‘WE CAN’T GIVE UP WHILE THE CEMENT IS STILL WET’ – PAUL ASH The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 41 #15 • September 23, 2026 • www.echo.net.au
Bangalow black spot to get $1.6m safety upgrade Paul Bibby A notorious Bangalow road safety black spot, where muchloved local man Paul ‘Campo’ Campton was killed in a hitand-run crash, is set for a major upgrade after Byron Shire Council secured around $1.6 million in NSW government funding. The money will be used for works around Raftons Road, including new footpaths, a pedestrian crossing over Paddys Creek and a raised pedestrian-priority crossing near the Bangalow Community Children’s Centre. Councillor Jack Dods announced the successful grant at Thursday’s Council meeting, describing it as ‘really exciting’ news for a part of Bangalow where residents have long pushed for safer pedestrian infrastructure. ‘It’s a highly active local community full of kids in a residential part of Bangalow,’ Cr Dods said. ‘There’s no footpaths in the area.’ Council had already completed design work for a Raftons Road footpath but construction remained dependent on outside funding. Council documents from late 2025 show the project had been submitted to Transport for NSW’s Get NSW Active program while separate fatal-crash funding was being sought for shorter-term improvements. ▶ Continued on page 8
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Last weekend’s Cape Byron Rudolf Steiner School Spring Fair was a huge success with Alana and Avery from Class 2 enjoying the beautiful weather and a wonderful sense of community. Photo Kurt Petersen
Mayor’s casting vote keeps 57 Station Street DA alive Aslan Shand The raw debate that took place over the 57 Station Street car park development in Mullumbimby at the end of last Thursday’s Byron Shire Council (BSC) meeting was enlightening, not only for the public, but also for the councillors. An urgency motion was brought to the meeting by independent councillors Michael Lyon and David Warth, moving ‘that Council: 1. Advise Landcom it no longer
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supports the use of the car park at 57 Station Street, Mullumbimby for an affordable housing development. 2. Requests state government work with Council on an alternative project [at 70 Station Street, Mullumbimby on the block north of Woolworths] on Station Street, which has a far higher level of community support and preference.’ Cr Lyon made it clear that he no longer supported the project because it was a ‘death by a thousand cuts’ and that Council had been shut out of the process.
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Cr Lyon said, ‘The biggest problem I’ve had with it is the way that we’ve been shut out of the process’. He also said he didn’t understand why McGoughans Lane had been used as the access, and why they still didn’t have a community housing partner (CHP). Those factors, and because this development was supposed to have been delivered by 2024, were among the primary reasons that he no longer supported the development application (DA). Cr Lyon acknowledged that the
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DA lodged by Landcom ‘was pretty broadly unacceptable’ and that the height exceedances had been a surprise to councillors. ‘That was never discussed with us,’ he told the meeting.
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$12m Bruns DA back on exhibition What can Clarence Property do at Wallum? Paul Bibby
An artist’s impression of the amended mixed use development proposed for 3-5 Fingal Street, Brunswick Heads. Image CHROFI Paul Bibby A controversial $12 million mixed-use development in the heart of Brunswick Heads has been redesigned and put back on public exhibition, with two affordable housing apartments added and the amount of commercial space reduced. The proposal for 3–5 Fingal Street would still involve demolishing the existing buildings and constructing a three-storey development containing 13 apartments and ground-floor commercial premises. When The Echo reported on the proposal in January, it included five commercial tenancies and significantly exceeded the height and floor-space controls applying to the site. The amended application now proposes four commercial premises and remains on exhibition and open for public submissions until 29 September: www.byron.nsw.gov.au.
Affordable housing loophole Documents lodged in response to a Byron Council request for additional
information show two of the 13 apartments are now proposed as affordable housing, while commercial floor space has been reduced to 316 square metres. Residential floor area remains unchanged at 1,667 square metres. The developer says the addition of affordable housing changes the planning controls applying to the project, increasing the allowable building height to 11.3 metres. The proposed building remains 10.3 metres high, still significantly above the 9m height limit for the area. ‘Given the heights of the neighbouring buildings, it appears unlikely that the proposed built form could cause any unreasonable impact on the character of Brunswick Heads,’ project manager Martin Bilbe said in response to Council. The proponent also says an updated survey has increased the recognised site area to 2,034 square metres, with an allowable gross floor area of 1,983 square metres and a proposed floor space ratio of 0.975:1. Other changes include ten bicycle spaces, provision for electric vehicle charging,
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four apartments designed to meet silver-level liveable housing standards and revised traffic, landscaping, stormwater, and acoustic assessments.
Flooding issues Flooding remains an issue for the development, with the ground-floor commercial areas and car park sitting below the 3.46-metre flood planning level. The developer says floodcompatible materials would be used throughout these areas, while the commercial floor levels are constrained by the existing Fingal Street footpath. A revised offer has also been made to enter into a Voluntary Planning Agreement involving a financial contribution to Council for public art. Mr Bilbe said the amended proposal addressed the issues raised by Council and ‘can be seen to satisfy a legitimate need for housing supply including affordable housing in the area’. He said the development would also provide residents with a high level of amenity while contributing to the streetscape of Fingal Street and Balun Lane.
The slashers and bulldozers have been moving onto the Wallum site at Brunswick Heads. But after two major Federal Court judgments, what is developer Clarence Property actually entitled to do? The answer is both more and less than the arrival of heavy machinery might suggest. On 7 September, Federal Court Justice Melissa Perry dismissed Save Wallum’s bid for a permanent injunction preventing the development from proceeding under federal environmental law. Then, on 16 September, Justice Angus Kennett refused to continue the broader interim restraint while Save Wallum prepares a possible appeal. Together, the decisions mean the federal injunction stopping works has effectively fallen away. But Clarence Property cannot simply clear the entire 30-hectare site and begin building the subdivision. The works currently authorised are limited to ‘Early Stage 1’ environmental works, with the major outstanding component involving the construction of artificial Wallum froglet ponds. Those works include excavating depressions, moving soil and sedge, building pond banks and providing machinery access. The ponds must then be monitored for three months before later development stages can proceed through
The bulldozers, a contractor from Caboolture, have made it through the protestors onto the Wallum site. Photo supplied their separate approval and certification processes. Clarence has also given the Federal Court undertakings limiting what can happen while an appeal remains on foot.
Future appeal If Save Wallum files an appeal by 5 October, slashing will be restricted to approximately 12 hectares intended for development, rather than the entire site. The company has also undertaken to maintain and monitor the artificial ponds and, if Save Wallum ultimately succeeds on appeal and federal approval is required, restore the affected areas under ecological supervision. So why did Save Wallum lose the substantive Federal Court case? The central question before Justice Perry was not whether Wallum had environmental value, or whether threatened species were present. It was whether Save Wallum had proved, on the balance of probabilities, that the proposed works were
likely to have a ‘significant impact’ on species protected under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. Justice Perry found that it had not. Importantly, the burden remained on Save Wallum to establish a real, rather than remote, chance of significant impact. The court did not accept that uncertainty alone meant the project should be stopped under the precautionary principle. It also found that some of the ecological case relied on chains of uncertain possibilities about habitat use and future impacts which did not, taken together, establish the required level of likely significant harm. The court assessed the development as actually approved, including its management plans, staged works and environmental safeguards, rather than treating the proposal as unrestricted clearing. It also distinguished between environmental impact generally, and the higher legal threshold of a ‘significant impact’ on a federally protected species. Save Wallum is now preparing an appeal, while separate NSW Land and Environment Court proceedings are commencing today concerning Wallum froglet habitat. For now, Clarence Property can begin the authorised early environmental works. But the bulldozers do not yet have a legal green light to clear Wallum from boundary to boundary.
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2 The Byron Shire Echo September 23, 2026
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Local News Community rallies in support of Bangalow Bowlo Over 1,000 people rallied on Saturday in support of the Bangalow Bowlo and returning it to community hands, 11 months after Norths Collective closed the Bowlo. Generations of Bangalow residents including families, sporting clubs, bowlers, musicians, and supporters filled the grounds for the Save Bangalow Bowlo rally, raising around $50,000 towards the community campaign and its legal and professional costs. Save Bangalow Bowlo spokesperson Greg Nash described the rally as a ‘red letter day for Bangalow’. ‘We expected a big turnout because our community is very loyal. We care about our community assets, and we want the Bowlo back on reasonable terms,’ Mr Nash said. ‘I was overwhelmed by the very heartwarming attendance.’ The rally was hosted by the Bangalow Lions Club and organised by the Save Bangalow Bowlo Steering Committee (SBBSC), with an enormous contribution from local volunteers, sporting groups, musicians, businesses and supporters. But organisers say the biggest thank you belongs to the Bangalow community itself. ‘People turned up in droves, with open wallets and open hearts,’ Mr Nash said. ‘The generosity was extraordinary, but just as important was seeing the whole community together. Kids were playing sport, the bowlers were there, local musicians gave their time and people of all ages came along because they care about what happens to the Bowlo.’ The rally comes almost 11 months after Norths
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The Burtons and the Ahernes turned out with hundreds of other Bowlo supporters to make their disappointment with Norths Collective known. Young Val is so incensed he roped in his parents to make protest signs with his wording. Old mate in the stroller appeared to be a little more sanguine. Photo Jeff Dawson Collective closed the Bangalow Bowling Club in October 2025. Since then, the community campaign has sought a pathway for the property to be returned to community ownership and for the Bowlo to reopen as a sporting, social, and community venue.
Altering membership The campaign has also raised concerns about the ability of some Bangalow members to access their Norths membership accounts. Multiple members have reported being unable to access the online membership portal using their existing membership numbers. Subsequent inquiries identified replacement membership numbers for affected members, with the previous leading digit changing from 1 to 7. The Save Bangalow Bowlo
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campaign says affected members were not aware of the change before experiencing problems accessing their accounts. The group has called on Norths Collective to explain the membership number changes, when they occurred, which members were affected and how affected members were notified. Despite the ongoing dispute, organisers say Saturday’s rally was overwhelmingly about community rather than conflict.
Forward momentum ‘The message from Saturday couldn’t have been clearer,’ Mr Nash said. ‘Bangalow hasn’t
forgotten its Bowlo. This community is still here, we’re organised and we want our Bowlo back.’ The SBBSC are seeking financial and buildingrelated documents from Norths in relation to why the club was closed and ceased trading and why they failed to meet the commitments made when they took over the Bowlo.
Raising funds While approximately $50,000 was raised through the rally and associated fundraising on the day, ongoing funds are required throughout the next stage of the Save Bangalow Bowlo campaign. You can contribute to the campaign at: https:// gofund.me/358a17a6b.
