spectators by claiming the Men’s Open Singles title after an epic final against Mullumbimby’s own Onyx Cheong.

In the Women’s Open Singles, 14-year-old Ava Garner from Banora Point displayed remarkable composure and

Frankie Smith and Onyx Cheung both came out winners at the event. Photo Jeff Dawson maturity beyond her years to take home the title.

One of the highlights of the weekend came in the

Open Mixed Doubles. Former Junior Wimbledon runner-up

Hapkiyusul Global – from Byron Shire to South Korea A group of local martial artists have returned from a historic trip to South Korea, proving that age is no barrier to peak health and global impact.

Representing the Byron Shire on the world stage, members of the local Hapkiyusul Global clubs travelled to East Asia to witness the formal establishment of the organisation’s new Korean branch headquarters.

Founded locally in October 2023 by Jarrod Taylor, Hapkiyusul Global has rapidly expanded from its Byron Bay roots to run regular seminars across the USA and South Korea.

The Australian delegation featured prominent local faces, including Coorabell residents Michael (73) and Adele (66), alongside Bill Taylor (73) from the Bangalow club, and Claire (60) and Hamish Brace (62) from the Murwillumbah club.

‘While veterans Bill, Claire, and Hamish used the trip to pay respects to the legacy of Grandmaster Kim Yun Sang, who taught seminars in the Byron region between 2003 and 2013, it was a thrilling first-time experience for Michael and Adele,’ said Taylor.

‘Their South Korean host, senior instructor Mr Hwang Euidok, expressed

and former ATP world No. 190 Ben Mitchell, now a coach at Mullumbimby Tennis Club, partnered with the club’s 12-year-old rising star Frankie Smith. The pair combined experience with youthful flair to capture the title, delighting the home crowd.

Tournament Director Olivia Rich praised the players, volunteers, sponsors, and supporters for making the event such a memorable success.

‘It was incredibly special to see so much local talent performing so strongly,’ Rich said.

‘From our open players to our social players, cardio tennis ladies, and orange ball competitors as young as six playing in their very

first tournament, everyone embraced the weekend with enthusiasm and had fun. It was an amazing weekend with the best atmosphere. A big thank you to our major sponsors, Heanes Build, The Banya, The Middle Pub, Sunday Sustainable Baker, and Wilson – events like this wouldn’t be possible without their support.’

Next comp in November Following the success of this year’s event, the club is already looking ahead to the next Mullumbimby Open, which will be held from 13–15 November, promising another exciting weekend of high-quality tennis and community spirit.

Byron Bay Football Club call to support player Tom Chatterton

Help Tom get back on his feet. Photo supplied

Senior instructor Hwang Euidok (left) sparing with Pilsang Kim (right) with Jarrod Taylor (seated) observing. Photo Kai Sedlacek immense praise for the Byron group, noting that their strength, mobility, and stamina completely outshone expectations for their age groups. It was a true testament to the effort these practitioners put in regularly at their home training sessions in Australia,

showing what is possible through the hapkiyusul system.’

The Australians trained alongside a German contingent led by European representative Kai Sedacek, a familiar face to locals from his classes at the Byron Starlight Festival.

Tom Chatterton recently suffered a severe leg injury while playing in the championships for Byron Bay Football Club (BBFC) against Burringbar.

Tom underwent an extensive seven-hour emergency surgery and now faces further surgeries and an estimated 6 to 12 months of rehabilitation.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Tom and his family during his recovery with the cost of the surgeries

and other rehabilitation programs.

‘Any contribution, big or small, will make a difference – and sharing the fundraiser will help spread the word.

Let’s rally together as a club and community to help Tommy focus on healing and getting back on his feet,’ said the BBFC in a call to ‘rally behind Tom’.

You can contribute at: www.gofundme.com/f/ help-tommy-recover-hf7h4.

CALLING ALL

SPORTS The Echo wants to support you.

Please send stories, pics, match reports, upcoming events, tall tales (not too tall mind you), results and anecdotes to sport@echo.net.au. www.echo.net.au

July 29, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 33

Mungo from the Bardo Soapbox www.echo.net.au/soap-box

Crossword by Mungo MacCallum 1

2

3

4

5

#19

6

Birdsong: Nature’s Call to Action

7 8

9

10

11

12 13

14

15

16

MANDY

N O LA N

’S

Mandy Nolan

17

18

20

I

19

21

22

23 24

25

26

Cryptic Clues

Quick Clues

ACROSS

ACROSS

1. Choose rook, I caught small pawn.

That’s a buzz (8,5) 9. Ambassador loses yacht to setter.

That’s the bottom line! (5) 10. The duke and his wife go promiscuous (9) 11. Jolly good animal, I’m told, the antelope (10) 12. Zero in on cold metal (4) 14. A thousand go south in immense uproar for revenge (7) 16. Socialist dead inside, or similar (7) 17. Distress about non-clerical turn in dances (7) 19. Patent medicine has no hesitation; instead does brief harm to nasal passage (7) 20. River temperature leads to confusion (4) 21. Medico procrastinated – caught!

Expelled from the regiment (7,3) 24. Leon was confused, with nothing of the essential meaning. But he made up a new word (9) 25. After Vietnamese new year, Egyptian god creates tropical fish (5) 26. Public lavatory shields boat and French fish, deceased. Useful small producers for any township (6,7)

1. Jolt received from faulty wiring (8,5) 9. Short passage at the end of a literary work (5) 10. Flirt, act promiscuously (9) 11. Type of African antelope (10) 12. Silvery grey metal (4) 14. Revenge, or its goddess (7) 16. Of the same family, connected (7) 17. Dances, especially school ones (7) 19. Nasal passage (7) 20. Melee, crowd out of control (4) 21. Formally expelled from the army (7,3) 24. One who coins new words (9) 25. Small tropical fish, often seen in tanks (5) 26. Yards where fruit and vegetables are grown for sale (6,7)

DOWN

1. Pachyderm’s nose (9,5) 2. Young eel (5) 3. To sit on in the loo (6,4) 4. Make a mark on, cause admiration (7) 5. Make a zigzag movement, cut through (7) 6. In the bible, he spilled his seed on DOWN the ground (4) 1. Drunk and disorderly: the Naples 7. Younger female sibling (3,6) case (9,5) 8. Insincere grief, hypocrisy (9,5) 2. Revel about Apodes offspring (5) 13. Carnivore (10) 3. To a single: Invitation to dine at The 15. Miniature universe (9) Redback’s Retreat! (6,4) 18. Small fish, often canned (7) 4. Journo’s introduction to produce a 19. Identification label (4,3) favourable effect. (7) 5. One ship in short cut to crossover (7) 22. Unusual, improper (5) 23. Tie up a boat (4) 6. Masturbator has tiny erection! (4) 7. Young American sibling teases first queen (3,6) Last week’s solution #18 8. Old Cicero rages and rips into J A C K F R O S T C I V I C hypocrisy (9,5) O A O F H O E H 13. Carnivore self-destructs over gas C A R B O O T E M P E R O R fire (10) K P L H F R D O 15. Note little one from 8 down abroad S T A M P E V O C A T I O N on Monday – it’s a small world! (9) C R A U I M A C H O P A R A M E D I C 18. Mrs Lyons of the Royal Agricultural A I O O H I O L Society goes back to fish (7) E X O F F I C I O C A N O E 19. Entrance staff returns ID (4,3) L A R R I 22. Strange route – quite improper in S E A S H E L L S O O Z E S fact (5) T D A Y E C E T R O U N D U P M A H A T M A 23. Tie up Othello (4)

■ Crossword circa 2008

STARS

BY LILITH Chiron and Saturn joining Neptune and Pluto in a retrograde planetary quartet call time out for a serious midwinter assessment of how best to meet the challenges of our changing times…

LEO THE LION

O

L

E

M A T E S

S

E

I

E X N U P T

T

L

I

A L

’ve only just started really listening to the songs of birds.

Since the alarming news that the H5 bird flu virus – or HPAI, high pathogenicity avian influenza – was confirmed in Australia, I contemplated the reality that our wildlife could be devastated in the same way as it has been in other continents. I imagined whole populations of our birds decimated. Like our black swan.

Native to Australia, it is the only black-coloured swan in the world. Black swans lack the immune genes that combat viral infections found in other species of water birds, which could mean being wiped out entirely. Ironically the black swan could experience a ‘black swan event’. A metaphor that describes an event that comes as a surprise, has a major effect, and is often inappropriately rationalised after the fact without the benefit of hindsight.

This is usually a term used in the financial market. But our populations of beautiful elegant swans could be decimated. Western Australia could be left without an emblem.

I’ve tried to imagine a life without birds.

Without song. This choir of tweets and warbles, calls and shrieks, the whip, the lilt, soft twittering elation, to mournful throbbing sobs. I don’t know what that bird is. But it sounds so sad. I can’t believe this song is here every morning, but I often don’t hear it. Because I don’t truly listen. But when I listen, and I mean really listen, I hear them. I can’t believe how dramatic they are. How they seem to call to each other, the trill of response.

The chirp of disagreement.

So I’ve started noticing them.

This morning I heard the kookaburra.

I love the raucous laugh, which I know is not a laugh at all, but a raucous chorus to tell other birds, potential invaders and property developers: ‘I live here.

This is my territory.’ I love that their call comes at dawn and dusk. They are nature’s alarm clock.

Native to Australia, it is the only black-coloured swan in the world.

Black swans lack the immune genes that combat viral infections found in other species of water birds, which could mean being wiped out entirely.

They are the gentle sound of morning. The sound of nature. Of resilience.

They are the song of Country. A reminder of a life that existed before us. A life that exists in spite of us. But what if that’s it? Would we even notice the morning chorus if it lost its key contributors? Imagine a world without birdsong! I recently read Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring. It was the book that truly launched our modern environmental movement. For a book written mid-last century, I was amazed how prophetic

her analysis was. And how little we have learnt.

Her book is about a poisoned world.

Our birds, and susceptible wildlife, are facing a potentially catastrophic virus. A world without bird song is bleak.

Bird flu is a notifiable disease. So it’s time we noticed, not just bird song, but birds or other animals that may have this very contagious animal virus. While it has low contagion to humans, it’s recommended not to touch an animal suspected of having H5. If you spot sick or dead birds or other animals, you should report it to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888. Record the location, what you see, and take a video or photo from a safe distance.

Infected wild birds can’t walk or stand, or fly properly, they seem droopy or puffed up.

Noticing bird song starts with noticing birds.

■ 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.

ARIES: With the stop/go push/pull energetics of structured, systematic Saturn and go-with-the-flow Neptune both hibernating in your sign, don’t expect instant answers. But do know that this lesson in balance is the beginning of a brand-new cycle, to be clarified further when Chiron revisits Aries in September.

CANCER: This week’s full moon on 29 July in the sign of community outreach asks is there any expertise you lunar beings might perhaps have to offer the collective in the area of housing initiatives or home care. If that’s not your thing, then use those bright ideas for upgrading or rearranging casa Cancer.

LIBRA: This week’s highlight is the year’s only full moon in the sign of community collaboration on 29 July, which invites you to meet up with others to consider what good work you might do together, perhaps in the areas where Libran skills excel, like justice organisations, styling or artistic alliances.

CAPRICORN: Along with the slow-moving retrograde planetary gang of Neptune, Pluto and Chiron, your celestial CEO Saturn taking a break is Capricorn’s wakeup call to rest, replenish and recharge. Saturn in the sign of pioneers is about discovery, so use this cycle for exploring new ideas and frontiers.

TAURUS: With Uranus the rearranger in your financial sector, change is the only constant for some time to come, like it or not – and most Taureans won’t. Good news? This week’s annual full moon in the sign of innovative thinking could shine light on new ways to earn, spend and save.

LEO: Simultaneous retrogrades can be intense times for the inhabitants of planet Earth, but the sun and genial Jupiter in your majesty’s sign are your clue to this week’s operating strategy: which is to be the shining light you are, and use your superpowers generously to inspire confidence where it’s needed.

SCORPIO: Re- words like reevaluate, reflect and reconsider come into their own during this week’s planetary retrogrades.

As the highs and lows of life’s rollercoaster intensify it may not be easy to accept that if something is falling apart, it’s because it has to, before a new scenario can emerge.

AQUARIUS: This week’s celestial headliner is full moon in Aquarius on 29 July, the annual date for waterpourers to celebrate your wild ideas, innovative nature and status as the zodiac’s most original, least ordinary sign. And listen for downloads from your planet guide Uranus in the sign of inventive minds.

SAGITTARIUS: The current celestial retrogrades suggest that this isn’t a time to push ahead regardless, but to proceed slowly and carefully through uncertain terrain with small, progressive steps.

Because you can’t learn the new skills and thinking required if you keep trying to make outdated ways of operating work.

PISCES: While your planetary muse Neptune retrograde in the sign of starting over has lessons for you, these come with many blessings, one of which supports practising turning disappointments into new beginnings. Treat setbacks as opportunities to reassess, recalibrate, reframe and refresh your life script.

GEMINI: Uranus in your sign offers a wealth of options and possibilities, so make some available space in your day to quiet the busy mind and tune in for astonishing revelations, light bulb moments or sudden insights. With Jupiter in your neighbourhood zone, opportunities and connections could show up close to home.