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September 23, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 3
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Councillors split over withdrawing Council support for 57 Station Street DA ▶ Continued from page 1
Fund (HAFF) funding, a fact that apparently none of the councillors had known about until that day. It quickly became clear that if BSC withdrew support for the 57 Station St DA, that might affect funding for the other projects that it had unknowingly been bundled with.
BSC staff can’t talk However, staff were unable to name the other projects in the HAFF bundleand said they were bound by non-disclosure agreements that stopped them being able to answer questions. According to the BSC General Manager, Mark Arnold, to receive the HAFF funding Council needed to deliver 500 units of accommodation – that was why this project had been bundled with the other unknown projects.
Guaranteed or not? The 57 Station St DA has not yet been approved by the Northern Regional Planning Panel (NRPP). It goes to the NRPP in October raising the question that, if it is not approved, what will happen to the other unknown
bundled projects? None of the councillors asked if the HAFF funding could be retained for a future project at the mooted alternative site, therefore ensuring the other three projects remained viable under the HAFF funding.
What happened to transparency? Labor councillor Janet Swain said she was ‘shocked and embarrassed that we’re having this conversation in full public, here. Don’t do this in public.’ Independent Councillor Jack Dods agreed with Cr Swain, telling the meeting, ‘This is a reasonable project, despite the hysterics that have come from some of the objectors in this town.’ Greens councillor Elia Hauge, Cr Lyon, and Cr Warth all responded to Crs Swain and Dods’s comments about keeping debate behind closed doors, saying that in public, in the Council chambers, was exactly the right place to have this discussion as the decision concerned public land. ‘I think one of the biggest
flaws has been how much of this has happened behind closed doors at various stages, and you know we’re making decisions about public land, about public money. I think we should have the debate in public. Major decisions like this should be as transparent as possible,’ Cr Hauge said. Cr Hauge also said that she had persuaded Greens Councillor Michelle Lowe not to put a similar motion to this up last year because she had believed in the project at that point. She said that over the last few months she had found that key questions from the community could not be answered, and did not appear to be in the agreement between Council and Landcom, as she had expected. ‘I’m not worried about the density. I’m not worried about the bulk or the size, I’m not worried about the fact it is at the entrance to town,’ she told the meeting. ‘I’m worried about the adjoining businesses and their access. I’m worried about the use of the rear laneway. But obviously, what I’m worried about is this
actually going to do what we’re all saying? ‘We have completely lost the confidence of this community over this development, and really our social licence around that for me is completely called into question by the lack of clear agreement around what we’re actually delivering.’
Will it be affordable? One of the key issues for Cr Hauge was the fact that the units may not even be ‘affordable’ – there is no written agreement in relation to the price at which the units would be rented out (at a price of 30 per cent of income or 80 per cent of market rate, whichever is lowest) as the councillors had requested. When questioned on the issue Shannon Burt, BSC Director Sustainable Development and Economy, told the councillors that Landcom referenced that this is an affordable housing project and that it ‘references the 80 per cent of market rent or 30 per cent of the income, whichever is the lower [on their website]. The determining factor will be once the CHP (community housing provider) is appointed and they work through their model of management, then it will become clear exactly what that is. With the definition of affordable housing it defaults, for these types of developments, to the ministerial guidelines.’ Cr Lyon followed up asking: ‘So there is no guarantee of the 30 per cent? We don’t have any guarantee of that? And we don’t have it written in the memorandum of understanding (MOU) to make that? Because I know that we made it clear that’s what we wanted.’
Parking and toilets It quickly became clear that any new car parks or toilets to replace the existing ones would be paid for by BSC, and therefore ratepayers, not the body that was to receive the publicly-owned site for $1. Phil Holloway, BSC Director Infrastructure Services, did clarify that staff and Mayor Ndiaye had been in a conversation with the minister for the North Coast, Janelle Saffin, on the potential to apply for funding for the car park behind Woolies and toilets based on the future rail trail being delivered.
4 The Byron Shire Echo September 23, 2026
Consent can’t be withdrawn Staff made it clear that BSC could not withdraw its consent for the project as it had previously consented to the DA. The original motion was amended, after Crs Hauge and Lowe put an alternative motion, to ‘1. Advise Landcom it has strong concerns regarding the use of 57 Station Street, Mullumbimby for an affordable housing development, and seek urgent clarification regarding which projects in other LGAs [local government areas] might be impacted by a decision to withdraw from the development, given HAFF implications. 2. Requests state government to work with Council on an alternative project at 70 Station Street, which has a far higher level of community support and preference.’
Will still support DA Greens Mayor, Sarah Ndiaye was clear that she would not withdraw support for the 57 Station Street DA saying, ‘I was assured last night that this [the motion by Cr Lyon and Cr Warth] wasn’t coming today’. ‘To spring it on everyone seems really opportunistic. It stinks of a stunt. ‘I absolutely understand the frustrations,’ said Ndiaye. ‘The idea that we can just pick this up and move it somewhere else are words that you have often yourself, Councillor Lyon, said how ridiculous they are. It’s completely farcical that we could remove consent, remove support, and then any government could take us seriously at all in relation to getting any development.’
Will it actually be delivered? During the debate Cr Lyon made it clear that he didn’t believe that the project would ever be delivered whether or not it was approved in October 2026. Cr Dods, who had made an impassioned speech in support of the DA, when pushed by Cr Lyon, admitted, with his head in his hands, that he also didn’t think the project would ultimately be delivered, but said that was ‘irrelevant’. Cr Warth responded to the discussion saying, ‘I’m actually very heartened by what I’m hearing because this is
the first fully frank discussion that all councillors have had on this. I feel that doing this in public is exactly what the community would like. And the idea that it’s ridiculous to do this in public, I totally think that’s wrong. This is the best conversation we’ve ever had on 57 Station Street.’ Pushed by Cr Lyon to declare his position on the DA, Cr Warth responded, saying, ‘I feel that this particular project is deeply flawed. McGoughans Lane was the biggest flaw straight from the get-go. There are numerous issues with this. There’s significant community opposition to this, which has to be listened to. It’s all very well saying, “Ah, you know, we just have to push ahead”, but I don’t feel that’s the way.’
Mayors casting vote decides the outcome The vote on the motion was spilt four-four with Crs Lyon, Hauge, Lowe, and Warth in favour and Greens Cr Delta Kay, Dods, Swain, and Ndiaye opposed. Mayor Ndiaye then used her casting vote to defeat the motion, saying she was voting the way absent Labor Councillor Peter Doherty would have voted, which he confirmed by email.
CHP provider Following the meeting Cr Lyon told The Echo that the councillors had expected to be involved in the development and design of the DA once a CHP provider had been selected. He said that apparently one has now been ‘chosen’ but can’t be endorsed, as the other CHPs have to be given the opportunity to re-tender due to the change in HAFF funding requirements. Speaking to The Echo following the meeting Cr Ndiaye said that, ‘I understand the frustration many in Mullumbimby feel about this site. Parking is genuinely scarce, and residents have waited a long time for answers. Those concerns are real and I recognise that.’ ‘Withdrawing consent tonight would not have stopped the project progressing as consent has been given through a legally binding document.’ ■ See call for public meeting
story, page 6.
■ Read more in The Echo
online: www.echo.net.au. www.echo.net.au
Local News 2026 Mother’s Day planting – take two this Sunday The Brunswick Valley Landcare’s (BVL) annual Mother’s Day planting was postponed this year due to wet weather but it is now going ahead this Sunday, 27 September from 9am to 12 noon at 6 Durrumbul Road, Main Arm, Bundjalung Country. You’ll be treated to live music by the very cool Smokey Fields who’ll have you grooving as you plant. Famed BBQ, drinks and home-baked treats will be available, along with a very special community vibe. ‘Don’t know much about planting trees or which trees to plant? Our incredibly knowledgeable,
Sue Haining, Ros Elliot, Leo Gortz and Valley Lipcer getting ready for the Mother’s Day planting on Sunday, 27 September. Photo Jeff Dawson expert Landcare volunteers will be on hand to have you covered,’ said a BVL spokesperson. ‘Let’s plant some trees
in honour of all our mums, including Mother Earth.
Regen since 1985 ‘At this year’s site in Main
Arm, we’ll be restoring an important vegetation community type, Lower Richmond Hills Dry-Subtropical Rainforest. The landholders at this community title property have been caring for and restoring their land since 1985. ‘In 1985 we decided to plant several thousand trees on cattle-grazing pasture as we wanted stationary lifeforms that didn’t break fences, raid gardens, etc like the cattle we were agisting. This forest now has koalas visiting, goannas, swamp wallabies, pythons, etc,’ said founding community member Ros Elliot.
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Ross Lane to be closed for at least two months Lennox locals and visitors have reacted with dismay to the announcement that Ross Lane will be completely closed from 19 October to 18 December 2026, while the road is upgraded to better deal with future flooding. Ballina Shire Council says Ross Lane will be closed for as much as nine weeks to allow construction of a new bridge over Deadmans Creek, as part of the Ross
Lane Flood Resilience Project. Prior to the full closure, Council says preparatory work will commence on 1 October, and motorists can expect temporary single-lane traffic arrangements from 12 October.
Safety and cost Road users are encouraged to plan ahead, allow extra travel time and follow
signed detour routes during this time. They say the complete closure of Ross Lane is necessary to safely complete critical bridge works, with the final dates subject to weather and site conditions. If the weather is unkind, there’s a concern in the community that Lennox’s main connection to the west will still be closed at Christmas, the region’s busiest time of
the year. All traffic will be diverted to the north and west, via Byron Bay or Midgen Flat Road, and to the south and west via Ballina. Ballina Council decided against a temporary alternative route at Ross Lane, or a single lane closure option, due to the prohibitive cost. The work will be done by Hazell Bros, following a competitive tender process. CONFIDENTIAL | ANONYMOUS OPPORTUNITY
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September 23, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 5
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Mia and Carter continue in dad’s footsteps 57 Station Street public meeting moved
Left: Mia Cook and Jo Wallwork receiving the Clare Wallwork Memorial Award. Right: Carter Cook and Heath Godbee at Hotel Brunswick for the Brunswick Mullumbimby Cricket Presentation. Photos Colleen Cook Aslan Shand
Shores Mia was the recipient of the Clare Wallwork When Grant Cook died in a Memorial Award after her tragic rugby league accident team’s grand final win over in 2016, the Cookie Cup Ocean Shores. began as a memorial match ‘Mia has inherited her between the Mullumbimby dad’s love of local sport, How can you involved? Giants, who he played for get community and competifrom U6s, and the Murwiltion,’ said Mia’s mum, There are plenty of easy ways to take part lumbah Mustangs. Colleen. ‘She is always — notenth matter your group willing size or The anniversary tostyle. have a go, and year has been a special one her competitive nature is for his children Mia and certainly something she got Carter Cook who have both from her dad.’ grown up playing local sport. ‘The timing of Mia Following the Saturday, receiving the award, on 5 September Junior Netball the ten-year anniversary of grand final between Grant’s passing, has been Mullumbimby and Ocean a beautiful reminder that Join The Long Run
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although someone may be taken from us too soon, their spirit and the things they loved can continue through their children.’ Carter is also continuing that connection to his father through his connection to local sport. ‘Carter like his father is also passionate about cricket and honours his dad’s connection with the Mullumbimby Brunswick Cricket Club by presenting the annual Grant Cook Memorial Award. Last season’s recipient was local player Heath Godbee,’ said Colleen. Light Up Blue
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Updates from councillors and staff He said the extra three weeks would allow an accurate update rather than a rushed one, and give councillors and staff a better chance to attend. The October meeting will ask those present whether the community should petition Council to adopt the guide’s process for every affordable housing project on community-owned operational land in the Shire, and to pass a resolution to that effect. Council’s own 1,000 Voices report, released in June, found 53 per cent of more than 700 respondents saw a role for themselves in solving the Shire’s housing problem. The meeting is at the Mullumbimby Ex-Services Club on Monday, 19 October, from 6pm to 8pm. Councillors, Council staff, NSW government agencies, state and federal parliamentarians and residents are invited, with 40 minutes set aside for questions.
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Council during public access on the former Mullumbimby Hospital Site Project Charter, asking that it be adopted with three conditions: that Council follow state government guidance on sequencing, honour its June resolution for a community advisory body, and say who makes the key decisions. That guidance from the Office of Local Government’s February guide to council-led affordable housing on operational land, which Homes NSW helped write, says in Table 7: Consult the community on the options; then present a preferred option to Council; then establish governance and finalise contracts; then develop the concept design with the community, including the number and mix of affordable units. ‘Consult, then contract,’ Mr Emerson told The Echo. ‘Our community supports truly affordable housing. What we are asking about is how the choices get made as to what and where. These are questions of sequence.’
LIGHT UP BLUE Medicinal cannabis driving reforms
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A motion for Byron Shire Council to tell Landcom it was withdrawing support for the 57 Station Street affordable housing project was lost on Mayor Ndiaye’s casting vote at Council’s ordinary meeting on 17 September. The tied result, and what emerged in open session around it, has led to the Mullumbimby Residents Association (MRA) pushing back its planned public meeting on affordable housing from Monday, 28 September to Monday, 19 October. Councillors had found out that day that the Station Street project had been bundled with three other projects in a joint application to the Commonwealth’s Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) (see page 4). Any replacement public car park or public toilet will be funded by ratepayers or via grants.
undergoes laboratory testing.
Warnings and fines But where a registered patient records less than 50 nanograms of THC per millilitre, no further action will be taken. A first or second result at or above that threshold within two years will result in a warning, while a third will attract a $722 fine and minimum three-month licence suspension. Drivers who are impaired, or who have alcohol or other drugs in their system, will remain subject to existing penalties. The Echo has followed calls for reform over several years, including concerns that medicinal cannabis patients could lose their licences despite taking the drug legally and no longer being impaired. In March, Greens drug harm reduction spokesperson Cate Faehrmann said the laws had failed to keep pace with medicinal cannabis, particularly affecting people in regional areas who rely heavily on driving. When the government announced its reform package in June, it estimated
more than 300,000 NSW residents had medicinal cannabis prescriptions. Medicinal cannabis provider Alternaleaf described the passage of the legislation as ‘a significant milestone for medicinal cannabis patients across the state’. The company told patients the reforms meant they would not face automatic disqualification solely because THC was detected below the legislated limit, provided they met the eligibility requirements and were not impaired. Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said the government was seeking to balance patients’ use of legally prescribed medication with road safety. ‘We cannot be any clearer: nobody should drive while impaired by cannabis, alcohol or any other drug,’ Ms Aitchison said. The new system will not begin immediately. Transport for NSW is developing the registration system and mandatory education program, with implementation expected between late 2026 and early 2027. The scheme will be reviewed after its first year. www.echo.net.au
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September 23, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 7
Local News Pedestrian upgrade for Bangalow
North Coast news online
A natural burial and conservation site for Byron Shire Rebekah O’Flaherty
Paul Campton with his daughters Marlie (left), Brianna (right) and his wife Jannine. Photo supplied
▶ Continued from page 1
Mr Campton’s death had triggered renewed calls for action at the Raftons Road, Keith Street and Leslie Street intersection, backed by a 638-signature community petition. At that stage, Council had plans for pedestrian improvements but no funding to build them. Cr Dods said the new funding would allow Council to extend the footpath network, improve the Paddys Creek crossing and potentially continue the path towards Rifle Range Road, linking residential areas on Bangalow’s western side. He said the grant was
especially significant given Mr Campton’s death at the site. ‘It would be remiss of me not to also mention that sadly this was where Campo, who was a valued member of Bangalow, passed away in a hit and run some time ago,’ he said. ‘It really underscored how desperately we needed to upgrade the streets and the footpaths in that area.’ Council is expected to refine the designs in consultation with its Transport and Infrastructure Advisory Committee and the Bangalow Place Planning Collective before construction proceeds.
Volunteer for Bruns-Byron VRA VRA Brunswick-Byron is inviting adults across Byron Shire to join the local volunteer rescue team during a recruitment campaign running during September. The squad supports the community across Byron Bay, Brunswick Heads, Mullumbimby, Bangalow and surrounding areas. New recruits do not need previous rescue experience, with VRA Rescue NSW providing structured training and an
onboarding pathway.
How to apply Potential volunteers are encouraged to contact the squad directly through its Facebook page with any questions at https://www. facebook.com/BrunswickValleyRescue. The official application pathway is to visit www.rescue.org.au select ‘Volunteering’ and submit an Expression of Interest. Applicants must be at least 18.
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What if our final act could help restore nature? For many in Byron Shire, caring for the environment is part of how we live. We restore bushland, protect wildlife, plant trees and care for the landscapes. We should also have the opportunity to apply those values at the end of our life. Natural burial offers us that choice. Natural burial is a form of interment designed to allow the body to return naturally to the earth while minimising environmental impacts. Although practices vary between sites, it typically involves burial in a biodegradable coffin or natural-fibre shroud, avoiding embalming chemicals, limiting non-biodegradable materials and permanent monuments, and recording graves through cemetery records or GPS. A natural burial area can
One area of Byron Bay cemetery that could make a good natural burial site. Photo Sheree James provide a peaceful environment for remembrance, reflection and connection with nature. For some families, visiting a loved one in a bushland landscape may offer a profoundly different experience from visiting a conventional cemetery.
Use an existing cemetery? Rather than purchasing new land and developing an entirely separate cemetery, a suitably located bushland
For the first time in its history a woman has come in second place in the Chinny Charge. Joanna Hepton ran the race in 31 min 32 secs coming in just after race winner Jack Gill who ran it in 30 mins 40 secs. The first local man to cross the line, and second man overall, was Aaron Dover at 32 min 25 secs and the first local woman to cross the line was Henna Hadad with 41 min 48 secs. This year there were 550 runners and walkers who took the once a year chance to head up Mullumbimby’s
local Mount Chincogan. ‘Congratulations to all winners and participants,
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8 The Byron Shire Echo September 23, 2026
If you support BSC investigating the feasibility of establishing a natural burial area a within an existing cemetery, please email byronbaynaturalburial@ gmail.com saying: ‘I support Byron Shire Council undertaking a feasibility study into establishing a Bushland Burial and Conservation Area within an existing cemetery.’
Left: Jack Gill leads the charge up the mountain. Right: Joanna Hepton was the first woman across the line, and second, not far behind Gill. Photos Jeff Dawson
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burial area could make use of existing cemetery infrastructure and administration and avoid some of the costs associated with land acquisition and establishing an entirely new facility. A natural burial precinct could transform part of an existing cemetery into a more biodiverse landscape, replacing intensive lawn management with native vegetation and ecological restoration. A natural burial area could be established as a distinct
precinct, preferably in a suitably located section of an existing cemetery. I am calling for Byron Shire Council (BSC) to investigate whether a suitable section of an existing cemetery could become a Bushland Burial and Conservation Area. This campaign builds upon the amazing work led by Diane and Michael Hart, who I sadly did not get to meet but hope to realise their vision.
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Local Business Profile
ReSolve Global: making renewable energy truly sustainable David Lowe
T
he Northern Rivers has enthusiastically embraced rooftop solar since it was invented. Now a locally established initiative is tackling the other end of the problem: what happens when the panels come down? ReSolve Global has established a dedicated renewable-resource recovery and solar panel collection facility at Tyagarah, next to the old Bluesfest site. The business was formed by Ben Pietzsch and Anthony Salera. Ben is also the founder of solar and battery installer ProSolar Australia, and has witnessed an explosion of waste recently. ‘The panels that are coming off roofs have often got 30-year warranties, and they’re coming off in eight to ten years,’ he told The Echo. Driven by the battery boom and the switch to electric vehicles, households are chasing ever more output from the same patch of roof — and the industry’s instinct is to bin the old gear. ‘It wants to sell new, new,
new all the time, because that’s where the government money is,’ Ben explained. With commercial rebates now allowing rollouts of up to a megawatt, he expects a massive uptake of panels coming into the country, ‘probably more than we’ve ever seen’ – and, with it, a flood of hardware coming back down.
Waste with value The insight that this was waste with value came from Ben’s business parter Anthony Salera, who owned a 33-acre former carwrecking yard at Tyagarah. ‘He said, “Why are we chucking this stuff out? This can be repurposed, resold.”’ ReSolve grew out of that conversation — Ben bringing the solar business, Anthony the location and expertise with machinery and materials handling. Solar panels suitable for reuse are tested and given a second life. Renewable energy equipment which can’t be safely reused is responsibly recycled. ReSolve also provides asset tracking, via an app
Left: Handing in solar panels for recycling at ReSolve Global. Right: Ben Pietzsch with John Hill from Pan Pacific Recycling. Photo supplied
they’ve developed called ReTrace, which issues authorities and homeowners a live certificate showing exactly what happened with their panels. That transparency matters, Ben Pietzsch argues, because the recycling sector has a credibility problem. He said a federal pilot program stalled amid concerns that some operators were ‘a front’ – claiming to recycle while shipping panels
overseas to be burnt, or quietly sending them to landfill. ‘That’s why we’ve created the ReTrace app: to ensure that when people give the panels to us, they’re traced and tracked.’