34 The Byron Shire Echo July 29, 2026

VIRGO: During the current setbacks and delays, look on the bright side: this gives you the chance to do what Virgos like best: get it right. What not to do this week? Try to fix people. Better to shine a loving light on them, and Venus in your sign of caring service makes that easy.

www.echo.net.au

■ COMEDIAN MEL BUTTLE

A masquerade Giving Gala For half a century, Community Gateway has stood as a vital lifeline for the Northern Rivers.

accompanied by a five-hour premium beer, wine and beverage package.

What began in 1976 as a modest, local hole-in-the-wall initiative in Lismore has evolved into a professional, multidisciplinary powerhouse of grassroots care. In the past year alone, the organisation delivered a staggering 13,491 instances of clinical, financial and community support to our region’s most vulnerable residents.

Beyond the food and music, the night will feature a major raffle draw, with the chance to win an incredible holiday getaway, and a high-stakes silent auction packed with exclusive experiences and treasures.

To celebrate 50 years of turning collective compassion into life-changing impact, Community Gateway is hosting the region’s ultimate night out: The 2026 Giving Gala.

Single tickets are $175 per person which includes the threecourse meal, 5-hour beverage package and all entertainment; tables of ten are $1,700 (the perfect value option to celebrate together as a group or reward your team).

To be held on Saturday, 12 September at the Lismore Turf Club, this spectacular evening invites locals to dress in formal attire with a ‘touch of masquerade’ for a night of world-class entertainment, premium dining, and community spirit.

The team have pulled out all the stops for this milestone fundraising event. The night will be hosted by the brilliantly funny, renowned comedian Mel Buttle (pictured), ensuring the room is filled with laughter from the get-go. Once the formalities conclude, the dance floor is set to ignite with a headline performance by soul powerhouse Lisa Hunt.

Guests will be treated to an exquisite three-course dinner curated by local favourites Secret Chef Catering,

35–43 JONSON ST BYRON BAY 6685 6454 THENORTHERN.COM.AU @thenorthernbyronbay www.echo.net.au

Every dollar raised from the Giving Gala directly funds Community Gateway’s ongoing wraparound clinical and community services, ensuring vital programs continue to reach those who need them most.

Can’t make it on the night? You can still champion the cause from anywhere by purchasing a ticket in the major raffle or bidding in the online silent auction leading up to the event. Local businesses looking to align their brand with lasting regional impact are also invited to connect with Tania – taniabonomini@nrcg.org.au – to explore tailored sponsorship packages.

Tickets are strictly limited for this historic local celebration of community. Secure your place by visiting nrcg.org.au/ gala and help support the Northern Rivers’ night of nights.

Seven days of entertainment

Seven

Volume 40 #30 2–6 January, 2026 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: 02 6684 1777 W: echo.net.au/entertainment

Bangalow’s own Flo Bangalow’s own Flo Records are turning three and set to mark the occasion with a mammoth 12 hours of music programming split between their record shop and the iconic A&I Hall.

On Saturday, 8 August, the music starts at 11am at their flagship store on Station St and runs until 6pm when the crew will pack up and head over the road for the big dance till 11pm.

They have 16 DJs lined up and are excited to be hosting Miles Cleret the founder of record label Soundway Records. Known among circles for having one of the deepest record collections in Australia.

The event during the day is free, laid back and family friendly before things ramp for the proper shindig.

Tickets to the A&I Hall are available via Humantix.

Expect dub, tropical and boogie vibes during the day and afrobeat, house and techno in the evening. Our idea of the perfect day out.

As if this wasn’t large enough, Flo Records thought they could squeeze in a record fair during the day at the A&I Hall. They are currently on the scout for independent sellers who are keen. If this sounds like you get in touch via email or Instagram. www.florecords.com.au.

THUR 30 JULY

Dan Hannaford 6pm, DJ Oren Selecta 9.15pm Duelling Piano Bar 9pm

FRI 31 JULY

Kane Muir Trio 7pm Isaac Frankham Trio 10.15pm | Duelling Piano Bar 8pm

SAT 1 AUG

Z-Star Trinity 7pm | DJ Quendo 10.15pm Duelling Piano Bar 8pm

SUN 2 AUG

Milo Green 5pm Vinyl Sunday’s ft Andrea Jones 8.15pm

MON 3 AUG

Jerome Williams 6pm | Duelling Piano Bar 9pm

TUES 4 AUG

Marshall Okell 6pm | Duelling Piano Bar 9pm

WED 5 AUG

Felicity Lawless 6pm | Duelling Piano Bar 9pm

LIVE MUSIC EVERY NIGHT

July 29, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 35

Seven A magical winter tradition Tom and Jeremy are Busby Marou

Get ready Northern Rivers – one of the region’s most magical winter traditions is back.

Newrybar’s iconic Bonfire & Fireworks Night returns on Saturday. Every winter, thousands of locals and visitors make their way to the Newrybar Public School for their yearly fundraising event, an evening that stays locked in the minds of children for years. There’s something undeniably special about gathering under an open sky with your community, the warmth of the fire, kids wide-eyed, the sound of laughter, and joy as a spectacular fireworks finale lights up the night.

Twenty years ago, two mates started playing pubs in Rocky.

They never stopped.

Busby Marou have cemented themselves as one of Australia’s premier musical acts, captivating audiences with their distinctly Australian storytelling, masterful musicianship, and undeniable onstage chemistry. For two decades, Tom Busby and Jeremy Marou have forged a musical partnership that blends rich harmonies, heartfelt lyrics, and the kind of effortless synergy that only comes from years of playing together. They have built something rare in Australian music – a genuine connection with the people who show up.

This year’s event promises all the magic you’ve come to love: a giant bonfire, fairground rides, delicious local food, the irresistible DJ Shorty Brown Disco, massive raffle and a fireworks display that never gets old. It’s nostalgic. It’s joyful. It’s completely, unapologetically local.

They have gold and platinum records, a swag of awards, five ARIA top-5 albums including a number 1, millions of streams, and played the biggest stages shared with the best – Elton John, Dolly Parton, Alan Jackson and so many more – but it’s always been about the live show.

Whether you’re a Newrybar regular or discovering it for the first time, this is the winter night out worth clearing your calendar for.

The Newrybar Bonfire & Fireworks Night is on Saturday, at the Newrybar Public School, 10 Broken Head Road from 4pm to 8pm – the fireworks are on at 7.30pm.

Cost is $5 per person or $20 per family, pay at the gate. Don’t miss it. This is a no dogs, and alcoholfree event.

Come and be part of something special on Saturday, 1 August at the Ballina RSL Auditorium. Doors 7.30pm, show 8pm. Tickets from ballinarsl.com.au.

Finders keepers The Finders Keepers & Makers Market is coming to Newrybar on Saturday, 8 August from 8.30am to 1pm at Newrybar Hall and will be held in locations throughout the township.

This all weather market will showcase a beautiful collection of antique wares and furniture, vintage treasures, and French country decor. Experienced vendors are travelling from far and wide, offering visitors a rare opportunity to discover unique and hardto-find pieces.

In addition, talented local artisans will be featuring handcrafted pottery, Oak Meadow clothing, jewellery, sweet treats, local honey, and stunning fresh flowers. Special guest speaker Councillor of Lismore City Virgina Waters, and others, will also be in attendance, alongside live music, face-painting, and more, making it a wonderful morning out for the whole community.

This special event is proudly raising funds for Mary of the Angelus, a not-for-profit, nongovernment-funded charity dedicated to supporting vulnerable and homeless women across the Northern Rivers.

Bring your cash and your trailer, and come along to support a truly meaningful cause, while enjoying a vibrant and inspiring market atmosphere.

Please note: There are no ATM facilities in Newrybar, so cash is essential. One hundred per cent of funds raised will go directly to the charity.

36 The Byron Shire Echo July 29, 2026

www.echo.net.au

Seven days of entertainment

Baggy Trouser are pure Madness Step back in time with the infectious, bouncing, upbeat sound of two-tone ska/pop and party classics, as Baggy Trousers bring ‘Madness’ to Ballina.

London-born and hailed as the Southern Hemisphere’s premier Madness tribute show, Baggy Trousers brings to life the legendary UK band’s iconic hits in ‘The Sound of Madness’ and bring the energy, humour and soundtrack of the UK’s golden era to Ballina RSL. Join them for a nostalgia filled night full of hi-energy, singing, and non-stop dancing to UK party classics, featuring the songs you know and love from Madness, Bad Manners, The Specials, Ian Dury & The Blockheads and many more, this is a full-blown nostalgia party built for dancing, singing and letting loose. Expect classics including ‘House of Fun’, ‘One Step Beyond’, ‘Lip Up Fatty’, ‘Too Much Too Young’, ‘Our House’, ‘Special Brew’, ‘Baggy Trousers’, ‘Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll’ and plenty more favourites from the soundtrack of the 80s.

Baggy Trousers have built a reputation around Australia and New Zealand for delivering packed dancefloors, big crowd singalongs and the feel-good atmosphere of a proper British party night. With sharp suits, ska rhythms, cheeky banter and a setlist full of timeless UK anthems, the band recreates the spirit of the era that filled pubs, clubs and dancefloors across Britain and beyond.

Whether you grew up with the music, or just love a great night out, this is your chance to relive the sound, style and energy of classic UK party culture. Grab your mates, dust off the dancing shoes and join the party at Ballina RSL this September.

Ballina RSL on Saturday, 5 September. For more information visit www.baggy-trousers.com.

The James Morrison Quartet Australian jazz legend James Morrison returns to Byron Theatre this August with the ensemble he describes as his favourite way to perform – the James Morrison Quartet.

saxophones and piano, showcasing the remarkable versatility that has made him one of Australia’s most celebrated musicians.

Having shared the stage with some of the world’s greatest jazz musicians, including Quincy Jones, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock and Wynton Marsalis, Morrison says the magic of this quartet lies in the chemistry between four musicians who share the same passion for swing, improvisation and the joy of live performance.

More than a concert, this is an opportunity to experience four exceptional performers creating music in the moment, where technical brilliance meets spontaneity and every performance takes on a life of its own.

Joined by guitarist William Morrison, bassist Harry Morrison and drummer Patrick Danao, the quartet delivers an exhilarating mix of classic jazz, original compositions and virtuosic musicianship. With guitar, bass and drums providing the foundation, Morrison moves effortlessly between trumpet, trombone, flugelhorn,

Whether you’re a lifelong jazz enthusiast or discovering the genre for the first time, the James Morrison Quartet promises an evening of infectious energy, masterful musicianship and music that truly swings.

The James Morrison Quartet play the Byron Theatre on Saturday, 1 August at 7.30pm.

Tickets from byroncentre.com.au.

You are invited to

Finders, Keepers & Makers Market Saturday 8th August 8.30am - 1pm N E W RY B A R C O M M U N I T Y H A L L A N D TOW NSH I P

‘Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.’

– Confucius

• Antique Treasure • Vintage Wares • French Decor • Local Artisans • Fashion • Food • Music and lots more

This is a Charity Event on Behalf of

Mary of the Angelus Raising funds and awareness for Homeless Women of the Northern Rivers www.angeluscommunity.org.au

www.echo.net.au

July 29, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 37

Seven Seven days of entertainment

CINEMA

IT’S FREE TO LIST YOUR GIGS IN THE GIG GUIDE e: gigs@echo.net.au w: echo.net.au/gig-guide.

DEADLINE 5PM ON FRIDAYS

GIG GUIDE

WEDNESDAY29

■ NORTH BYRON HOTEL 5PM DJ DANI QUAYLE

PERATEKK B2B PIPO & CUPID B2B EVEL

3PM OPEN MIC WITH THE SWAMP CATS

■ RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, TIM STOKES

■ HAVEN, BYRON BAY, 7PM MAXI MERAKI (DE), SHANEOHH, DADDY ISSUES

■ THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 7PM Z-STAR TRINITY + DJ QUENDO + DUELLING PIANO BAR

■ BILLINUDGEL HOTEL 1PM MARK EASTON

■ NEWRYBAR PUBLIC SCHOOL 4PM BONFIRE & FIREWORKS NIGHT

■ BRUNSWICK HEADS PICTURE HOUSE 11AM SCREENING – AFTERNOON DELIGHT, 5PM WADDANANGGU FUNDRAISER

■ 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

THURSDAY 30 ■ BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 6PM TAYLOR MADE

I didn’t even fall asleep once during writer-director Olivier Assayas’s 2 hours and 32 minutes long, The Wizard of the Kremlin. An adaptation of Giuliano da Empoli’s 2022 novel, The Wizard of the Kremlin is a sharp political satire of the final years of the Soviet Union and the turbulent start of the Russian Federation and the rise of you-know-who!

Russia, early 1990s. Amid post-Soviet chaos, a brilliant young man, the fictional (or is he?) Vadim Baranov (BAFTA nominee Paul Dano), charts his path. First an artist, then a reality TV producer – next he becomes the spin doctor to a rising KGB agent: Vladimir Putin (Jude Law).

At the heart of power, Baranov shapes the new Russia, blurring the boundaries between truth and lies, belief and manipulation. Only the magnetic Ksenia (Alicia Vikander) is beyond his control, tempting him away from this dangerous game.

Years later, after retreating into silence and shrouded in mystery, Baranov finally opens up, revealing the dark secrets of the regime he helped build.

■ THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 6PM DAN HANNAFORD + DJ OREN SELECTA + DUELLING PIANO BAR

COMING SOON

JURASSIC PARK (PG)

ALL FILMS

TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA (MA15+) Fri: 6:30PM – Movie Club Preview

VELVET GOLDMINE (MA15+)

NOW SHOWING

■ CLUB LENNOX 7PM JOCK BARNES

■ FOXY LUU’S @ COORABELL HALL 5.30PM CONOR ALEXANDER ■ HOTEL BRUNSWICK 6PM SHAI ROSE ■ SAINT MARIES, BRUNSWICK HEADS, 6PM MONDO JAZZ CATS

■ ELTHAM HOTEL 6PM IRISH FOLK JAM ■ LISMORE CITY BOWLO 7PM THE SUPPER CLUB SOUL BAND ■ BROADWATER HOTEL 5PM WILLIAM HOULAHAN & THE HEALING HANDS

FRIDAY 31

■ BYRON THEATRE 7PM AIDEN SCHOFIELD

Daily except Fri: 11:00AM, 5:00PM, 7:40PM. Fri: 10:45AM, 1:20PM.

DISCLOSURE DAY (M)

Daily except Sat, Mon: 8:00PM

MICHAEL (PG) Fri: 3:50PM

OBSESSION (MA15+)

SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY (M) NFT

Daily except Sat: 11:00AM, 3:30PM. Sat: 11:00AM, 4:00PM

TOY STORY 5 (G)

Daily except Sat, Sun: 10:45AM, 2:40PM. Sat: 10:45AM, 1:30PM. Sun:

SCAN TO BOOK ONLINE

COLOURS OF TIME (M)

FAMILY FILMS MOANA (PG)

■ MURWILLUMBAH SERVICES CLUB 6PM MERLIN

■ CONDONG BOWLS CLUB 6PM THE FINE ORGAN COMBO ■ SALTBAR, KINGSCLIFF, 5.30PM JASON MCGREGOR ■ SEAGULLS, TWEED HEADS, 2PM TOMMY MEMPHIS ■ CLUB TWEED 7.30PM CHI CHI ■ BROADWATER HOTEL 3PM OPEN MIC FT. NIC PALMER BAND & MAIKS

■ BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 3PM BEN WALSH + MICKA SCENE DUO + MISS RENEE SIMONE ■ BYRON THEATRE 7.30PM THE JAMES MORRISON QUARTET ■ NORTH BYRON HOTEL 2PM DJ DAVE QUENDO ■ HAVEN, BYRON BAY, 6PM

THE BLUE TRAIL (M) NFT

Daily except Sat, Mon: 10:45AM, 1:30PM, 4:50PM, 6:00PM. Sat: 10:45AM, 2:45PM, 4:50PM, 6:20PM. Mon: 10:45AM, 1:30PM, 4:50PM, 6:10PM

THE INVITE (MA15+)

Thurs, Fri, Tues: 10:45AM, 3:50PM, 6:10PM, 8:20PM. Sat: 11:10AM, 3:45PM, 6:00PM, 8:15PM. Sun: 10:30AM, 6:00PM, 8:15PM. Mon: 10:45AM, 3:50PM, 8:00PM. Wed: 3:45PM, 6:00PM, 8:15PM

THE ODYSSEY (M)

Thurs, Sat, Mon, Tues: 10:45AM, 12:50PM, 1:40PM, 2:30PM, 4:10PM, 6:45PM, 7:30PM. Fri: 10:45AM, 12:50PM, 2:30PM, 4:10PM, 6:45PM, Daily except Sun: 11:30AM, 1:00PM, 7:30PM. Sun: 10:45AM, 12:50PM, 2:00PM, 4:00PM, 5:00PM, 6:00PM, 1:40PM, 3:20PM, 4:10PM, 6:45PM, 7:00PM, 8:00PM. Sun: 10:30AM, 7:30PM. Wed: 10:45AM, 12:50PM, 1:00PM, 2:00PM, 4:00PM, 5:00PM, 1:40PM, 2:30PM, 4:10PM, 7:30PM 6:30PM, 7:00PM, 8:00PM

THE WIZARD OF THE KREMLIN (MA15+) Thurs, Fri, Mon, Tues: 1:00PM

FOR ALL SESSIONS TO THE NORDIC FILM FESTIVAL, PLEASE VISIT NORDICFILMFESTIVAL.COM.AU

38 The Byron Shire Echo July 29, 2026

■ HOTEL LISMORE 5.30PM OLE FALCOR + DJ SPEX

SATURDAY 1

■ RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, BULLETPROOF

Thurs, Wed: 8:30PM. Fri: 8:40PM Sat: 8:15PM

Daily: 10:50AM, 12:40PM

■ LENNOX HOTEL 9PM FUNNY GOATS

■ THE CITADEL, MURWILLUMBAH, 6PM SCREENING: GREASE

■ BALLINA RSL 7PM THE BIG GIG COMEDY NIGHT

Mon: 6:30PM – Cult Vault

MINIONS & MONSTERS (PG)

■ MULLUMBIMBY EX-SERVICES CLUB 6PM MULLUM OPEN MIC

BALLINA FAIR CINEMAS

10:45AM, 1:30PM, 2:40PM

Wed: 7:00PM – Date Night Preview

■ MIDDLE PUB, MULLUMBIMBY, 5.30PM BALCONY BEATS + KRAPPYOKEE WITH JESS

■ YELLOW FLOWER CAFE, SUFFOLK PARK, 6PM PROUDLY HUMAN JAZZ

PALACE BYRON BAY

SPECIAL SCREENINGS

ONE NIGHT ONLY (CTC)

■ WANDANA BREWING CO., MULLUMBIMBY, 3.30PM DJ MONSIEUR DIOP

■ TINTENBAR HALL 7PM CIGANY WEAVER

■ ELEMENTS OF BYRON 5PM JORDAN MAC

Sun: 1:00PM. Wed: 11:00AM

■ HOTEL BRUNSWICK 4.30PM BLACK BIRD HUM

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

The Wizard of the Kremlin is screening now at www.palacecinemas.com.au.

LA SCALA: CARMEN (CTC)

■ BRUNSWICK HEADS PICTURE HOUSE 7PM NIGHTTIME NOSTALGIA: THE HISTORY OF A SHOWGIRL

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

■ BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 5PM ALISHA TODD + JEROME WILLIAMS BAND

Sat: 1:30PM – Tribute Screening

■ A&I HALL, BANGALOW, 7.45PM SONIC FX

■ HOWL & MOAN, BYRON BAY, 7PM KIRIN J CALLINAN, ESCAPE-ISM, SPIKE FUCK, ARTHINGTON STACK

Dano and Law give truly stellar performances as the film investigates the notion, that in an age where truth can be manufactured, the people doing the manufacturing hold so much of reality in their hands.

SESSION TIMES THURSDAY JULY 30 TO WEDNESDAY AUGUST 5

■ HOTEL BRUNSWICK 6PM ALPHA STOMP

■ OCEAN SHORES TAVERN 5.30PM OPEN MIC AT THE TAV

■ RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, MICKA SCENE

The Wizard of the Kremlin

■ THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 7PM KANE MUIR TRIO + ISAAC FRANKHAM TRIO+ DUELLING PIANO BAR

JURASSIC PARK (PG)

Sat: 1:30PM – Tribute Screening

MINIONS & MONSTERS (PG)

Daily except Sat, Sun: 2:00PM. Sat, Sun: 9:30AM

MOANA (PG)

Daily except Sat, Sun: 10:10AM, 4:20PM. Sat: 9:45AM. Sun: 9:45AM, 1:30PM

SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY (M)NFT

Thurs: 10:00AM, 11:00AM, 12:30PM, 3:30PM, 6:30PM. Fri, Mon, Tues, Wed: 10:00AM, 12:30PM, 3:30PM, 6:30PM. Sat, Sun: 9:30AM, 12:30PM, 3:30PM, 6:30PM

■ BRUNSWICK HEADS PICTURE HOUSE 5PM & 7PM BRON LEWIS: CHAOS ■ THE TOP PUB, MULLUMBIMBY, SOY, FEE=VER, RIP, SHEENA DALIS SWEDISH MAGAZINES ■ WANDANA BREWING CO., MULLUMBIMBY, 3.30PM DJ DARLAN ■ MULLUMBIMBY CIVIC HALL 4PM GIGAWATT GOLDEN GALA ■ BILLINUDGEL HOTEL 11AM GOOD OLE HOEDOWN ■ WILLIAMS STREET KITCHEN & BAR, LENNOX HEAD, 5.30PM JOE CONROY

■ HOTEL BRUNSWICK 4PM CALIENTE LATIN PARTY

■ BALLINA RSL 10AM THE BALLINA COUNTRY MUSIC CLUB, 2.30PM BALLINA BLUES CLUB FEAT JAMIE ASHFORTH BAND ■ SHAWS BAY HOTEL, BALLINA, 3PM CARLIE FAIRBAIRN DUO ■ ELTHAM HOTEL 4PM ANDREW MORRIS ■ LISMORE CITY BOWLO 2PM TIME OF MY LIFE WITH GREG SHEEHAN ■ CLUB TWEED 1PM ALICE ANDERSON + CURT LUXTON ■ TWIN TOWNS, TWEED HEADS, 2.30PM TOM BURLINSON

■ CLUB LENNOX 7PM NATHAN KAYE

■ BROADWATER HOTEL 3PM WEEKEND WARRIORS, TOMOHUNG, TWIN CITY RIOT, RED ROCKITZ & TARAN

■ BALLINA RSL 6PM LUKE BENNETT, 8PM BUSBY MAROU

MONDAY 3

■ MURWILLUMBAH SERVICES CLUB 6PM CHRIS SINGING

■ BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 6PM GUY KACHEL

■ KINGSCLIFF BEACH BOWLS 1PM THE COMPLAINERS

■ THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 6PM JEROME WILLIAMS + DUELING PIANO BAR

■ CLUB TWEED 7.30PM UK BEE GEES ■ TWIN TOWNS, TWEED HEADS, 8PM DOLLY – I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU ■ SOUNDLOUNGE, CURRUMBIN, 7PM HARLAN ■ COOLANGATTA HOTEL 2.30PM RUBY FIELD,S LAUREL HILL, TOMORROW\’S FORECAST, LOCAL SAFARI, CLAY PIGEONS, MERMAID WATERS, GRANNY SMYTHS ■ BROADWATER HOTEL 5PM IS MAN KIND

SUNDAY 2 ■ BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 4.30PM BOURBON STREET ■ THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 5PM MILO GREEN + VINYL SUNDAYS FT. ANDREA JONES ■ CASA LUNA, BYRON BAY, 6PM HUSH POETRY ■ MIDDLE PUB, MULLUMBIMBY,

TUESDAY 4 ■ BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 6PM SAMSARUH ■ THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 6PM MARSHALL OKELL + DUELING PIANO BAR

WEDNESDAY 5 ■ BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 6PM OLE FALCOR ■ BYRON THEATRE 1PM NT LIVE: LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES ■ THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 6PM FELICITY LAWLESS + DUELING PIANO BAR ■ THE PADDOCK PROJECT, MULLUMBIMBY, 4PM CURRY JAM ■ OTTILIES, MULLUMBIMBY, 6PM MONDO JAZZ CATS ■ ELTHAM HOTEL 6.30PM NOT QUITE FOLK JAM

DID YOU KNOW? It’s free to post your gigs in the gig guide and it will also appear on Bay FM

THE INVITE (MA15+)

Daily except Sat, Sun: 6:45PM. Sat, Sun: 7:20PM

THE ODYSSEY (M)

Thurs: 1:00PM, 6:15PM. Fri, Mon, Tues, Wed: 10:30AM, 1:00PM, 6:15PM. Sat, Sun: 2:45PM, 4:00PM, 6:15PM

TOY STORY 5 (G)

Daily except Sat, Sun: 4:00PM. Sat, Sun: 11:20AM

email gigs@echo.net.au with details.

6686 9600 BALLINA FAIR • 6680 8555 BYRON BAY

www.echo.net.au

Classifieds

ECHO CLASSIFIEDS – 6684 1777 CLASSIFIED AD BOOKINGS

DEADLINE TUES 12PM

PHONE ADS

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

Ads may be taken by phone on 6684 1777

AT THE ECHO HEAD OFFICE Ads can be lodged in person at the Mullum Echo office:

Village Way, Stuart St, Mullumbimby

EMAIL ADS

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 (box ads) and line classifieds, email:

DISPLAY ADS (with a border): $14 per column centimetre

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.

These prices include GST.

classifieds@echo.net.au

DISCLAIMER Advertisements placed in The Byron Shire Echo do not reflect the views or opinions of the editorial staff.

The Byron Shire Echo does not make any representations as to the accuracy or suitability of any content or information contained in advertising material nor does publication constitute in any way an endorsement by The Byron Shire Echo of the content or representations contained therein.

The Byron Shire Echo does not accept any liability for the representations or promises made in paid advertisements or for any loss or damage arising from reliance on such content, representations or promises.