Recycling process ReSolve Global is working together with John Hill at Pan Pacific Recycling, just over the Queensland border. This is a facility that can
process up to 1,600 panels a day, recovering materials including silica, aluminium, rare earths, copper and silver. ‘There’s between three and 20 grams of silver in each panel,’ said Ben Pietzsch. ‘Potentially 30 per cent of the world’s silver is tied up in rooftop solar, and that’s just going into landfill.’ With plenty of room to expand at Tyagarah, there are plans to do more on-site
processing locally down the track. ReSolve also has social ambitions. Solar panels still in good condition will be stockpiled and rebuilt into affordable systems for halls, schools and lower-income households, and Ben is keen to offer local employment opportunities as the business scales up. ReSolve has already collected more than 1,000 solar panels from local households and businesses. Ben Pietzsch is currently courting local government across the region (Ballina Council has been especially receptive) with a pitch to take solar waste out of local tips altogether. ‘Let us handle it, and let us be your partner.’ While he hopes government at various levels will see the benefits of building the circular economy, Ben says the business case stacks up either way. ‘We’re doing this because it’s something that needs to be done.’ ‘We believe the Northern Rivers is the right place to build this model,’ he said. ‘We want to close that loop.’
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September 23, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 9
Comment
North Coast news online
Time to create a new politics
The Byron Shire Echo
Volume 41 #15 • September 23, 2026
Does Byron’s bum look too big?
I
t’s considered dan‘Byron Shire Council charges gerous to compare more for residential rates, farmland oneself to others; you can tie your self-worth to rates, water, sewer, and waste when external metrics and risk compared to Ballina, Lismore, creating an unwinnable Clarence and Richmond shires.’ cycle of inadequacy: your private struggles vs the highlight reels of others. So perhaps of employment for the town, but Byron Shire Council (BSC) should Byron Shire businesses rely heavily be praised for putting comparisons on tourism and that places an on the table, or perhaps our convicadded cost to maintain tourist tion that we are more desirable, infrastructure and services for more interesting and more socially our visitor economy. The recent conscious can never really be chalroundtable presentation by BSC lenged by comparisons to lesser with the Mullumbimby Residents shires without our unique struggles. Association confirmed BSC has not The factsheet supplied by reviewed the business rate as part BSC comparing its rates to other of an special rate variation (SRV) local councils shows how much it since the 1990s. spends, for every $100, in areas like The last SRV for residents was construction, parks, enforcement, in 2017 for renewing, maintaining, and water and sewer, but does not and improving the Shire’s critical actually compare the residential, infrastructure network – not sure business, water, sewer, waste rates how successful that’s been! Perand charges, etc. that you pay with haps, rather than another SRV for those paid by ratepayers in other residents’ rates, it is time to examine local, and comparable, Group 4 the rates paid by businesses, and councils. the costs for those businesses borne According to www.yourcouncil. by the broader community. nsw.gov.au/your-council, BSC Possibly the southern end of charges more for residential rates, Jonson Street from Carlyle through farmland rates, water, sewer, and to Browning streets and the northwaste when compared to Ballina, ern side of Shirley Street could be Lismore, Clarence and Richmond subject to the Byron Bay Business shires. Only Byron’s business rates Activity Rate, this has been mooted are lower. In the Byron Shire the in the past, but is yet to be done. average business rate is $3,984.60, It is not easy for councils. Costs though it does not identify the have been shifted to them by the higher Byron Bay Business Activity state government while the FinanRate or account for how much it cial Assistance Grants (FAGs), which contributes. Lismore tops the busiprovide untied funding from the ness rate at $5,158.80. federal government to local councils All six other average BSC rates across Australia, have dropped from and charges are higher than the roughly one per cent of federal tax average of all Group 4 councils. This revenue down to approximately 0.5 creates an opportunity to increase per cent. But in a tight market, the business rates, which could offset BSC needs to look clearly at what it increases to residential rates. is servicing, who’s paying for it and if Many of Byron’s businesses say its rates system is fair and equitable they are struggling at the moment, for everyone. and obviously they are a source Aslan Shand, editor
L
ast week’s news was draining. Climate change is happening faster than we thought and Australia is set to fall well short of its 2030 renewable energy target of 82 per cent. If climate change doesn’t kill us then AI probably will. Domestic violence killed three more women, benchmarking reports reveal our high school students have fallen further behind in global performance; economic data shows average rents have increased eight per cent in the past 12 months; petrol prices are rising again; productivity is flatlining: and persistent inflation and another rise in interest rates. Trailing through this chaos, like a snail weaving through weeds, has been the long running ICAC Rosny investigation into $3 million payments to NSW Liberal Party operatives and lobbyists. It has been a complicated, and at times tedious inquiry. We will have to wait months for the lawyers to work out whether legal definitions of ‘corruption’ apply. Putting aside the law, ICAC has shone a valuable light on party political culture and how the factions actually work. If you have ever wondered how one small group of boys can hijack and wield so much power – then Rosny has the answers. The anchor concept is ‘fealty.’ Power brokers in political parties rely on brain-dead fealty; a bunch of supporters who are evangelised and willing to turn a blind eye to unethical behaviour. ICAC heard Dallas McInerny refers to such people as ‘solid citizens’. They are the bedrock factions – whether it’s MAGA or Democrat Socialists in the US – factions require blind loyalty and crushing of dissent. ICAC hearings revealed former Liberal Minister Damian Tudehope MLC, aided the Catholic Church when he became aware of plans to reform management of cemeteries on Crown Land. The proposal had the potential to upend a $160 million Catholic Trust and reduce its access to more
‘They have been willing to collaborate against smaller factions like David Elliot’s ‘soft right’ – not because it helps the party or delivers better services to the public – simply because it enhances their own power.’ – Catherine Cusack Crown Land for cemeteries. So he connected hard right Liberal operatives with the church to lobby against his own government. Clearly Mr Tudehope’s fealty to the Catholic Church and his own rightwing faction proved greater than his loyalty to his ministerial colleagues and his duty to the public. ‘Fealty’ is not ideological – it is a power strategy. When Donald Trump told mourners at Charlie Kirk’s memorial service ‘I hate my enemies’ it was a message about fealty is good, dissent can be fatal. Before the Greeks destroyed Troy and the Romans burnt Carthage they requested capitulation. Show us fealty or we will destroy you. Choose wisely! The second reason political factions accumulate so much power is ‘collaboration’ with powerful enemies. In the Liberal Party the Hard Right and Moderate factions are long-time enemies. But they have been willing to collaborate against smaller factions like David Elliot’s ‘soft right’ – not because it helps the party or delivers better services to the public – simply because it enhances their own power. The is how Liberal Party councillors associated with the soft right, who were blocking dodgy Toplace development applications, found they had all been dumped for re-election by the Liberal Party Local Government Committee and replaced with developer-friendly candidates. This required the agreement and help of the Liberal Moderates. This support continued during the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Toplace when a Moderate Liberal MP broke
the parliament’s confidentiality rules to help witnesses evade summons to appear before their inquiry. This perverse behaviour is what happens when you do deals with enemies. The moderates ceased to fight their own agenda and started helping the hard-right instead. This ‘collaboration’ model is often called ‘transactional’. Instead of valuing the merits of an argument, the value of your positive is measured purely in terms of ‘what’s in it for me.’ ‘If I agree to this what do I get in return?’ So there is no need to bother with the history of a problem, or the facts, or the options. All that is discussed is the ‘quid pro quo’. Over time this focus erases experience, philosophy, principle, and even care for the public interest which the Liberal Party was formed to serve. Labor is also featuring in Rosny at council level. After all they have the same factional system as the Liberals and this has already been showcased at previous ICAC inquiries so none of this helps them. This system of self-serving deals and decision-making is not helping our community. The faceless party power brokers in Sydney care nothing for the Northern Rivers and the neglect of our region is palpable. This Friday evening in Bangalow a forum is being sponsored by Climate 200 to discuss how to elevate integrity, the role of Independents, and how they might get better outcomes for our community. I think it’s worth a look! ■ Lennox Head-based Catherine
Cusack is a retired NSW Liberal MLC.
The Byron Shire Echo
Volume 41 #15 September 23, 2026 Established 1986 • 18,000 copies every week
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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.