Notice of Praecipe

For the record Ayla Constance Eldridge(c) of Stokers Siding, New South Wales is permanently domiciled on the Land and Soil of Terra Australis. I am not a voluntary transactor in commerce, and the paramount security interest holder of all estates, property, assets and collateral, both registered and unregistered, and all associated copyright protected trade names. My lawful Reconveyance to the Land and Soil jurisdiction of Terra Australis, was recorded with Public Recording Number RPP44 63900 05100 46678 76600 on Proclamation Date June 26th 2026. All usufruct subjugation ties have been severed with the occupying corporate government of Australia. The corporate Australian kakistocracy and its affiliates are instructed to immediately cease and desist misaddressing Ayla Constance Eldridge(c) in fraudulent debased DogLatin, GLOSSA and to cease and desist infringing on my estate, property, assets, collateral and copyright protected trade names.

Notice of Praecipe

For the record Aaron Timothy Peter Andrews(c) of Stokers Siding, New South Wales is permanently domiciled on the Land and Soil of Terra Australis. I am not a voluntary transactor in commerce, and the paramount security interest holder of all estates, property, assets and collateral, both registered and unregistered, and all associated copyright protected trade names. My lawful Reconveyance to the Land and Soil jurisdiction of Terra Australis, was recorded with Public Recording Number RPP44 63900 05100 46678 77607 on Proclamation Date June 26th 2026. All usufruct subjugation ties have been severed with the occupying corporate government of Australia. The corporate Australian kakistocracy and its affiliates are instructed to immediately cease and desist misaddressing Aaron Timothy Peter Andrews(c) in fraudulent debased Dog-Latin, GLOSSA and to cease and desist infringing on my estate, property, assets, collateral and copyright protected trade names.

www.echo.net.au

Peter William Henderson 3rd March 1941 – 23rd July 2026

Peter passed away peacefully at Bupa Aged Care Pottsville.

Echo Classies also appear online:

Dearly loved husband of Clare (dec.) Loving father & fatherin-law of Tracey and Jeremy, Sandra and Tod (dec.) and Scott and Vanessa

www.echo.net.au/ classified-ads

Grand children – Sam, Ben and Megan, Joel and Sharni, Molly and Tom, Mimi and Gabe and Aspen and Keily

Cash, cheque, Mastercard or Visa Prepayment is required for all ads.

COMMUNITY FREE HOT BRUNCH FIRST SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH • Sausage sizzle • Hot dogs • Sandwiches • Coffee & tea • Fruit Salad

EVERYONE WELCOME Come one come all and join us in a meal or just a chat.

Takeaway most welcome: COVID safe rules apply.

Frozen takeaway meals now available.

10am to 12pm PUBLIC NOTICES

CLASSIFIEDS THAT WORK ALL WEEK!

FUNERAL

In the Ballina Presbyterian Hall Corner of Cherry & Crane. Just behind the Presbyterian Church.

Family and friends are warmly invited to celebrate Peter’s life at Mullumbimby Cemetery at 11.00am on Thursday the 30th of July.

WHERE TO GET THE ECHO ***

If you live in NEWRYBAR, LENNOX HEAD, BALLINA MAIN ARM, BILLINUDGEL but outside our current home delivery area, you can pick up an Echo from many locations.

For example: 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, the Lennox pub drive-through, Station St Grocer, Lennox *** Main Arm Store, Billinudgel General Store & Pub

Brunswick Valley FUNERALS 6684 6232

YAMOUS THE DISAPPROVER

RIP sendoff at Torakina 2pm Monday.

IN MEMORIAM

YANNI SPYROU

HEALTH

2. In summary, this upgrade will comprise of: • Replacement of three (3) existing Optus panel antennas with three (3) new Optus panel antennas (each no longer than 2.8m in length);

KINESIOLOGY

Clear subconscious sabotages.

Reprogram patterns and beliefs.

Restore vibrancy and physical health. De-stress.

0403125506 SANDRA DAVEY, Reg. Pract.

• Replacement of twelve (12) existing remote radio units (RRUs)with nine (9) new RRUs;

HYPNOSIS & EFT

Now available again in private practice Individual and Relationship Therapy 0403 730 304 awarecounselling.com.au

Certified Mindfulness Educator Paul Bibby 0401 926 090

Supporting humans of all ages to thrive.

Stress, sleep, learning, behaviour, posture, muscles, healthy emotions, trauma release & more...

0413 003 301

www.katemessengerkinesiology.com.au

TREE SERVICES LEAF IT TO US - Tree Care Specialists Local, qualified, insured, free quotes.

Big to small we enjoy it all 0402487213

HYPNOSIS & NLP

Over 30 years of experience WendyPurdey.com. Ph 0497 090 233 REFLEXOLOGY FOOT MASSAGE Experienced healer 10+ years In Byron or Mobile. Ph 0468 720 912

Somatic Pr

Psychotherapy

actice

Psychother

Julie Wells

Body Based

• Arborist • 15” Wood Chipper • Stump Grinder • Fully Insured Byron Bay & Surrounding Areas

6681 3140 Mobile 0417 698 227

apy

Somatic Practice

Dip. Som. Psych.

Clinical PA CF A Reg.

Julie Wells Anne Goslett

Individual and Couple Ther Supervision and Coachin apy g

Facilitati

ons Pty. Ltd .

Ph: 02 66 85 5185

SERVICE STREAM LTD A.B.N. 46 072 369 870 OPTUS NETWORKS PTY LTD A.B.N. 92 008 570 330

Masti Adler

Simple and effective solutions.

Anxiety, Cravings, Fears & Trauma.

Maureen Bracken 0402205352

• Installation, relocation and removal of ancillary equipment, including GPS antennas, mounts, feeders, cabling, combiners, and other associated equipment; and

For more information, please visit www.rfnsa.com.au/2478002.

Curious?

0431 112 514 or Al@lahood.au

Bring greater focus, clarity and calm into your workplace.

1. Optus is proposing to upgrade its mobile phone base station on the existing monopole at the above address.

Body Base d

‘I am a Boat in the swift flood of time, and my companions a fellowship. Who throws in with us, sails into light …’

–Rumi

Mindfulness @ Work

PROPOSAL TO UPGRADE AN EXISTING MOBILE PHONE BASESTATION AT 1A SUVLA STREET (LOT 1 DP632176) EAST BALLINA NSW 2478

3. We invite you to provide your feedback or request further information by contacting: Russell Carman, Planning Consultant Optus.submissions@servicestream.com.au, 0447 240 015 or by post to: Service Stream (Wireless) Level 5, 655 Collins Street, Docklands, VIC 3008 by 5pm Thursday 13 August 2026.

& Spiritual Inquiry with Dr G. A. Lahood

DEATH NOTICES

26/8/1997 - 25/7/2011 * *photo scratchy Yanni Spyrou.jpg* * Days have passed and formed into years but we will forever remember you with silent tears.

Love Baba, Mummy, Eleyna, Papou, Yiayia, Niko, Mano and Leo

• Works within the existing equipment shelter.

CONTEMPORARY TRANSPERSONAL PSYCHOLOGY

(nee Mannix)

20 years local experience

Dip.Som.Psych, Clinical PACFA Reg. Mobil

e: 0401 27 7 688 Individual and Couple Therapy Supervision and Coaching

(02) 6685 5185 9 Fletcher St, Byron Bay

• 19 inch chipper • Stump grinding • Cherry picker • Crane truck • Bob Cat

Fully insured • Free quotes

0427 347 380

July 29, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 39

Classifieds / Community at Work STUDIO WITH AMENITIES Upstairs, Billinudgel $402pw Ph Lifestyle Group 66851206

LADIES WANTED, MUST BE 18+ Work available in busy adult parlour. Travellers welcome. 66816038 for details.

TAXI DRIVERS WANTED Flexible work hours – perfect 2nd income Email operations@byronbaytaxis.com

Septic Waste Removal The Liquid Waste Specialists!

• Septic tank cleaning • Grease trap servicing • Oily Liquids • Portable toilet hire • 24 hour service

6687 2880

WANTED TREE FERNS Any shape, size. Royalties paid.

Ongoing supply needed. 0414904396 LP RECORDS: good condition, no op shop crap! Matt 0401955052

GARAGE SALES RETRO VINTAGE FAIR Designer and Retro Clothing, Rugs, Collectables, Bric a Brac, Records.

Brunswick Memorial Hall, Fingal St Sat 1st & Sun 2nd August.

8.30am - 4.30pm.

DURRUMBUL HALL SAT 1 AUGUST 8AM TO 1PM Moving out sale: Clothes, furniture etc

Tip Runs & Rubbish Removal 0408 210 772 MOTOR HOMES

1967 DIAHATSU MOTORHOME Ph 0481103963

TO LET

LOCAL REMOVAL

& backloads to Brisbane. Friendly, with 10 years local exp. 0409917646

TO LEASE BYRON IND 3x large rooms ideal for storage for expanding business needing more space for stock, + carspace $550pw. For more info txt 0424906036

INDEPENDENT LIVING UNIT CENTRAL BANGALOW Over 55yrs retirement village.

Small, friendly complex in the centre of Bangalow.

Newly renovated spacious 2-bed unit with lock-up garage.

Licence to occupy arrangement – includes entry fee and refundable portion on departure.

Enquiries to:Geoff Gill – 0428 536 902 or Will Danaher – 0410 515 474

ORAL HEALTH THERAPIST SEE OUR AD PAGE 3

Festival roles for Destination Byron’s Winter Festival.

Apply now

PET SITTER AVAILABLE Kind, confident animal carer available for your four-legged fur baby.

References available.

Call Pawla on 0415340744

AMBULANCE, FIRE, POLICE 000

Adopt a Rooster.

Freddie is part cat, part hippo, part potato perhaps? Larger than life & with very unusual markings, he definitely stands out from the rest. Freddie loves his food & everyone else’s it would appear! He’s a little socially awkward & would be best as a solo cat. He may be larger but he’s not overly confident.

With lots of TLC, we are sure he’ll not only become a slimmer version of his current self, but he’ll become 100 % love bug.

To meet Freddie, please visit the Cat Adoption Centre at 124 Dalley Street, Mullumbimby.

OPEN: Tues 2.30-4.30pm Thurs 3-5pm / Sat 10am-12 noon Call AWL on 0436 845 542

contact@thinkblinkdesign.com www.thinkblinkdesign.com

Connecting the Byron Shire Community

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Kitchen Hands - Retail Assistants Drivers and Co-driver Community Support Assistants MDNC is in need of dedicated volunteers to be part of a big loving family. All skill sets welcome.

Contact Sylvia Volunteer Coordinator Mon-Fri - 6684 1286

ANNIVERSARY 1st August 2026. My loving wife

Hessie

One year with you in marriage.

First hurdle jumped!

Thank you for your patience and your understanding. You put up with my slack around the house and my terrible banter.

I know I’m not perfect, but I’m yours.

You’re the best thing to happen to me since Rugby.

Here’s to many more years to come.

On our ‘paper’ anniversary.

One down, forever to go.

All my love. Your husband. AT xx

BIRTHDAYS

Happy Birthday Tas!

Love from the Echo crew

40 The Byron Shire Echo July 29, 2026

SUN, MOON & TIDES

– TIMES FOR NEXT 2 WEEKS DATE DAY, SUN MOON HIGH July/ MOON RISE / RISE / TIDES, Aug PHASE SET SET height (m)

LOW TIDES, height (m)

6:30 17:47 08:38 1.22 03:01 0.38 30 TH 17:14 6:50 21:11 1.75 14:14 0.29

31 F

6:30 18:45 09:15 1.26 03:33 0.35 17:15 7:23 21:44 1.74 14:51 0.29

6:29 09:55 1.29 04:04 0.33 1 SA 17:15 19:41 7:54 22:16 1.69 15:30 0.32

6:28 20:38 10:35 1.32 04:37 0.32 2 SU 17:16 8:23 22:48 1.62 16:11 0.37

Robert Max Hanna Passed away peacefully at John Flynn Hospital on 16 July, 2026 aged 88 years.

Dearly beloved husband of Laurel and loving father of Lucas and Felicity.

Loved Fardi to grandsons Max and Zac. Rest in Peace.

A private funeral service has been held.

VOLUNTEERS WANTED Mullumbimby & District Neighbourhood Centre

VIGILANT SINCE 1986

6:31 16:49 08:01 1.18 02:30 0.41 29 W 17:13 6:13 20:37 1.74 13:36 0.32

In loving memory

WORDPRESS WEBSITE CREATION Fair rates info@wordpressit.com.au

• Photoshop • Indesign • Illustrator

whogivesacluck.org/shop/roosters-toadopt/ whogivesacluck.org @whogivesacluck

AWL NSW Rehoming Organisation Number: R251000222

WORK WANTED

Experienced Professional Trainer

This is Wally. He was dumped at an elderly woman’s home west of Murwullimbah. When we first got him he was scrawny, but now look at him.

A beautiful boy. He’s a medium sized rooboy, a bit bigger than an ISA Brown hen. He’s quiet and ready to learn how to care for some girls.

Like us on Facebook!

See back page ad for more details.

Adobe Tutoring

Who gives a Cluck?