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10 The Byron Shire Echo September 23, 2026
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Letters to the Editor www.echo.net.au/letters 60-day cap? Where is the enforcement of Byron Shire’s 60-day Airbnb cap? During the community debate over short-term holiday letting in Byron Shire in March 2023, I questioned whether Council could effectively monitor and enforce a proposed cap on Airbnb and other short-term rentals. My concerns were publicly dismissed, with then Mayor Michael Lyon referring to my comment as that of an ‘ignorant shit’ on social media. (screenshot of post supplied) The 60-day cap has been in place since September 2024. Under the rules, nonhosted short-term rental accommodation is generally limited to 60 days within a 365-day period. However, properties in designated areas of Byron Bay and Brunswick Heads may operate for up to 365 days. Several properties in my area operate as holiday rentals without an on-site manager and outside the designated 365-day precincts. This raises a central question: how is Byron Shire Council enforcing the 60-day limit? Specifically: How many properties have been investigated since the cap came into effect? How many breaches have been identified? How many warnings, compliance notices, penalties or other enforcement actions have been issued? Andn how does Council determine how many days a property has been used for non-hosted short-term rental accommodation? Residents were told the cap would help address the impact of holiday letting on local housing supply. That objective depends on effective monitoring and enforcement. Julia Allen Byron Bay
Good governance How we work with community matters. Two items at Thursday’s Council meeting cut to the heart of that relationship: our loss of community trust, and our chance to rebuild it. I backed 57 Station St until recently, believing it
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Cartoon by Howie Cook – @howiecook.art was the most realistic way to deliver some of the affordable housing our community so desperately needs. But it concerned me from the start that community had been locked out of the process. I was hopeful that engagement through the DA stage could address that. Then, at the most recent consultation, community members asked for formal documentation guaranteeing a 30 per cent income cap on rents. I didn’t have this documentation, and nobody could produce it. The more I’ve dug into what little documentation exists between Council and Landcom, the more my concern has grown. Too much of this deal was done behind closed doors – even I, as a councillor, have been locked out of key documents between the two agencies. Decisions and planning for public expenditure on public land should be robust and transparent. That’s the basics of good governance. Which is why I’m so incredibly frustrated that fellow councillors blocked community engagement at the critical go/no-go stage for the Mullumbimby Hospital site. In December, the NSW government will propose what they could build there – including how much will be social and affordable housing. But there will be no formal community engagement before Council is asked to take a position on this proposal. This is public land, and a real chance to do things differently: to embed community’s vision and values
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
throughout the project, rather than trying to retrofit trust after the damage is done. If we learn the lesson of 57 Station Street, we can show what’s possible when Council and community work together. That’s the partnership I’ll keep pushing for. Cr Elia Hauge Myocum
Development? Where now? So Cr Michael Lyon (Facebook, 17 September) has indicated that he no longer supports housing development for the 57 Station Street car park and is now of the view that the site further down the street alongside Woolworths is a more appropriate location for the proposal and would have greater community acceptance. Well, I certainly agree with Cr Lyon on that score. A bit of a walk to town, but hey, aren’t we bombarded every day with the idea that walking is good for us? And, next door to a supermarket, wow! If driving is a necessity our public car park just up the road will still be there. Yes, a good site for relocation of a housing development that has caused much angst within the Mullumbimby community, and has absorbed the time and energy of many hardworking community-minded people who are concerned with preserving Mullum’s heritage, maintaining the ambience of the entrance to our town centre, allowing businesses to continue in the vicinity without being disadvantaged, and preserving car parking and a much-loved public toilet. However, despite my willingness to accept Cr Lyon’s about-face I have an uneasy feeling that there might be more to it than meets the eye. I’m afraid I lost faith in Cr Lyon being motivated by community interest when the 57 Station Street car park
site was reportedly sold for development and for the paltry sum of $1. My concern now has been prompted by the diagram of the relocated housing site that Mr Lyon has attached to his Facebook entry. The diagram shows the large rectangular area bounding Station Street, Woolworths, and the railway and includes a tail that extends towards the river between the units of the industrial estate and the railway into a very large area bounded by a loop in the river extending from the railway bridge to the industrial estate. I presume that this very large area with river frontage is Council land as there is a notice to this effect near the entrance to the area. I am well acquainted with this piece of land because I have observed it during my regular walks around Mullum over the past ten years. It is an area, that if developed for housing would undoubtedly be for river-fronted residences like those alongside the river in Mill Street, residences way out of the league of affordable housing. A site that I would imagine would have any developer salivating. Why do I have concerns about this area? Well, a few weeks ago, the roads within the area have been cleared, the couple of itinerant residents living there have departed, and now I see Cr Lyon’s diagram of the housing site he now supports and I have to ask, are there some development aspirations in the wind in relation to this prime river site? It would be very disappointing if this beautiful piece of riverside land became another housing estate. It would make a wonderful recreational parkland for the residents and visitors to Mullumbimby and could be an extension of the popular Heritage Park. Terry Hand Mullumbimby
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September 23, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 11
Letters
North Coast news online
Trump corruption The swamp of corruption surrounding the Trump administration makes its predecessor’s shenanigans in Ukraine look like amateur hour. Trump’s personal net worth has surged by more than $2 billion since he returned to the White House in 2025. Much of that increase in wealth has come from share trades, crypto scams, and pay-to-play deals, like selling presidential pardons. His most recent excursion beyond the bounds of propriety has been the offer of early access to his social media feed, for $100,000 per month. Trump is no stranger to lawsuits, he’s sued several media outlets for defamation, the Supreme Court struck down his tariffs, and his penchant for executive orders has provoked an avalanche of legal challenges, with more than 800 cases across state and federal courts. His 34 felony convictions could be a sign of things to come, for while his war crimes and crimes against humanity in Iran continue unhindered by Congress or the courts, it seems the consequences of his corruption might be catching up with him.
When he’s not nodding off in the Oval office or traipsing round his golf course, he’s up all night composing posts with Natalie Harp. Now some of those posts will be exhibits in a federal lawsuit filed by The Intercept Media and the Freedom of the Press Foundation against President Trump and his staff, for their unconstitutional scam to sell early access to his social media posts. John Scrivener Main Arm
Ill-gotten gains As the American President Trump stuffs up the world and stuffs his pockets with money, Australia’s homegrown hard-rightwing, Trump-loving Pauline Hanson has been stuffing her own pockets with political gifts of gold bars and electoral funding – she is on the same path. Her rising orange T-shirt tribe is Australia’s most popular party according to polls. In a podcast interview (News 24), Hanson stated that teaching First Nations history to children was a complete waste of time and that the race was the most primitive in the world. ‘What the hell have they done in this country?’ asked
Hanson. ‘What have they achieved in… supposedly 60,000 years?’ Will belittling Australia’s Indigenous people and their culture ‘make Australia great again’? T Sharples Tweed Heads
SRV and traffic lights Amongst the many correspondents understandably aghast at a second 35 per cent SRV, last week we were told that traffic lights would be ‘absurd’ on Ewingsdale Road. Ultimately came the real rationale: ‘Please, no traffic lights in Byron’. While Council is on a fiscal precipice, let’s consider how dearly we pay for the quaint and bizarre notions our councillors indulge. Thankfully not yet in lost lives – but it’s been close! In 2025, councillors refused a second offer of a $1.9m grant to upgrade the Clifford Street and Broken Head Road intersection, this despite the urgency for action appearing on Council agendas since 1996! Over this 30 years, hundreds of thousands of dollars, and thousands of staff hours, have been expended on designs and studies that came to nothing, until a diligent grants officer
‘ We get the governance we deserve’
to reinforce the purpose of the National Peacekeepers Commemorative Service, held by the RSL Sub-Branch on 14 September. That is to acknowledge and honour the sacrifices made by all Australian Defence Force personnel and Australian Federal Police personnel who are deployed on behalf of the Australian government as part of Australia’s commitment to global peacekeeping operations. The Mullumbimby RSL Sub-Branch conducts all commemorative services on behalf of RSL NSW who remain apolitical. These services are conducted for the specific purpose of honouring all former and current veterans and their families and in particular local Mullumbimby veterans of all conflicts. Stephen Williams President, Mullumbimby RSL Sub-Branch
secured the funds to fix it. Instead of completed and paid for, this intersection now appears in documents with a price tag of $7.1m, presumably minus land purchase. Council staff, without any contingency for next steps, are forced to invest yet more funds in designs and studies with every likelihood that, like all their predecessors, they will be redundant before one sod is turned. I could give more examples that word limits won’t permit. Before we excoriate our general manager et al, let’s consider that the saying ‘we get the governance we deserve’ applies to all three tiers. Liz Levy Suffolk Park
Nationwide Olympics
Deaths from military conflict Whilst the Mullumbimby RSL Sub-Branch acknowledges the death of Zomi Francom as tragic, so too are the deaths of all civilian and military personnel as a result of military conflict. The Sub-Branch would like
A 2032 Olympics update: Queensland’s credit rating has been downgraded from AA+ to AA by S&P Global Ratings (Standard and Poor’s) which influences the cost of borrowings and means spending by the Queensland government is getting out of control, including the state’s
gigantic Olympics expenditure, with so many facilities across the nation that could be used instead. Indeed, the 2032 Olympics need to be managed by the federal government, a major financial contributor to the multi-billion dollar project, because the LNP Queensland state government is being irresponsible, being geared for a massive construction spend, and having altered the law to allow developers to donate to the LNP party. And then there’s the Fitzroy River mess; indeed, billionaire Gina Rhinehart must release the Queensland government from its commitment to her to hold the rowing on the Fitzroy River. It granted her written request in 2025 to have the rowing there. It’s unsuitable for tidal and wind reasons, altering the river’s course will endanger Rockhampton by faster travelling water, the project is estimated to cost a billion dollars, and there are other suitable rowing locations, and events that can be held at Rockhampton: I suggested campdrafting and quarter course events should be included in the Olympics, there. The federal government needs to make the Olympics ▶ Continued opposite
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12 The Byron Shire Echo September 23, 2026
annual Shop Local campaign before Christmas. The Chamber also supports Brunswick Valley Historical Society, Mullumbimby Community Gardens, GateWay Landcare, Spaghetti Circus and many other community organisations. If you have a business in Mullumbimby area or are a resident of the Mullumbimby area, you are welcome to join the Mullumbimby Chamber of Commerce. An initiative of the Mullumbimby Chamber of Commerce
www.mullumbimby.org.au www.echo.net.au
News / Letters The Buttery wins national resilience award The Buttery is a not-forprofit, charitable organisation delivering mental health, and alcohol and other drug rehabilitation services across Northern NSW, from Tweed Heads to Port Macquarie. Safe Haven North Coast was established following the 2022 Northern Rivers floods and has evolved into a vital, community-based mental health and wellbeing service. Together with Healthy North Coast, they have been announced as a winner of the Resilient Australia Mental Health and Wellbeing Award, recognising the outstanding impact of Safe Haven North Coast in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of Northern Rivers communities recovering from disaster.