6:28 21:36 11:19 1.35 05:10 0.32 3 M 17:16 8:52 23:23 1.52 16:56 0.45 6:27 22:37 05:45 0.33 12:06 1.38 4 TU 17:17 9:23 17:48 0.53 6:26 23:40 00:01 1.40 06:24 0.35 5 W 17:17 9:56 13:01 1.40 18:53 0.62 6:25 00:49 1.27 07:11 0.38 6 TH 17:18 10:34 14:08 1.44 20:20 0.67

7

F

6:25 0:47 01:55 1.14 08:10 0.39 17:18 11:18 15:24 1.51 22:00 0.64

6:24 1:56 03:19 1.06 09:19 0.39 8 SA 17:19 12:12 16:40 1.61 23:29 0.54 6:23 3:04 04:46 1.06 10:30 0.34: 9 SU 17:19 13:14 17:46 1.73 6:22 4:08 05:59 1.11 00:31 0.42 10 M 17:20 14:23 18:44 1.84 113:6 0.27 6:21 5:04 06:58 1.19 01:22 0.32 11 TU 17:21 15:35 19:35 1.91 12:34 0.19 6:20 5:52 07:49 1.26 02:06 0.24 12 W 17:21 16:46 20:21 1.94 1:327 0.14 Data sourced from Bureau of Meteorology. Times adjusted for Daylight Savings when applicable.

AMBULANCE Mullumbimby & Byron Bay 131 233 POLICE Brunswick Heads 6629 7510 Mullumbimby ......... 6629 7570 Byron Bay ................. 6685 9499 Bangalow.................. 6629 7500 STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE Storm & tempest damage, flooding .............132 500 BRUNSWICK VALLEY RESCUE Primary rescue .................................... 6685 1999 BRUNSWICK MARINE RADIO TOWER ............................... 6685 0148 BYRON CENTRAL HOSPITAL6639 9400 BYRON COUNCIL: EMERGENCY AFTER HOURS .......................... 6622 7022 NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE (Mullumbimby) ................................... 6684 1286 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 24 hour crisis line ..........................1800 656 463 LIFELINE ............................................131 114 MENSLINE .............................1300 789 978 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS 24 hours .................................1800 423 431 AL-ANON Help for family and friends of alcoholics .......................... 1300 252 666 NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS Meets daily ....................................... 6680 7280 NORTHERN RIVERS GAMBLING SERVICE ....................................... 6687 2520 HIV/AIDS – ACON Confidential testing & information ........ 6622 1555 ANIMAL RESCUE (DOGS & CATS) ............................... 6622 1881 NORTHERN RIVERS WILDLIFE CARERS ....................................... 6628 1866 KOALA HOTLINE ...................... 6622 1233 WIRES – NSW Wildlife Information & Rescue Service.......................... 6628 1898

The Echo’s Market Guide Find it online: www.echo.net.au/market-guide

MONTHLY MARKETS:

Brunswick Heads Markets – 8am–2pm Byron Community Market – 8am–3pm Pottsville Beach Markets – 7am–1pm 2nd SUN: The Channon Craft Market – 9am–3pm Chillingham Markets – 8am–1pm Coolangatta Arts & Craft Markets – 8am–2pm Tabulam Community Market – 9am–1pm 3rd SAT: Mullumbimby Community Market – 8am–2pm Murwillumbah Makers & Finders Market – 9am–2pm Salt Beach Markets, South Kingscliff/Casuarina – 8am–1pm 3rd SUN: Federal Village Market – 8am–2pm Uki Buttery Bazaar Market – 8am–2pm Pottsville Beach Markets – 7am–1pm Lismore City Bowlo Markets – 9am–1pm 3rd SUN (Dec & Jan): Byron Community Market – 8am–3pm 4th SAT: Kyogle Bazaar – 9am–2pm Last SAT: Evans Head Rotary Market – 8am–1pm 4th SUN: Bangalow Market – 8am–2.30pm Nimbin Markets – 9am–3pm Murwillumbah Showground Market – 8am–1pm 4th SUN (in a 5-Sunday month): Coolangatta Arts & Crafts – 8am–2pm 5th SUN: Nimbin Markets – 8.30am–3pm 1st SAT: 1st SUN:

DAISY

Summerland Environmental

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Freddie

POSITIONS VACANT

PETS

Daisy is a 8 month old, Cattle/Wolfhound X. She has a gentle and good-natured personality. If you’re looking for a loyal energetic companion Daisy might be your perfect match! M/C # 978142000355124 Location: Murwillumbah For more information contact Yvette on 0421 831 128.

Please complete our online adoption expression of interest. www.friendsofthepound.com/adoptionexpression-of-interest/ Visit friendsofthepound.com to view other dogs and cats looking for a home.

ABN 83 126 970 338

SPENCER

TRADEWORK

North Coast news online

Spencer is a charming, intelligent 18-month-old cat seeking a calm, peaceful home where his unique personality can shine. Independent yet affectionate, he enjoys gentle companionship and is happiest with a quiet corner or sunny window to watch the world go by. He loves sharing space with his favourite humans, often curling up nearby. Spencer is the perfect companion for someone who enjoys a relaxed lifestyle and values calm, loyal company.

Re-homing #R251 00 00 60

T: 6681 1860 E: shelter@nras.org.au W: www.nras.org.au

We have 5 kittens up for adoption. 3 black boys, and 2 tortishell girls. These darlings were understandably scared when they first arrived 2 weeks ago, but now they are starting to enjoy some affection from our volunteers. About 4 months old, girls have just been desexed, boys are next. All microchipped and vaccinated.

See our FB for more!

To make an appointment 0403 533 589 • Billinudgel petsforlifeanimalshelter.net

ONLY ADULTS BALLINA EXCLUSIVE 34 Piper Dr. Open 7 days 10am till late.

In & Out Calls. 66816038.

Ladies wanted Find us on Facebook and Twitter!

KRYSTAL ADULT SHOP Large variety of toys and lingerie 6/6 Tasman Way, A&I Est, Byron Bay 0416 899 048 Need proper erotic relaxation?

TANTRIC MASSAGE Men, Women, Couples. Ph 0480779325 couplesempowerment.global

SOCIAL ESCORTS LOTS OF GORGEOUS LADIES available for your pleasure nearby. Spoil yourself.

In-house & outcalls. 7 days. 0266816038.

Seasonal: Byron Beachside Market – four times a year: Wed 7th Jan 2026, Easter Friday, Sat 11th July and Sat 26th Sept

FARMERS/WEEKLY MARKETS:

Each TUE: New Brighton Farmers Market – 7am–11am Lismore Organic Market – 7.30am–10.30am Each WED: Murwillumbah Farmers Market – 7am–11am Nimbin Farmers Market – 3pm–6pm Newrybar Hall Twilight Market – 3pm–7.30pm Each THU: Byron Bay Farmers Market – 7am–11am Lismore Produce Market – 3pm–6pm Each FRI: Mullumbimby Farmers Market – 7am–11am Evans Head Farmers Market – 2.30pm–6.30pm Each SAT: Bangalow Farmers Market – 7am–11am Duranbah Road Farmers Market (Tropical Fruit World) 8am–11am Uki Farmers Market – 8am–1pm Lismore Farmers Market – 7.30am–11.30am Byron Twilight Market (October to April) 4pm–9pm Each SUN: Ballina Farmers & Producers Market – 7am–11am The Echo updates this guide regularly, however sometimes markets change their routine without letting us know.

Please get in touch if you want to advise us of a change.

www.echo.net.au

Service Directory 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

AUTOMOTIVE

WE PAY FOR

UNWANTED CARS $50–$1500

6684 5296

Free metal drop off Locally owned

ABSOLUTELY FREE CAR BODY REMOVAL CASH ON THE SPOT GUARANTEE

$50 – $1000

SERVICE DIRECTORY INDEX

BUSH REGENERATION & WEED CONTROL

WE BUY UNWANTED CARS, UTES & VANS

reforestnow.org.au

Bush Regen Tree Planting Native Forest Nursery Weed Management 0461 164 911 enquiry@reforestnow.org.au

THE GREEN WAVE: native reforestation and weed management........................ (John) 0491 117656

CARPENTRY & JOINERY LOCAL CARPENTER small, medium or large jobs. Lic 207899c................................Ph 0431 048856 ALL CARPENTRY Doors & stairs, all repairs. Reliable. 20 years exp...............................0437 202050 BYRON BAY CARPENTRY & CONSTR. Decks, kitchen, bath, laundry. Lic 337421c........0432 549082 PARRY’S CARPENTRY - Decks, Pergolas, Repairs, Renovations. Licence 491263C. ..Ph 0478 429767

CLEANING

PHONE 0466 113 333 24/7 EMAIL: enquires@adrians.com.au

Accountants & Bookkeepers.41 Hypnotherapy..................... 42 Services List Locally owned and Operated Acupuncture....................... 41 Landscaping ....................... 42 (Low Pressure Softwashing) Residential and Commercial BARBER SHOPS Air Conditioning & Houses, Gutters, Roofs, Awnings, No job too big or small Locksmith........................... 42 Obligation free quote Refrigeration...................... 41 Painting.............................. 42 PENSIONERS/KIDS FROM $25 – ADULTS FROM $30: 6 Brunswick Tce Mullum......0421 679015 Solar panels, Retaining walls Driveways, Paths, Pavers, Fully insured Architects........................... 41 Pest Control........................ 42 Fences, Decks, Patios, BLINDS, AWNINGS, CURTAINS, SHUTTERS Automotive......................... 41 AQUA PRESSURE CLEANING Pool areas.

Photography....................... 42 Barber Shops...................... 41 Physiotherapy..................... 42 Blinds, Awnings, Curtains, 0426 119 550 info@nraquapressurecleaning.com.au ABN: 47576013867 Picture Framing.................. 42 LOCAL SHOWCASE DEALER SHOWROOM Shutters.............................. 41 SUNSCREENS LOCAL SHOWCASE DEALER SHOWROOM SUNSCREENS Bricklaying.......................... 41 Plastering........................... 43 BLINDS SHUTTERS AWNINGS CURTAINS Byron Bay Building Trades................... 41 Plumbers............................ 43 Removalists........................ 43 LOCAL SHOWCASE DEALER SHOWROOM Bush Regeneration & Weed SUNSCREENS LOCAL SHOWCASE DEALER SHOWROOM SUNSCREENS Control............................... 41 Rendering........................... 43 CLEANING SERVICE CURTAINS LOCAL SHOWCASE DEALER SHOWROOM CURTAINS 1/84 Centennial Circuit Byron Bay CLEANS: Holiday, Residential, Bond, Commercial, Spring.

Carpentry & Joinery............ 41 Roofing............................... 43 1/84 Centennial Circuit Byron Bay SUNSCREENS Cleaning............................. 41 Rubbish Removal................ 43 Phone Mick 0409 009 024 LOCAL SHOWCASE DEALER SHOWROOM CURTAINS SUNSCREENS Email: mickbhl@gmail.com Bay Computer Services.............. 41 Self Storage........................ 43 F1/84 REECentennial MEASUCircuit RE QByron UOTE PLANTATION SHUTTERS mpSlU etR eE raQ ng fE FoRnEoEurMcEoA UeOoT Concreting & Paving............ 41 Septic Systems.................... 43 PLANTATION SHUTTERS interior & exterior HOT WATER o n o u r c o m p l e t e r a n g e o f CURTAINS Fw RiEnE QtUsOTE Decks, Patios & Extensions... 41 Solar Installation................ 43 doM wEtArSeU atRmEen PLANTATION SHUTTERS PRESSURE CLEANING 1/84 Centennial Circuit Byron Bay in rm&pleex terr iogr o n toeur rio co te an e of CURTAINS Design & Drafting............... 42 Television Services.............. 43 CURTAINS AWNINGS i n t e r i o r & e x t e r i o r w i n d o w t r e a t m e n t s 1/84 Centennial Byron Bay 1/84 Centennial Circuit Circuit Byron Bay www.blinddesignbyronbay.com.au window treatments ROLL BLINDS Driveway Maintenance........ 42 Tiling.................................. 43 SPECIALISTS IN HOME AUTOMATION AWNINGS AWNINGS Earthmoving & Excavation.. 42 Tree Services....................... 43 www.blinddesignbyronbay.com.au www.blinddesignbyronbay.com.au BLINDSBLINDS ROLL ROOF CLEANING & PAINTING • DECK RESTORATION ATS UOTEROLL FREE MF ER ASE UE REM QE UO EURE QPLANTATION SHUTTERS PLANTATION SHUTTERS Electricians......................... 42 Transportation Services....... 43 nS ouU rR co oE mpo lQ eu tU err an eo n c ogm pflete rang e of FREE MEoA O T E PLANTATION SHUTTERS Fencing............................... 42 0455 573 554 interior & exterBRICKLAYING ior Upholstery..........................

43 i n t e r i o r & e x t e r i o r o n o u r c o m p l e t e r a n g e o f Call or scan today FCRTEAM.AU window treatments Floor Sanding & Polishing... 42 Valuers............................... 43 nr dow treatments interior & extew riio AWNINGS BETTY’S CLEANING & HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES............................................... Text 0476 984649 Garden & Property www.blinddesignbyronbay.com.au Veterinary Surgeons............ 43 window treatmSPECIALISTS ents ROLL AWNINGS BLINDS PRESSURE WASH IT WASHING !!! .................................................... Text YOKO 0475040733 IN HOM E AUTOM ATION Maintenance....................... 42 Water Filters....................... SPECIALISTS 43 www.blinddesignbyronbay.com.au CLEAN AND GREEN BYRON residential cleaning. All areas..................................... 0494823880 IN HOM E AUTOM ATION Gas Fitters, Suppliers & AWNINGS ROLL BLINDS Web Design Services...........

43 • 20 years’ experience in lintel replacement www.blinddesignbyronbay.com.au Servicing............................ 42 ROLL BLINDS COMPUTER SERVICES • Crack stitching installation • Repointing Welding. . ............................

43 Guttering............................ 42 • Retaining walls and all damaged brickwork Handypersons..................... 42 Window Cleaning & Repairs.43 Call: 0403 141 760 • Email: wallfixremedial@gmail.com One-on-one, patient, experienced www.wallfixremedial.com.au Health................................ 42 Window Tinting.................. 43 Servicing the Northern Rivers teacher offering digital support for

5 Stars

80 8862 66668 0 8862 6680 8862

SPECIALISTS IN HOME AUTOMATION

6 6 860 8862 6 6 8 0 8 8 2 6680 8862 SPECIALISTS IN HOM E AUTOM ATION

SPECIALISTS IN HOME AUTOMATION

Fr quote

WALLFIX

REMEDIAL

ACCOUNTANTS & BOOKKEEPERS

BRICK/BLOCK LAYING Contractors. Lic 291958C. Phone Mark.........................................0409 444268

BYRON BOOKKEEPING BAS, Payroll, AR/AP, Xero, QB, MYOB.......................................0415 639548

BUILDING TRADES

BOOKKEEPER Reg BAS provider, payroll, A/P, A/R. Xero & MYOB. Local, reliable..........0410 206627 BLOOMING BOOKKEEPING and BAS Agent................................................... Ph Leah 0434 121077

ACUPUNCTURE ACUPUNCTURE CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE M Collis..............................................0490 022183

AIR CONDITIONING & REFRIGERATION Mullumbimby Refrigeration & Airconditioning Services

45 Manns Road, Mullumbimby Lic: 299433C ARC: AU40492

– Sales – Installation – Repairs – All Commercial Refrigeration – Residential & Commercial Airconditioning – Coolroom Design & Construction – Freezer Rooms

6684 2783

COOLMAN AIR CONDITIONING 36+ years exp. Lic 178464C AU30147.......................0422 291433 ARTISAN AIR Airconditioning and refrigeration. ...............................................................66809394 SKIP AIR: Airconditioning installation, servicing, repairs. Free quotes. 5-star rated......0406 485187

ARCHITECTS

• DEPT OF FAIR TRADING: A licence is required for all residential building work where the reasonable market cost of the work to be done (labour and materials) exceeds $5000 (including GST).

B&B Timbers 66867911

110 Teven Road, Ballina New logo - Same quality & service Structural – Landscaping Fencing – Composite Decking Hardwood – Pine – Hardware sales@bbtimbers.com.au

www.bbtimbers.com.au

BUILDER – JOHN MCGAURAN Personalised Service. 20 yrs exp. Lic 170208C........... 0415 793242 HAVEN BUILDING All aspects of building. Lic 326616C................................................0432 565060 FABRICA JOINERY Quality kitchens/timber doors/windows. Lic 244652C..........................66808162

seniors needing help with phones, laptops and computers.

Phone or email: 0420 235 624 contact@thinkblinkdesign.com FLASH COMPUTERS Mac/PC repairs, sales, call-outs 77 Stuart St, Mullumbimby.........02 66844124 THE COMPUTER THERAPIST home callouts, repairs, Wi-Fi, printers, new PC setup......0422 697586

CONCRETING & PAVING

SALISBURY

CONCRETING DARYL 0418 234 302 Over 30 yrs’ local experience.

All forms of concreting.

Residential • Civil • Industrial

Lic.136717c

Lic no. 292267C Master Builder No. 3029326

CARPENTER / JOINER 30 years experience. Prompt efficient service. Fully insured. Other licensed trades SHAKA CONCRETING Driveways, sheds, slabs, p/ways, patios. Insured & Lic#391742C.....0402 728207 avail, incl plastering/painting etc. 24/7 Emergency 4WD call-out avail. Lic 43794C.........0423 500693 MIRO HALFORD BUILDING DESIGN mirohalforddesign.com.......................................0402 613638 BUILDER Extensions, maintenance, new homes, insurance, landscaping Lic19953Q........ 0403 458177

DECKS, PATIOS & EXTENSIONS

SEA LION BUILDERS: All Building Works / Maintenance Lic #243734C.....................Ph 0407 351720

BYRON BAY FLOOR SANDING by Chris Wallace. Quality assured. Best prices................0408 536565 VIDLER BUILT decks, extensions, bathrooms, kitchens, timber fencing Lic 304237c........0413 502281 DECK REFINISHING EVANS HEAD Customer satisfaction guaranteed..........................0413 786879

OCEANARC ARCHITECTS Reg. 6042 www.oceanarc.com.au..........................................0412 251392 BUILDER very exp. All aspects: comm/residential + bthrm/ktchn renos Lic348357c.......0483 279644 FCR DECK SANDING, OILING Local, 12 years exp. 190x5-star reviews. Free quotes ... 0419 789600

www.echo.net.au

July 29, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 41

Service Directory

North Coast news online

DESIGN & DRAFTING

FENCING

HYPNOTHERAPY

MIRO HALFORD BUILDING DESIGN mirohalforddesign.com.......................................0402 613638 BYRON & BEYOND FENCING. Any fence, any time, prompt quotes......0439 162 069 or 66802393 MOONLIGHT HYPNOTHERAPY QHHT, RTT for clarity, healing, insight, purpose. Teresa.0422 179941 HOLM STUDIO architectural drafting & planning services. holmstudio.com.au............0488 216555 EDL FENCING Installations & repairs. Prompt service. ...................................................0432 107262 LIGHT SPACE DESIGN Interiors + building design. lightspacedesign.com.au...............0421 276996 FLOW FENCING Pool fencing, timber/colourbond, local, professional and reliable........0416 424256 TOM’S FARM MAINTENANCE Fencing, orchards, cattle work. Experienced & reliable..0412 860132

LANDSCAPING

DRIVEWAY MAINTENANCE

FLOOR SANDING & POLISHING

ALL ASPECTS OF ASPHALT & BITUMEN SERVICES

oast Asph alt st C Ea

6677 1859

admin@ecasphalt.com.au

THE FLOOR SANDER New & old floors, decks, non-toxic finishes, special effects, free quotes..0407 821690

GARDEN & PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

SERVICING THE EAST COAST OF THE NSW NORTHERN RIVERS

Swim Ponds, Landscaping, Water Features, Earth Moving

0448 401 638

Burringbar

MC2 RURAL Earthmoving, mulching, camphor/weeds, property maintenance............ 0427 900701

EARTHMOVING & EXCAVATION

TINY EARTHWOR Philip Toovey

0409 799 909 various implements available for limited access projects

CONSCIOUS EARTHWORKS

• DRAINAGE DESIGN • DRIVEWAYS • PADS • WATERWAYS • ALL ASPECTS OF EARTHMOVING Phone Zac: 0468 344 939 www.360earth.com.au Drainage Consultation & Installation

5T Excavator & Skidsteer

Landscaping Install & Supply

8 Tonne Tipper

Retaining & Rockwalls

MULLUM.MOWING@gmail.com. Ride-on, large lawns & acreage. Ph Peter.................0423 756394 GUTTERS CLEANED Solar panel cleaning, all areas, free quotes, fully insured..66841778 or 0405 922839 A-Z Garden maintenance, acreage, gutters, rubbish removal, tip runs, top jobs...................0405 625697 LEAF IT TO US Tree care specialists & acreage mowing...................................................0402 487213 TIP RUNS & RUBBISH REMOVALS 4m3 trailer..............................................................0408 210772 RICK’S PROPERTY MAINTENANCE Mowing, brushcutting, gardening, hedging..........0424 805660 GREEN DINGO for all your mowing and gardening needs. Ph Michael..........................0497 842442 BLADE RUNNER ACREAGE MOWING Local, reliable.....................................................0428 856687 BRUSH–CUTTING Whipersnip, clearing saw, light chain saw.................................Rob 0455 587425 NORTHERN RIVERS SLASHING & LANDCARE.......................................... Call Keni on 0417 509299 GW MOWING Ride-on /acreage. Tip runs...............................................Call George on 0408 244820 GROWING WELL gardens residential lawns, hedging and design. 20 years experience ..0413 459545 THE GREEN WAVE: Eco property and garden care ............................................... (John) 0491 117656 COAST & COUNTRY Acreage mowing, prop. maintenance, prof. reliable service.... Mike 0413 812582

GAS FITTERS, SUPPLIERS & SERVICING Free Delivery No Rental Reliable

Landscaping, Vegetation Control & Earthworks

• General Landscaping • Vegetation Control • Excavations & Civil Residential

Call Paul 0403 316 711 gracewoodlandscapes.com.au Lic 474317C

LEMONTREELANDSCAPES.COM.AU Liam. Lic 277154C...............................................0423 700853

LOCKSMITH Brendan Duggan Locksmith. Automotive car keys and lock installation/repair........0412 764148

PAINTING

Attachments:

Bulk & Green Waste Removal

Rock Grabber, Auger

All Earthworks Requirements

350/450, Compactor

www.brunswickvalleygas.com • 0408 760 609

•30+ Years Experience •Interior & Exterior •Reasonable Prices

BEN - 0499 985 555 License 479630C. Fully Insured.

NORTHERN RIVERS TRENCHING 65hp chain trencher, excavator, cable locating & tpr..0402 716857 ANDREW FLANAGAN CONCRETING & EXCAVATION Lic 310498C................................0401 968173

ELECTRICIANS

0439 624 945 AH 02 6680 4173 DOMESTIC ALL JOBS: SMALL COMMERCIAL OR LARGE 24 HOUR SERVICE Lic: 154293c

E4 Electrical Services Electrical Services for Byron Shire • Commercial/Industrial & Domestic • Power, Lighting, Networks & Starlink • Security & Home Automation Solutions

jphipps@e4electrical.com.au

0410 502 060

Reliable & Responsive | All Size Jobs | # 116612C

Professional Painter/Decorator

Locally Owned No Rental Fees Servicing your area Free Call: 1300 727 013 Email: swapabottle@bigpond.com

0451 298 363

splosh painting/decorating

HOUSEHOLD PAINTING inside/out. Northern Rivers - 10 years exp..............................0488 278220

PEST CONTROL

GUTTERING ✔ Gutter guard ✔ Gutter cleaning ✔ Locally owned ✔ Fully insured ✔ Free quotes Call Junior for friendly, genuine advice and service.

Book our Termite Inspection & Pest Control package this winter and receive 10% off. Protect your home and save money with this limitedtime offer! Contact us today to schedule your appointment.

Phone 02 6685 4490 • Email: service@sanctuarypest.com.au BRUNSWICK BYRON PEST CONTROL.................................................................................66842018

www.spotlessgutters.com.au

PHOTOGRAPHY

HANDYPERSONS

Tree Faerie Fotos

0405 922 839 or AH 6684 1778 ABN 94 239 089 086

HANDY ANDY Carpentry, plastering, welding.......................................... 66884324 or 0476 600956 AWESOME REPAIRS Professional, commercial & domestic. Wayne................................0423 218417 30+ years experience in commercial ABSOLUTE HANDYMAN Repairs, renovation, maintenance, painting. Call Mark..........0402 281638 A HANDY GUY All trades & small construction. Bruns, Ocean, SGB & Mullum................0411 858201 photography and photojournalism PFM HANDYWORKS Repairs, pressure cleaning, maintenance.......................Call Aari 0484 729139 www.treefaeriefotos.com • 0417 427 518 HOME MAINTENANCE Carpentry, painting, repairs, gardens, jet washing. Insured......0434 705506 HIGHPOINT Repairs & handyman services. Painting, plastering & tiling......... Michael 0421 896796 ALL CARPENTRY Doors & stairs, all repairs. Friendly, reliable. 20 years exp...................0437 202050 AW WOODWORK Furniture, kitchens, carpentry, handyman services. Call Adam.........0455 813965 OCEAN SHORES PHYSIOTHERAPY Manual therapies, dry needling, custom orthotics, HANDYMAN 40 years experience in the building game. Call Paul..................................0422 017072 ALL ASPECTS handyman and maintenance work. Free quotes......................................0413 289443 shock wave therapy, real time ultrasound. Nigel Pitman......................................................66803499 EWINGSDALE PHYSIO Matrix Therapy, all ages, massage, home visit. Renata..............0437 647137