▶ Continued from page 12
a national event to showcase Australia, reduce costs and to give each state and territory a taste of the pie: Melbourne should have the tennis, the Gold Coast should get many events because tourists like the sea and the Gold Coast can use the hotels from the Olympics afterwards. Sydney has facilities for events, as would Tasmania, South Australia, Perth and indeed the Northern Territory. John Dobinson Brisbane
Jo Immig’s article I am looking at Jo Immig’s article in last week’s Echo, where she said the reasons human have been successful as a species is not down to competition or survival of the fittest, but through the exercise of trust. She claims it’s because we cooperate and collaborate with each other other based on trust. This is just my opinion, but if I look at the history of the world, all I see is a history deeply formed by mistrust, by breaking apart of communities, by continuous wars, crises, philosophical differences, and many, many other things that don’t have anything to do with trust. So I know that’s unpopular – because what Jo wrote is what people want to hear, but is it true? Do we really trust others in a crisis, as she puts it, and is our human nature really to help each other and even risk our lives for each other? If that is so, how can we relate to things like Gaza and Ukraine or the multitudinous www.echo.net.au
Kate Fitzgerald (CEO NSW Reconstruction Authority), Andrew Cronin (Clinical Team Leader Safe Haven North Coast, The Buttery), Aimee McNeill (Director Integrated Community Wellbeing, Healthy North Coast) and Janelle Saffin (Member for Lismore). Photo supplied The national award recognises initiatives that strengthen community mental health and wellbeing before, during and after disasters, and acknowledges projects
that build resilience, foster collaboration and create lasting positive outcomes for communities.
long-term conflicts around the world – so many that a large number don’t even enter our consciousness any longer? To me, it just doesn’t make sense. What I do feel is that we do use trust to try to manipulate our impressions of safety. It appears to us that if we trust someone, we are safer, and I would suggest that our primary motivation is not trust but safety, and trust is only an aspect of safety that we try to manipulate to remain safe. None of us fundamentally feel safe, and consequently, when threatened, we do resort to the very human aspects that I talked about of war, conflict, blaming others, and in many, many different ways becoming once again the victim we all hate. I have been trying incessantly to understand this extremely fragmented milieu I find myself in today. Trust unfortunately has gone down the gurgler – just as has truth. Ian Blair Hamilton Byron Bay
support the illegal US and Israeli genocide in the Middle East. New data published by Guardian Australia maps the extent to which the US military has ‘unfettered and unhindered’ access to over 100 US- and Australian-run installations. Has anyone questioned the social licence of all of this engineered by a handful of politicians? If the purpose of a government is to protect its citizens, then it’s obvious, as we have seen in the Middle East conflict, that US bases will always be a target and Albanese is putting Australia at the front line of the next US forever war. Apparently, Labor will never say no to Trump. ‘In total the US military and US defence corporation has control of or access to 110 facilities on Australian territory’. While the economy goes down the tube from the countless billions being funnelled into the US war machine (AUKUS and numerous other questionable projects, not to mention where will the highgrade nuclear waste will be stored, certainly not in the US or UK as apparently they do not have satisfactory sites), when will voters wake up to the futility of mainstream parties aligning ourselves with the US and yet another futile and failed war run by a pro-war President and an accused Israeli war criminal. Is it really so hard to have sane leaders who realise there are no winners in wars only cruelty and devastation? Rod Murray Ocean Shores
Appalling leadership While the PM spins and avoids transparency and the foreign minister prefers to yell abuse to take up time and never gives a straight answer to a straight question from the Greens, new data published by Guardian Australia highlights the extent to which Australia is slowly, but surely losing our sovereignty and being leveraged into the next US-led war. Thanks to Labor voters. Australia was the first country in the world to
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Opinion
North Coast news online
Neglecting Australians, and our international commitments, for big business Veronica Lyon
‘W
e’ve had one policy; we landed it, a 2030 target of 43 per cent, net zero by 2050, both of them legislated’, said Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, on 10 June, 2024. Albanese was discussing Peter Dutton and the Coalition’s rejection of the Paris Agreement and the net zero by 2050 policy. Australia’s 43 per cent emissions reduction target for 2030 and net zero by 2050 target were legislated in 2022. So why, two years on, are we seeing companies like Woodside, who were supposed to shut down this decade, get renewed until 2070, going against prior climate promises, and our government is allowing it? Woodside was founded in Victoria in 1954. By 1963, it obtained an exploration permit for what is now the North West Shelf (NWS), off the northwest coast of Western Australia. The NWS has since become one of Australia’s major gas export projects, with Woodside operating the Karratha gas plant. As of September 2025, the federal Environment and
Water Minister, Murray Watt, approved the extension of the NWS gas processing facilities until 2070. This means the project could continue operating for another 40 years beyond its previous timeframe.
Inappropriate closeness The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) challenged Watt’s decision in the Federal Court, arguing among other things that the government had failed to consider the climate impacts properly and questioned the relationship between Woodside and the government, after around 200 texts and emails between government officials and Woodside were shown in court. The ACF argued that the extent of communication created an inappropriate closeness between the company and the government. Raising the question: why is the government communicating so extensively with a company they’re supposed to be regulating? And are they putting Woodside’s economic interests above environmental preservation, despite committing to net zero by 2050 targets?
14 The Byron Shire Echo September 23, 2026
Woodside’s North West Shelf gas plant lies within sight of Murujuga rock art. Photo Alex Leach
Favourable conditions Greenpeace and other environmental groups argue that Woodside was trying to ‘water down’ the conditions and regulations attached to this project. Woodside and the government have rejected the claims that the company improperly influenced the approval process, with Watt stating the decision was made in accordance with the law. Although the environmental requirements were weakened, this does not
prove Woodside controlled the government’s decision; however, we cannot rule out that changes were made on their behalf.
Failure to deliver Concerns about the climate implications of Woodside’s facilities aren’t new, and in response to these concerns and to align with Australia’s climate commitments, Woodside announced in December 2021 that it would contribute $US5 billion (around AUD$7 billion) to new energy projects and
lower-carbon services by 2030. This commitment was intended to demonstrate Woodside’s commitment to more carbon-neutral energy alternatives, including hydrogen and ammonia. By August 2026, however, Woodside has retired this target after only spending $335 million towards it. This came after Greenpeace, a climate group, took Woodside to court, claiming some of its climate promises were misleading and deceptive. The case was settled in April 2026 after Woodside changed aspects of
how it described its climate strategy, later removing their 2030 commitments from their website. This failure to invest in the preservation of Australia’s ecosystems has caused outrage across the country among environmental groups and individuals. But what’s going to happen from here? The Conservation Council of WA has come after Woodside’s ‘grossly negligent’ failure to meet clean energy commitments. These criticisms are also being made in a wider political debate. Greens representatives in WA have continuously criticised both Woodside’s fossil fuel expansion and the government’s decisions surrounding the NWS. This issue isn’t as simple as ‘Woodside good’, or ‘Woodside bad’, but whether the Australian government can continue to support Woodside’s economic interests while standing by and watching the destruction of local ecosystems and acting against international climate commitments. ■ Veronica Lyon is currently
majoring in global politics at RMIT University, Melbourne.
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September 23, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 15
Articles
North Coast news online
Democracy does not equal liberalism Aiden Grandsimon
I
n recent years, democracy seems to be taking sides. In political commentary, opinion columns, or even conversations with friends, after each major election, there appears to be a preferred ‘democratic’ candidate. In the case of this year’s Hungarian legislative election, many claim – with the fall of Viktor Orban – democracy has ‘won’. Similarly, a few days following Trump’s second presidential victory, the Washington Post ran a piece claiming the outcome of the election was – according to experts – ‘a significant breakdown of an already battered democracy’. I rarely deal with children in my everyday life, however a substantial number of my cousins – with whom I am quite close – have all recently decided to become parents. In a few years, if I were to explain what democracy is to my nieces and nephews, it would be difficult to claim that democracy can lose an election. Is it not the point of an election that the people decide who leads them?
Can democracy lose an election? Unless there is proof of rampant election fraud, no matter the beliefs and values of the candidates, democracy cannot lose an election. Yes, in 1933, the Nazi party won 44.5 per cent of seats in the German parliament. As they did not hold an outright majority, and in order to enact laws, they formed a coalition with the traditional conservative factions. Coalition governments are not inherently undemocratic, in fact, the modern Scandinavian democracies would claim this practice to be extremely democratic. If a majority of people desire a strongman to lead them, if they wish to persecute a minority through the passing of discriminatory laws, a democratic system ought to enable such a candidate to win an election and such laws to be implemented. Perhaps, the critics of politicians such as Donald Trump, Viktor Orban, or Vladimir Putin are misguided when they claim to be opposing undemocratic figures. All three of these men have
Pictured: the deity, Libertas, rebooted for the modern age. Image Ziggi Browning with AI
achieved the height of political power through electoral victories. None of them used physical violence or the threat of physical violence, such as a military coup d’état, to reach that power.
Liberal or illiberal? Of course, there is a slight caveat for Donald Trump’s 6 January, 2021 rally and the events that followed. These three politicians are something I believe to be much worse than undemocratic,
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they are illiberal. Liberalism is a political school of thought whose origin is difficult to trace. Professor Helena Rosenblatt traces the word ‘liberality’ back to ancient Rome and the classical age, where it indicated a form of aristocratic generosity. However, the liberal thinkers that are most credited for our modern understanding of the word lived during the European Enlightenment. From John Lock and Immanuel Kant to Mirabeau and Germaine de Staël, these figures were often preoccupied with individual liberties and the agencing of power in the polity.
Checks and balances Charles Louis de Secondat, the baron of Montesquieu, was an early 18th century French political philosopher. Following his travels to Great Britain, and his observations of the British parliamentary system, he began work on his main political treatise, The Spirit of Law (1748). Essentially, Montesquieu argues for two distinct principles, the first being a balance of power between
the different classes that made up the society of his time, the king, the nobility, the clergy, and the people. The second being a balance of power within the state itself. Montesquieu claims that, within the boundaries of the state, there are three sorts of power: the writing of the law, the enforcing of the law, and settling disputes of the law. He argues that these powers should be divided to provide a bulwark against the arbitrary nature of power and its historical abuses: ‘constant experience shows us that every man invested with power is apt to abuse it, and to carry his authority as far as it will go’. Americans call this system one of checks and balances. In the rest of the Western world, we simply know it as the three branches of government. Benjamin Constant was, for most of his early life, an international vagabond. He would eventually spend time in the Low Countries, Great Britain, the Swiss Confederation, France and a plethora of German states. During his time in France, his romantic liaison and frequent correspondence with philosopher and novelist Germaine de Staël cemented his place in early 19th century intellectual Parisian society.
Private vs public Although they were never married, they eventually became one of history’s most famous power couples. In his lecture On the Liberty of the Ancients compared with that of the Moderns (1819), Constant addresses what he observes as a fundamental shift in our relationship to society and liberty. He
remarks that the ‘Ancients’ – referring to city states such as Athens, Sparta, and Rome – did not distinguish between their ‘private’ lives and their ‘public’ lives. Society was perceived as an indivisible entity in which there is no space for individual autonomy. Participation rates in the affairs of the city were much higher. Constant perceives this as a personal sacrifice on behalf of citizens for the benefit of their city. This high participatory political culture was seen, according to Constant, as an expression of freedom and liberty, not to be governed solely by a king or a despot, but by an assembly of willing citizens. The liberty of the ‘Moderns’ (men and women living through the European enlightenment) is depicted by our philosopher as a fundamentally private affair. He describes the creation of a space where political power is not welcome, a space of individual liberties. According to the liberty of the Moderns, even if this political power takes the form of a democracy, there is a space where the will of the majority is not legitimate over the rights of the citizen. In Constant’s time those were freedoms such as religion and expression, in our time it has expanded to sexuality, and – within certain boundaries, such as the Schengen Area – movement. The defence of free expression, of international law, of separation of church and state, of an intricate balance of power between equal branches of government, of individual liberties, is not now, and never was, a democratic affair, it is and will remain, a liberal one. ■ Aiden Grandsimon was a
student of politics at Sydney University.