Professional • Commercial • Personal

PHYSIOTHERAPY

JP ELECTRICAL All electrical. Level 2 ASP. Solar, data, TV, TV Antennas. Lic 133082C.....0432 289705 PELVIC FLOOR PHYSIOTHERAPY Bangalow Mon & Wed. Lisa Fitzpatrick.....................0422 993141 BEN FORSYTH, Electrician. Lic:240691C. Ocean Shores & surrounds. No job too small....0422 136408 JIM LABELLE ELECTRICAL O.Shores, Mullum, Byron, Bruns. Lic 176417C........................0415 126028 ACUPUNCTURE & COSMETIC MEDICINE Dr Adam Osborne............................................66857366 ATLEE ELECTRICAL Lennox/Ballina/Byron. All jobs Lic125138C........................................0499 456558 MULLUMBIMBY HERBALS Naturopathic and herbal dispensary, consultations...............66843002 TOPAZ ELECTRICAL. All electrical work. Reliable. Lic No. 461605C............................. Ph 0421 707380 AYURVEDA, NATUROPATH, Herbs, Jacinta McEwen – Om Healing...............................0422 387370 MULLUM PICTURE FRAMERS Studio located in Ocean Shores...................................0403 734791

HEALTH

PICTURE FRAMING

42 The Byron Shire Echo July 29, 2026

www.echo.net.au

PLASTERING PLASTERER, TRADE QUALIFIED repairs, renovations, cornices, quality assured. .Kurt 0431 015414 CAPE BYRON PLASTERING. Gyprock/Venetian. 27 yrs exp, free quotes, lic + insured.. 0402 538155 PLASTERING cornices, partition walls, water damage repairs etc Guaranteed quality. 0413 338203

PLUMBERS

Ben The Plumber

Servicing Mullumbimby, Ocean Shores, Brunswick Heads, Byron Bay & Surrounds 30 years’ experience Lic: 321191C

BLUE SKY ROOFING NSW Roof repairs Replacements

Gutters Downpipes

0450 659 114

Lic No. 304784C

RUBBISH REMOVAL

Byron Bay & Beyond

TIP RUNS & RUBBISH REMOVAL 7m3 trailer. Prompt, reliable service.........................0413 289443 BYRON SHIRE Rubbish and furniture removals. ................................................. 0415 139308

 High pressure jet rodder

SELF STORAGE BYRON BAY SELF STORAGE................................................................................................66858349

 Electric eel

SEPTIC SYSTEMS

 1.7t and 3m tipper truck  Blocked drain specialist

TRINE SOLUTIONS Local sewerage specialists. Plumbers, drainers & gas fitters. Lic 138031C.. 0407 439805

 12 month guarantee on most jobs  Fully insured

Martino TREE SERVICES

TIP RUNS & RUBBISH REMOVAL 4m3 trailer.................................................................0408 210772

 CCTV camera and locators

Phone James 0429 888 683

0401 208 797

OCEAN SHORES SKIPS Mini skip specialists .......................................... 0412 161564 or 66841232

Taking on work NOW! 0427 528 108 | benwilton74@icloud.com

Drain clearing, inspections and repairs.

Reliable family owned and operated local business with 30 years plumbing experience and the latest technology.

ALL AREAS OF THE NORTHERN RIVERS & SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND

SOLAR INSTALLATION

Lic 378040C

Scotty’sPro Plumbing Service

Serving Northern NSW since 1998

Reliable and experienced

Roofing repairs/leaks Plumbing – Drainage – LP Gas fitting

Your local, qualified team Specialists in standalone and grid interact system designs

• Professional Tree Removal, Surgery & Maintenance • Stump Grinding • Weed Control • Arborist Reporting & Consultancy • EWP Cherry Picker Hire • Mulching of Green Waste • 24 Hour Emergency Call-Out • Professional, Reliable Service

0435 019 524

TREE CARE SPECIALISTS • Local • Reliable • Insured

• 4×4 truck with 19” chipper • Qualified local arborists • 120 ★★★★★ Google reviews

0402 487 213

leafittous.com.au • kascha@leafittous.com.au 17 Years Experience as an Arborist Experienced crew ready to go.

Working in Byron Shire for over 20 years Phone Scotty anytime 0419 443 196 scottypro27@gmail.com – NSW Licence Number L13549

0428 320 262 sunbeamsolar.com.au team@sunbeamsolar.com.au

Free Quotes |Insured |Amenity Tree Pruning Removals |Chipping |Block Clearing Council DA Assistance if required

MARK STRATTON All plumbing & emergency. Sewer drain camera/locator. Lic 57803C.....0419 019035

TELEVISION SERVICES

Call Sam 0456 044602

BRAD EVELEIGH PLUMBING based in Ocean Shores, no job too small. Lic 257153C.........0438 140075 DAVE SPARKES Plumber Byron based, call out $110 incl. first hour. Lic209669C..............0418 167074

REMOVALISTS

DIGITAL ELECTRONICS REPAIR & SERVICE TV. Audio. Antennas........... 66843575 or 0414 922786 INSTALL SERVICE: TV, Wi-Fi, AV, special pensioner/concession rate. ............ Damian 0414 741233

TILING

SHIRE REMOVALS & FREIGHT CO WALL & FLOOR TILER/WATERPROOFER/STONEMASON Lic 24418C. ............Ph Karl 0439 232434 From Middle Pocket to Middle Earth Just give us a ring

AJ’s TILING all aspects. Bathrooms, kitchens, walls, floors, waterproofing. Lic 239988C...0416 345202

TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

0409 917 646

LEAPFROG REMOVALS BYRON BAY’S LOCAL REMOVALIST MOVING THE SHIRE FOR OVER 10 YEARS

0432 334 200 02 6680 8170

BYRON BUS Co-

BYRON TREE SERVICES AQF Level 5 consulting arborist, insured....................... Call Alex 0402 364852

Door to Door Charter Services

Airport Transfers | Tours | Nights Out | Beach Walks Events | Parties | Weddings | Corporate | Festivals

BANGALOW UPHOLSTERY Now at Billinudgel. Re-covering specialists..............................66805255

Get a Quick Quote Now

CHOPPY CHOP TREE SERVICES The Fully Insured Professionals

• Stump Grinding • Bobcat • Cherrypicker • Crane Truck • 18" Chipper

Mark Linder Qualified Arborist

0408 202 184

• Sydney • Gold Coast • Brisbane • Melbourne • North Qld • Country • Interstate • LOCAL

choppychoptrees@bigpond.com

02 6684 2198 queries@mullumbimbyremovals.com.au C

RYAN’S MINI MOVES....................................................................................................0406 657Y 755 CM

The Water Filter Experts for home, commercial and rural properties

WINDOW CLEANING AND REPAIRS

Serving from Ballina to Gold Coast.

www.echo.net.au

WATER FILTERS

WELDING & FABRICATION Structural, General, Repairs: Steel, Aluminium & Stainless...0408 410545

Metal Roofing & Guttering Experts

www.oceanbluepr.com.au License # QBCC: 15327621 NSW: 381929C

MULLUM VET CLINIC: Richard Gregory, Bec Wills, Heidi Jenal. After hours avail...............66843818 NORTH COAST VETERINARY SERVICES Dr Lauren Archer..................................................66840735

WELDING

K FCR ROOF PAINTING Local, 12 yrs exp, best paints avail, 190x5-star reviews. Free quotes.0419 789600

0429 909 433

VETERINARY SURGEONS

info@websitesbywednesday.com.au | www.websitesbywednesday.com.au.................0468 345742

CMY

admin@oceanbluepr.com.au

BYRON BAY VALUERS NSW & QLD registerd. Chartered Valuers............. 0431 245460 or 66857010

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- A Lifetime Warranty on Workmanship - Double Satisfaction Checks - Spotless Work Sites, Every Time

VALUERS

WEB DESIGN SERVICES

MY

RENDERING / SOLID PLASTERING 25 years experience. Free quotes............. Ph John 0406 673176

ROOFING

UPHOLSTERY

6680 8200 or 0418 108 181

M

BENNY CAN MOVE IT!..................................................................................................0402 199999

RENDERING

LOCAL TREE GUYS 15m crane truck. 18 inch chipper. Bobcat..............................Jason 0488 489159 OUT ON A LIMB TREE SERVICES Lucas Holland qualified arborist..........................Luc 0402 191316

TREE SERVICES

leapfrogremovals@yahoo.com.au

LEAF IT TO US 4x4 truck/chipper + crane truck. Local, qualified, insured. Free quotes........0402 487213

0490 183 424

arrive@ byronbuscompany.com.au

88

• Freight services to Brisbane weekly • Carriers of fine art • Furniture removal • E-bay pick up & delivery

PRUNING ~ REMOVALS ~ STUMP GRINDING • 20 years local knowledge and experience • Fully insured / free quotes • 19 inch chipper • Bobcat • Cherry picker • Crane truck

www.harttreeservices.com.au

0427 347 380

CLEAN VIEW Prompt, professional, insured. Phone David..............................................0421 906460 NO STREAKS ATTACHED Local, experienced, friendly, insured.......................................0431 398358

WINDOW TINTING SURFWAGON - Car/Home/Office tint. Lifetime Warranty. W/sale price..........................0434 875009 SUNRISE window tinting, mobile Byron+ N. Rivers. Cars, homes, offices, etc...............0412 158478

July 29, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 43

Property Insider

www.echo.net.au/echo–property

Looking for a comfortable and affordable retirement?

Consider a land lease community Land lease communities offer a unique blend of financial advantages and lifestyle enhancements that appeal strongly to those seeking a comfortable and affordable retirement.

Envisage downsizing, and looking for a budget-conscious lifestyle? One that embraces active retirees seeking an affordable, independent and social next chapter? Then a land lease community could be the answer.

Land lease living is now estimated to represent a $12 billion market in Australia, with approximately 130,000 residents already living in these communities. There are more than 44,000 purpose-built homes currently in operation, and demand from the over-50s is expected to require an additional 200,000 homes over the next two decades.

Thirty years ago, the land lease concept was closely associated with caravan parks and manufactured home estates. As these communities evolved, the developers incorporated luxurious shared amenities and landscaped environments.

Currently it is not possible to purchase in a land lease community with a traditional home loan or mortgage due to not owning the land.

This model of home ownership enables you

to own your home outright while leasing the land it’s built upon. This unique setup provides several compelling benefits including: • Enhanced affordability – no stamp duty payable when you purchase a home – this can free up more cash for your retirement • Possible lower overall housing costs – as you are not purchasing the land, the entry price point for homes in land lease communities is more affordable than traditional housing options • No council rates, further reducing your regular expenses • Possible eligibility for government rent assistance which is based on your weekly site fee

that can vary between villages

• Financial flexibility as there are no exit fees

payable when you leave therefore freeing up extra funds • Lifestyle villages offer resort style amenities such as swimming pools, clubhouses, bowling greens, tennis courts, libraries and more; all within walking distance to your home – no car required • All villages have pet policies that stipulate size and number of pets permitted • Active social communities offering diverse interests that are ideal if you enjoy socialising and being part of a vibrant group • Sense of community and extra security

0411 757 425 tim@millerrealestate.com.au millerrealestate.com.au

– many villages offer gated entry which provides peace of mind, knowing that you have friendly people nearby and an extra layer of security.

If you wish to downsize and desire a low maintenance lifestyle, financial flexibility, with resort style amenities then a land lease community could be the answer.

What was once considered a niche option is now attracting a wider audience of buyers who are actively planning the next chapter of their lives.

Mr Property Services was established in 2008 and offers a professional and dedicated service to ‘buyers’ and ‘sellers’ if you are looking to downsize into a land lease community on the Tweed coast in northern New South Wales.

Mr Property Services have a strong understanding of lifestyle villages and residential park living, regulatory and legal requirements, as well as current market trends and would love to be able to assist you on your journey to a new home.

■ For more information call Kelvin Price

0423 028 468 or Heike Wilson 0403 713 658 mrpropertyservices.com.au

Mr Property Services

42 JOHNSTON ROAD, ELTHAM Tasman North Star - Hastings Point

2

Call us on 0403 713 658

1

2+1

3

$515,000

Call us on 0403 713 658

Banksia Waters - Tweed Heads West

Price Guide: $1,750,000 Open: Thu 30th July, 2:00pm-2:30pm

2

5

3

4

1.175ha

Call us on 0403 713 658

Tasman North Star – Hastings Point

1

1

2+1

$689,000

Banksia Waters - Tweed Heads West

2

3

$579,000

Call us on 0403 713 658

2

2

$685,000

View over 50 homes at www.mrpropertyservices.com.au An original, beautifully restored farmhouse positioned above Eltham

44 The Byron Shire Echo July 29, 2026

Email: enquiries@mrpropertyservices.com.au Phone: 07 5523 3431 Mobile: Heike Wilson 0403 713 658 Kelvin Price 0423 028 468

www.echo.net.au

7/105 KEYS ROAD, COORABELL

‘Coorabell Springs’ A Rare Hinterland Estate of Extraordinary Beauty 4

1

2

4

3.85AC • Architect-designed, this single-level residence showcases premium finishes and seamless indoor-outdoor living • Heated infinity-edge pool, landscaped gardens, extensive bush regeneration and stunning views • DA approval for a two-room artist’s studio, bathroom and garage, offering outstanding flexibility

Tara Torkkola 0423 519 698

• Spring-fed dam, Coorabell Creek frontage and abundant native wildlife, creating an private sanctuary immersed in nature

EOI | Closing 27th August OPEN | By Appointment

20 BEACHSIDE DRIVE, SUFFOLK PARK

200 Metres to Tallow Beach, Beachside Living at its Best 4

1

694M

2

2

2

• Beautifully renovated home with seamless indooroutdoor living • Flexible four-bedroom layout with a luxurious main suite • North-facing pool, cabana and private tropical gardens

Oliver Aldridge 0421 171 499

• Walk to Tallow Beach, cafés, shops and schools

EOI | Closing 4th August 5pm PRICE GUIDE | $2.5M - $2.7M OPEN | Thurs 30th July 2 - 2:30pm Sat 1st August 10 - 10:30am

1 ROUNDHOUSE PLACE, OCEAN SHORES

Rare Blank Canvas with Breathtaking Ocean Views 898M 2 • Elevated, north-facing corner allotment with sweeping ocean, lighthouse, river and hinterland views

Sally Green 0488 030 116

• Potential to build a luxury home, duplex or dual occupancy (STCA) • Last remaining block in an exclusive cul-de-sac surrounded by quality homes • Walk to beaches, river and shops, with Byron Bay just 15–20 minutes drive away

Jasmin McClymont 0434 029 668

PRICE | Contact Agent OPEN | By Appointment

2/11 ALCORN STREET, SUFFOLK PARK

Stylish Beachfront Living A Newly Renovated, Private Residence 3 331M

1

2

1

2

• Newly renovated interiors with light-filled open-plan living and seamless indoor–outdoor flow to deck

Su Reynolds 0428 888 660

• Three-bedroom layout including ground-floor main suite with walk-in robe and private ensuite • Low-maintenance lifestyle, ideal for downsizers, professionals, or astute investors • Easy walk to Tallow Beach, Suffolk village shops and a short bike ride or drive to Byron Bay

Anna Gilham 0402 128 355

PRICE | $2.5M - $2.75M OPEN | Sat 1st August 11 - 11:30am

www.byronbayfn.com.au | sales@byronbayfn.com | 35 Fletcher St, Byron Bay NSW 2481 | 02 6685 8466

www.echo.net.au

July 29, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 45

Property

North Coast news online

Are you selling?

Have your property seen in the Echo newspaper and online at echo.net.au

UNBEATABL E ADVERTISIN G PACK AGES AVAIL ABLE NOW!

Reach an engaged and affluent audience! Research shows that advertising is more effective placed within news content.

22,000 weekly Echo newspapers are distributed directly to homes and businesses across the Northern Rivers. Plus we have over 30,000 weekly readers online at www.echo.net.au.

Contact us today for great advertising options in The Echo newspaper, monthly Echo Property Magazine and website.

adcopy@echo.net.au • 02 6684 1777 • www.echo.net.au

Open for inspection DJ Stringer Property Services 9/198 Kennedy Dr, Tweed Heads West. Sat 9–9.30am 4/29 Teemangum St, Tugun. Sat 9–9.30am 6/2 Surf St, Bilinga. Sat 10–10.30am 6/2 Ducat St, Tweed Heads. Sat 10–10.30am 25/22 Binya Ave, Tweed Heads. Sat 10–10.30am 28/6-8 Thomson St, Tweed Heads. Sat 11–11.30am 54 The Quarterdeck, Tweed Heads. Sat 11–11.30am 6/241 Golden Four Dr, Bilinga. Sat 11–11.30am 5/18 Dutton St, Coolangatta. Sat 11.45am–12.15pm 29 Townsend Cres, Terranora. Sat 12–12:30pm

First National Real Estate 6 / 1-5 Keats Street, Byron Bay. Wed 11–11.30am 47 – 49 Woodburn Street, Evans Head. Thurs 1.30–2pm 20 Beachside Drive, Suffolk Park. Thurs 2–2.30pm 160 Reardons Lane, Swan Bay. Thurs 2.15–2.45pm 10 Mayfield Street, Eltham. Fri 10–10.30am 103 Paterson Street, Byron Bay. Fri 10–10.30am 10 Lorikeet Lane, Mullumbimby. Fri 10–10.30am 68 Mullumbimbi Street, Brunswick Heads. Fri 11–11.30am 39 Dalley Street, Mullumbimby. Fri 12–12.30pm 134 Dalley Street, Mullumbimby. Fri 12.45–1.15pm 2 / 47 Shelley Drive, Byron Bay. Sat 9–9.30am 3 Cudgerie Court, Mullumbimby. Sat 9–9.30am 25 / 88 Station Street, Mullumbimby. Sat 9.30–10am 10 Lorikeet Lane, Mullumbimby. Sat 9.30–10am 9 / 27 Kalemajere Drive, Suffolk Park. Sat 10–10.30am 195 North Teven Road, Teven. Sat 10–10.30am 10 Glasgow Street, Suffolk Park. Sat 10–10.30am 44 / 11–19 Cooper Street, Byron Bay. Sat 10–10.30am 1 / 1–2 Cape Court, Byron Bay. Sat 10–10.30am 8 Pastures Street, Cumbalum. Sat 10–10.30am 20 Beachside Drive, Suffolk Park. Sat 10–10.30am 134 Dalley Street, Mullumbimby. Sat 10.15–10.45am 39 Dalley Street, Mullumbimby. Sat 11–11.30am

46 The Byron Shire Echo July 29, 2026

2 / 11 Alcorn Street, Suffolk Park. Sat 11–11.30am 15 Gardenia Court, Mullumbimby. Sat 11–11.30am 2 / 22 Cooper Street, Byron Bay. Sat 11–11.30am 92 Sunrise Boulevard, Byron Bay. Sat 11.30am–12pm 61 Bentwing Place, Tintenbar. Sat 11.30am–12pm 6 / 1–5 Keats Street, Byron Bay. Sat 11.30am–12pm 68 Mullumbimbi Street, Brunswick Heads. Sat 12–12.30pm 13A Byron Street, Brunswick Heads. Sat 1–1.30pm 1675 Dunoon Road, Dunoon. Sat 1.30–2pm

Harcourts Northern Rivers 8 Seaward Street, Lennox Head. Sat 9.30–10am 19 Dalmacia Drive, Wollongbar. Sat 10–10.30am 18b Hartigan Street, Cumbalum. Sat 10–10.30am 14 Forest Oak Way, Goonellabah. Sat 10.30–11am 14 Forest Oak Way, Goonellabah. Sat 10.30–11am 43 Bentinck Street, Ballina. Sat 10.30–11.15am 213 Skyline Road South, Wyrallah. Sat 11.15–11.45am

Mana RE 33 Robin Street, South Golden Beach. Sat 9–9.30am 10 Gin Gin Crescent, Ocean Shores. Sat 10–10.30am 7 Bulgoon Crescent, Ocean Shores. Sat 10–10.30am 16 Gloria Street, South Golden Beach. Sat 11–11.30am 4 Bagoo Avenue, Murwillumbah. Sat 11.30am–12noon

View open for inspection listings online: www.echo.net.au/ofi

Real Estate of Distinction 6 Angus Kennedy Close, Lennox Head. Sat. 10.30–11am

Tim Miller Real Estate 42 Johnston Road, Eltham. Thur 2–2.30pm 670 Wilsons Creek Road, Wilsons Creek. Sat 10.30–11am 21 Booyong Road, Clunes. Sat 12–12.30pm

NEW LISTINGS

First National Real Estate 47–49 Woodburn Street, Evans Head

www.echo.net.au

Property Business Directory AGENTS

FINANCE

TARA TORKKOLA SALES

0423 519 698 tara@byronbayfn.com @taratorkkolafirstnational

Your bank isn't on your side..

0411 757 425 tim@millerrealestate.com.au millerrealestate.com.au @timmiller_realestate

@taratorkkola_realestate www.byronbayfn.com.au

We are.

Scan to book a home loan consultation today

Call today for an obligation free chat 0418 123 393

PAUL PRIOR SALES

0418 324 297 paulprior@byronbayfn.com BYRON BAY AGENT OF THE YEAR Damien Smith Sales Director Ray White Byron Bay www.rwbyronbay.com

SALES

Where personalised service isn’t just a promise - it’s our way of life.

0408 659 649 sharon@byronbayfn.com

JANIS PERKINS

02 6680 8588 | 0438 841 122 janis@reodbyron.com.au Shop 9/15-19 Fletcher St, Byron Bay www.reodbyron.com.au

CONVEYANCING BUYING and SELLING REAL ESTATE? We are here to help

NPC

NOW OPERATING OUT OF CENTRAL OFFICE IN POTTSVILLE Lic No 06000098

www.echo.net.au

The Shire’s local finance expert Home Loans Investment Loans First Home Buyers Car Loans

Debt Consolidation SMSF Lending Commercial Loans Development Funding

Russel Shaw Finance Broker

NP CONVEYANCING PERSONALISED APPOINTMENTS IN BYRON BAY NOW

Australian Credit Licence 475676

Boutique, family-owned and proudly serving Byron Bay & beyond.

SHARON McINNES

PHONE 6685 7436 FOR A QUOTE

entourage.com.au | (02) 6678 1751 Office | 3/6 Jonson Street, Byron Bay NSW

russel@acceptancefinance.com.au 0412 833 280

NSW & QLD Conveyancing, Leases, Business Sale & Purchase

Acceptance Finance Australia Pty Ltd ABN 20 678 011 571 Australian Credit Licence Number 391715 Credit Representative Number 395628

P: 02 6687 0548 | hello@bangalowconveyancing.com.au

July 29, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 47

Backlash iPad 9 10.2" $349

iPad Air 4 10.9" $449

SE 2nd Gen From $259

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iPhone 12 From $399

iPhone 13 From $599

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iPhone 15 From $849

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The camels in North Africa are dying due to heat stress because even the ‘ships of the desert’ can’t withstand the additional heat of climate change.

CSIRO, in partnership with the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) have found that, ‘renewable energy supported by storage is helping to protect Australia against global energy shocks and continues to provide the lowest cost pathway for Australia’s electricity system to achieve net zero emissions.’

‘One Nation offers the impossible to the gullible.’

– Bernard Keane

iPhone 16 From $1129

16 Plus From $1199

16 Pro From $1399

16 Pro Max From $1549

12 Month Warranty - Trade In’s Welcome!

02 6685 5585

1/ 130 Jonson Street Byron Bay

devicetrader.com.au

CELEBRATING 1 Years In Byron!

DELIVERY INFORMATION We’d like as many people as possible to receive a free printed copy of The Echo, and we are the only local newspaper offering free newspaper home delivery. Unfortunately, petrol prices and our distributors’ pesky demands to be paid mean that delivery up hinterland roads and outside Byron Shire is an unaffordable luxury in the digital age.

From August The Echo’s print distribution will focus on commercial drops and home delivery to properties nearest to the major centres of the Byron Shire.

Sorry – you can still see the paper in digital PDF format on echo.net.au each and every week.

Plus you can subscribe to receive the free daily news direct to your inbox Monday to Friday, just head to echo.net.au to become a subscriber to daily news.

Dung beetles are quietly performing a vital climate change mitigation service for Australia’s livestock sector, slashing methane emissions from cattle manure by a staggering 85 per cent, a new Southern Cross University study has found.

‘If you truly believe in recursive self-improvement of artificial intelligence in the next few years, the idea that we should be wasting resources fighting other countries becomes quaint’.

– Ian Bremmer Australian men are choosing vasectomies in record numbers. New Adelaide University research reveals a sustained national increase in vasectomies alongside rising cost-of-living pressures and declining birth rates. ‘When buying a home feels out of reach, childcare is expensive and financial uncertainty persists, some couples choose to have smaller families

Laverde with some next-level multi-tasking in the street during the Mullum Roots Festival.

Jeff ‘Has Difficulty Mono Tasking’ Dawson or not have children at all,’ said lead researcher Dr Jack Janetzki.

As Pauline Hanson laments the abolition of the White Australia Policy, holidays with Gina Reinhart in Sicily, and hangs out with British neo-Nazis we are finally seeing her numbers begin to slip in the polls with women and immigrants being the two largest groups to move their support elsewhere.

Jerusalem artichokes are the food most likely to make you fart! They contain a lot if inulin, a carbohydrate that humans can’t digest and ferments into lots of gas in your gut. If you want to reduce the inulin you can store the artichokes in the fridge as cold helps break it down.

Do you love to SING?

Free of Charge!

DEADLINE APPLICATIONS FOR THE ROLE OF FESTIVAL COORDINATOR IS FRIDAY 31 AUGUST. Also seeking EOIs for a creative/ marketing team to promote the festival. www.destinationbyron.com.au/byron-fest-2027

ONE-ON-ONE LESSONS FOR SENIORS

Be tech savvy and learn how to use your phones, tablets, laptops and computers at your own pace.

Lessons for all. Tech help for Apple devices only

www.byronbaysinging.com

48 The Byron Shire Echo July 29, 2026

Destination Byron has secured a $200K grant to promote a June 2027 winter festival under the pillars of wellness, sustainability, arts and culture, food and beverage, and entrepreneurship.

QUALIFIED, PATIENT AND EXPERIENCED TEACHER Phone or email: 0420 235 624 contact@thinkblinkdesign.com www.echo.net.au