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16 The Byron Shire Echo September 23, 2026
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Sport Supported by Newy Store 2026 annual Senior Basketball Carnival
Byron takes top spots in Sydney’s U16 Bridge to Beach
The 13th annual Senior Basketball Carnival was held last week, 11 to 13 September at Byron’s Cavanbah Sports Centre with teams attending from all over Australia. There were plenty of teams returning to defend their titles, while others were here to try to take the trophy home themselves. ‘This year we had A & B men and women and for the first time added a Veterans division (ages 40+) ,’ said one of the organisers, Jenny Ogle. ‘This division brought together a lot of friends who haven’t been together for a long time. It was a great vibe, with lots of laughs and also lots of competitiveness. ‘There were 19 teams who played a total of 47 games over the weekend. ‘All finals were super exciting, especially the B-womens between Melbas on Tour and our local Byron Beez team, who ran neck and neck for 50 minutes and went into double overtime.
Three young surf lifesavers from Byron Bay Surf Lifesaving Club (BBSLSC) have produced an outstanding result on Sydney Harbour, claiming all three podium positions in the Under 16 category of the prestigious Bridge to Beach paddling race. Sixteen-year-olds Kayden Muller and Blake Hogan, together with 14-year-old Jack Keough, travelled to Sydney over the 12-13 September weekend to compete in the gruelling 11-kilometre Bridge to Beach race, which takes competitors from McMahons Point to Sydney Cove. Kayden Muller took out first place, Jack Keough took out second place, and Blake Hogan third.
Byron Beez v Melbas on Tour (from Melbourne). The B-women grand final went to double over time with Melbas taking out the win. Photo Kylie Robertson The Melbas finally came out winners to take the trophy back to Melbourne (although they also had a couple of local ex-Beez players),’ Jenny told The Echo.
Winners The winners were: A-Men – Behoys; B-men – Rusty Trombones; A-women – Rimshots;
B-women – Melbas on Tour; and Veterans – Brisbane Masters. ‘A huge thanks to all our volunteers and sponsors including North Byron Hotel, Byron Bowlo, NC Trophies, IGA, Trevor Meads butchers, and Woolworths. Next year’s carnival is already in the planning,’ Jenny said.
Celebrating 50 years of the Lindsay Shield
Mullumbimby Ladies Golf Club Captain Julianne Ross and the Byron Ladies Golf Club Captain Marjorie Askew celebrated 50 years of fun competition with the Zoe Lindsay Shield. The event, an inter-club competition, was won by Mullumbimby, and the shield itself will live proudly at Mullum Golf Club for the next 12 months. Photo supplied
Youngest participant Byron Bay Surf Lifesaving Club President Troy Eady praised the boys for their dedication and the
Blake Hogan, Kayden Muller, and Jack Keough took out the top three spots in the U16 Bridge to Beach race in Sydney. Photo supplied commitment they have shown to their training. ‘This is a fantastic result for Kayden, Jack and Blake, and a great reflection of the effort they have put in over the winter months. To finish first, second and third in an 11-kilometre race on Sydney Harbour is an outstanding achievement,’ said Troy. ‘What is particularly
exciting for BBSLSC is seeing the results of the training and opportunities available to our youth members. Jack’s second-place finish at just 14 years of age against competitors who are older than him is a remarkable result. All three boys should be congratulated on their hard work, sportsmanship and commitment.’
Byron Netball finishes epic season on a high Buffy Gall Byron Bay Netball Club has wrapped up an outstanding season with premiership glory, strong junior results and a growing group of young players showing the sport has a bright future in the Byron Shire. The season ended in spectacular fashion for the club, with an all-Byron Bay grand final in Division 1 Intermediates seeing the Bullets take the title against fellow Byron side, the Blitz. It was a fitting finish to a season that has seen both teams develop strongly and showcase the depth of talent within Byron Bay Netball. There was further reason to celebrate in Division 3 Intermediates, with the Bulls claiming their own grand final victory, giving the club two premierships to finish an
Team Bullets. Photo @ryanoohehir already memorable season. The club’s juniors also enjoyed a terrific year, with Division 1 team the Besties finishing third for the season after a particularly strong second ladder position leading into the finals. The team narrowly missed out on a grand final position by just a few points, but their determination and improvement throughout the season
provided another highlight for the club. And it’s not just the older grades that are thriving. Byron Bay Netball now has 20 NetSetGO players across the Bananas and Pyjamas, with the youngest players getting their first taste of netball in an environment focused on learning, confidence, friendship and fun.
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September 23, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 17
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
BAYSIDE YAKINIKU CLUB BY YUKO
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/
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
BYRON BAY
THREE BLUE DUCKS
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
At The Farm enjoy a wander in the fields, meet the animals, and picnic in the sun… there really is something for everyone. Open: Monday – Friday 8am–4pm Saturday 8am– 6.30pm Sunday 8am–8pm Address: The Farm, 11 Ewingsdale Rd, Ewingsdale www.threeblueducks.com/byron
NO BONES BYRON BAY
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
Vegan Kitchen + Bar $20 Carbonara Mondays – every Monday until sold out Happy Hour – $14 cocktails from 5-6pm every night Live Jazz – First Friday of every month from 6.30pm Open: 7 nights from 5pm Address: 11 Fletcher Street, Byron Bay @nobonesrestaurants
BOMBAY TO BYRON AUTHENTIC INDIAN FOOD
WILSONS CREEK
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
THREEWAYS OF THE VALLEY Nestled in the lush Wilsons Creek rainforest, Threeways is a vibrant, family-friendly cafe where nature, nourishment, and community meet. Open: Wednesday – Sunday 8am–3pm and Saturday night. Address: 10 Huonbrook Rd, Wilsons Creek Contact: 0421 054 804 www.threeways.store @threeways_of_the_valley
www.echo.net.au/good-taste Photo: Nur Kosif
18 The Byron Shire Echo September 23, 2026
www.echo.net.au
The
Good Life
Cin cin to Spritz-ember at Pixie Byron Farmers Market is growing young farmers
Prawn linguine and a $13 spritz? Say less. All month long, Pixie Italian is celebrating Spritz-ember, with $13 Aperol, Campari, Hugo, and Limoncello Spritzes pouring from 12pm to 5pm every Saturday and Sunday. If a long lunch is in the calendar (or even if it’s not yet), Pixie’s ever-evolving menu offers every reason to settle in and order a few rounds. Set across from their sister venue, Light Years, in Jonson Lane, Pixie brings a little Italian spirit to the neighbourhood. The menu takes its cues from Italy while keeping one foot firmly by the coast, with Australian seafood, generous share plates, and plenty of fresh, bright flavours. Begin with a few snacks for the table: freshly shucked oysters with blood orange and red vermouth mignonette; artichoke fritti with Sicilian-spiced aioli; or
grilled mortadella skewers finished with honey, chilli, and pickled seasonal fruit. From there, the king prawns arrive with fermented chilli butter, honey and lemon, while burrata is paired with tomato and almond pesto and crisp pane carasau. Pasta is, naturally, the main event. Keep it classic with spaghetti cacio e pepe, opt for the indulgent paccheri wagyu bolognese, or lean into the coastal setting with prawn linguine tossed through chilli, garlic, lemon, and extra virgin olive oil. For the table, add a pork cotoletta with anchovy butter and citrus, then a focaccia to mop up the leftovers. At the bar, coastalinspired cocktails sit alongside a well-travelled wine list. With a focus on local Australian wineries and a strong nod to the kitchen’s Italian roots, it’s a passportproud selection created for seasoned wine lovers and curious newcomers alike.
The Italian influence continues beyond the plate. Designed by award-winning Flack Studio, the interiors channel 1970s Italy through burnt-terracotta floors scattered with terrazzo inlays, ruched leather banquettes, and venetianfiltered light. Relaxed enough for lunch, glamorous enough for dinner or a late drink at the bar. ■ All that’s left to do is
book a table and choose your spritz. Cin cin! Book at pixiebyronbay.com.au
Last year Byron in many of the Farmers Market essential start-up launched a and operating Young Farmer costs involved in Sponsorship establishing a farm. Program to support As a young family and encourage a living on a single new generation income when we of farmers, and applied, many of the inaugural those investments recipients – simply wouldn’t Chelsea Fiteni have been possible and Callan Terry for us at the time.’ – recently started And while it’s their first market early days for the stall. young couple, Chelsea and they say the Callan have a experience so far farm-share lease has been incredibly in Goonengerry rewarding. with fellow Byron ‘There’s a real Farmers Market sense of integrity members, Nic and Young Farmer Sponsorship recipients Chelsea and behind Byron Monty Dayman of Callan with son, Koda, at Byron Farmers Market. Farmers Market Rockwall Farm, and a strong focus Young Farmer Sponsorship where they have been on keeping local growers Program came along at a growing a diverse mix of at the heart of it,’ Callan time when we were in a certified-organic vegetables, says. ‘That’s something position to start farming our herbs and edible flowers, we really value, and we’ve own piece of land. with plans to introduce felt really welcomed by the ‘What we lacked was the perennial food crops and stallholders and the locals confidence that we could cut-flowers as the farm who come each week. make a small farm financially develops. ‘We’ve learnt so much viable, particularly whether After breaking ground already from our short time we could consistently sell and growing madly for the at the market. Having that what we grew and turn that past nine months, their direct relationship with our Circadia Organics stall made into a sustainable income. customers is helping us The sponsorship became its first appearance at Byron understand what people Farmers Market, slotting into the catalyst to our farming are looking for, what grows dream.’ the spot left by outgoing well for us and where we can As well as financial septuagenarian farmer continue refining our crop support, the sponsorship Kenrick Riley who retired planning. It feels like we’re includes membership to after 23 years at the market. learning and evolving with Byron Farmers Market, Chelsea and Callan said every market.’ which Chelsea says was a they shared a dream of You can find Circadia crucial part of the plan. running their own farm after Organics at Byron Farmers ‘Finding a reliable market Market every Thursday meeting while working on a farm a few years ago. Thanks for your produce is one of morning. to the sponsorship program, the biggest challenges when starting a small farm,’ she that dream is now a reality. ■ Byron Farmers Market is ‘Over the years we gained says. ‘So having a direct held every Thursday from experience working on other avenue to sell our produce 7am to 11am at Butler Street has removed a huge amount Reserve, and Bangalow farms, but taking the leap of that uncertainty. to establish something of Farmers Market is every ‘The financial support our own felt like a much Saturday morning from 7am bigger step,’ Callan says. ‘The has also allowed us to invest to 11am in Piccabeen Park.
Bayside Yakiniku Club by Yuko
Premium Australian Wagyu Homemade sauces Fermented foods Rice bowls & fresh deli salads
CELEBRATIONS Cakes by Liz Jackson
lizzijjackson@gmail.com 0414 895 441 Gluten-free and special dietary needs catered for. www.echo.net.au
Open Wed–Sun Lunch 12pm–3pm Dinner 5:30pm–8:30pm
AUTHENTIC JAPANESE CHARCOAL RESTAURANT
Shop 1/14 Bay St, Byron Bay @bayside_yakiniku_club 0493 565 508
COFFEE SH
OP
Open 6am – 12pm Monday – Saturday Shop 6/108 Stuart Street Mullumbimby. @bimbi_coffee_shop ALLPRESS ESPRESSSO September 23, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 19
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS BETTER BY BIKE Making Byron adventures easy and fun! Based at Murwillumbah Railway Station, it’s the perfect starting point for your Northern Rivers Rail Trail ride, or enjoy convenient pickup from your accommodation. Choose from premium e-bikes, fat-tyre e-bikes, and family-friendly options like tow-behind bikes, child seats, and chariots. Every hire includes essentials: comfy gel seats, puncture-proof tyres, helmets, tunnel lights, locks, and waterproof panniers. With full trail support and genuine local tips, your ride will be smooth, safe, and stress-free. Backed by hundreds of 5-star reviews, and Gold at the NSW Tourism Awards 2025, you’re in great hands. Delivery to Byron Bay and the Tweed Coast available. Open daily. 0408 444 858 betterbybike.com.au
Let’s Go Surfing Join Let’s Go Surfing for an awesome time surfing or stand up paddle boarding these holidays. They offer private and group lessons and tours for all ages, as well as kids only lessons. Lessons include all equipment and expert instruction in small groups, and provide education, maximum fun, and safety for your kids. They cover the basics from warm-up to paddling, catching waves and standing, while also catering to intermediate and advanced students. Kids also learn important surf and safety rules including info on rips, tides, sandbanks and waves. www.letsgosurfing.com.au Open 7 days 8:30am–4:30pm Shop 5, 11 Fletcher St, Byron Bay @letsgosurfingaustralia (02) 6680 9443
BALLOON ALOFT Come fly with us! Happy holidays - spring has sprung and balloons are rising with the sun! Come aboard a friendly flight with balloon aloft these school holidays and enjoy the Northern Rivers scenery at its best! Every flight includes a beautiful breakfast at Three Blue Ducks, The Farm. Book online at www.balloonaloft.com
CIRCUS THESE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS Mullumbimby Showground turns into a circus playground these October school holidays, and Spaghetti Circus wants your kids in on it. More than 100 kids take part each holidays. Holiday Workshops run Tuesday 6, Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8, October. Come for one day, two, or all three. Kids aged 4-6 do half-days (9.30am–12.30pm, $55), while 7-14 year olds go full-day (9.30am– 3.30pm, $85). Three-day passes and early dropoff from 8.30am are available. Skills on offer include tightrope, trapeze, tissu, German wheel, big tramp, acro balance, juggling and hula hoops - taught by the same coaches who run Spaghetti’s term program. Active and Creative Kids vouchers are accepted, reducing the cost by $50 per child.
H LIDAY
Bookings and full details at spaghetticircus.com
WORKSHOPS TUE 6 WED 7 THU 8 OCTOBER
MULLUMBIMBY SHOWGROUND
RAIL TRAIL
E-BIKE adventure! Family & pet friendly: E-bikes, kids bikes & attachments Two convenient start points: Murwillumbah or Mooball Pick-up service: from any Byron or Tweed Coast accom!
Come and enjoy one, two or three days of circus fun!
www.spaghetticircus.com 20 The Byron Shire Echo September 23, 2026
BOOK NOW
betterbybike.com.au
0408 444 858
www.echo.net.au
Murwillumbah CBD Tweed Regional Museum Tweed Regional Aquatic Centre
Rest stop Point of interest Distance Murwillumbah The Northern Rivers Rail from Trail is a km Distance between rest stops ‘must do’ experience. It is a shared Bridge recreation and nature trail created Tunnel along a disused railway line. It is Sealed trail free to use, and provides a safe Gravel trail environment for walkers, cyclists, and 2.2 km horse section people of all abilitiesVisitor to explore the information beautiful Northern Parking Rivers region. Toilet www.northernriversrailtrail.com.au
Murwillumbah Railway Station
0.0 km 2.2
2.2 km
Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre
Gallery Connection
Access to Gallery via steps
4.1
Dunbible Station
6.3 km
Water bubbler
@northern_rivers_railtrail Picnic area
2.0
@NorthernRiversRailTrail Food/drink
Stokers Siding Station
Bike repair
8.3 km
Bike pump E-bike charging
Beyond Byron E Bikes
7.1
Looking for an unforgettable school holiday adventure? Major bridges Beyond Byron E Bikes, located in Mooball opposite the Northern Rivers Rail Trail, is the perfect place Colin Street Johansen Creek to start exploring. Ride at your own pace on premium German-made e-bikes featuring gel Dunbible Creek seats, mudguards and puncture-resistant tyresDunbible for a Upper Burringbar smooth, comfortable ride. Mills Creek Burringbar Creek Bring the whole family – they’ve got kids’ e-bikes, family cargo e-bikes, tag-a-longs, baby seats and even dog trailers, so everyone can join the adventure. With beautiful scenery, great food stops and plenty to discover along the way, it’s a day out you’ll remember.
Book online: beyondbyronebikes.com.au
Tunnel has no lighting. You must have a light to enter the tunnel.
Mooball Station
3.3
18.7 km
Upper Burringbar Station 15.4 km
2.2
2.8
20.9 km
Hulls Road Tunnel
Crabbes Creek Station
0.3
End of Tweed section
23.7 km 24.0 km
Burringbar Collective Burringbar Collective is a rack rental space above The Barn general store offering pre-loved and vintage clothing from community sellers. Updated weekly, sellers offer a unique range of vintage and preloved clothing for all ages, styles and sizes.
Moo Moo Roadhouse Located on the Tweed Valley Way in the quaint village of Mooball, the Moo Moo Roadhouse has been a popular pit stop for locals and tourists for many years, and has now added the abundance of Rail Trail cyclists and walkers to its fan club.
Located directly across from the Rail Trail on the main street of Burringbar, pop up the stairs and see what there is to discover – you never know what you might find.
Whether you’re walking, riding or driving, the Moo Moo Cafe is the perfect spot to fuel up, grab a bite to eat, drink some awesome coffee and check out the great range of motorcycles, memorabilia and antiques they have on display. And they have free wi-fi!
27 Broadway, Burringbar • 0450 496 334 www.burringbarcollective.com.au @burringbarcollective
Open Monday to Friday 6am–5.30pm, Saturday and Sunday 7am–5pm.
RAIL TRAIL E BIKE HIRE
5887 Tweed Valley Way, Mooball 02 6677 0057 @MooMooRoadhouse
Awesome coffee, delicious snacks & meals, fuel and free WiFi
02 6677 0057 5887 Tweed Valley Way, Mooball Mon – Fri: 6am–5:30pm Sat & Sun 7am–5pm
www.echo.net.au
Burringbar Station
Burringbar Range Tunnel
9 Located in Mooball, closest to highway/Byron Bay 9 Puncture-proof tyres, gel seats and mudguards reviews 9 More then 700 We have kids E-bikes, family cargo E-bikes, 9 tag-a-longs, baby seats and kids & dog trailers
beyondbyronebikes.com.au
BOOK ONLINE NOW
September 23, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 21
Byron Arts & Industry Estate 1
Creative, small-batch, hand-made, state-of-the-art, artisan, innovative, ethical, imaginative, hyper-local, leading-edge, quality, explore premium, master, handcrafted, accomplished, cutting edge, organic, designer, eclectic discover ingenious, beautiful, unique, sensational, avant-garde, original, visionary, inspirational, expert, brilliant, gifted, ahead of the curve. You wonderful, compelling, there experiencing, witnessing, engaging. Now.
t rS ba ng llo Wo
Briganti ne St
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Tasman Way
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1. BODHI LIVING Bodhi Living showcases a carefully-curated collection of furniture, homewares, rugs and lighting, sourced both locally and globally. They have introduced a range of collections designed in-house, including sofas, dining tables and seating using natural and sustainable materials such as rattan and wood.
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The brand encapsulates the freedom of spirit, and the soul of the individual, as represented through their home.
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Shop 1/18 Centennial Circuit bodhiliving.com.au @bodhi.living
2. OUR TIMELESS THREADS Rent a rack for just $250. Two-week selling cycle. Receive 100% of your sales. Give your clothes a second life. Support a local, community-focused not-for-profit. Your clothes. Your rack. Your sales. Limited racks available each cycle. Come and join our circular wardrobe community.
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The OTT Shop, 18 Acacia Street Contact Maia Willow: 0404 813 643 ourtimelessthreads.org @ourtimelessthreads
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3. BYRON BAY SALVOS STORE Packed with quality pre-loved clothing, homewares, furniture, books and more at great prices. Discover great deals on well-known brands and make sustainable shopping even sweeter. Now accepting donations. The Salvos welcome clean, good-quality items. Your donations help support programs making a real difference locally. Shop sustainably. Support local. Give back. Discover something special today. Great brands. Great prices. Great cause. 5 Banksia Drive
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22 The Byron Shire Echo September 23, 2026
www.echo.net.au
Habitat Precinct ↑
Habitat is a cleverly designed village in Byron Bay, where you can live, work and play, all in one place. Over 20 years in the making, Habitat combines the best of old-school Byron (community, creativity, respect for the environment) with the latest in design and thinking (renewable energy, car sharing, hybrid live + work spaces) along with plenty of shops, cafés, and good times, it is a little oasis within one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
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4. LOCO LOVE Loco Love creates artisanal chocolate magic, designed to bring more beauty, presence and love into everyday life. Crafted in Byron Bay with organic ingredients, sustainable cacao and genuine wholefoods, every creation honours nature, conscious craftsmanship and the wisdom of ritual. Each chocolate is an invitation to slow down, awaken your heart and remember the magic that already lies within you. 63 Centennial Circuit @locolovechocolate locolove.com
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5. AKADEMIE
HABITAT
Akademie exists to elevate the standard of Pilates by redefining how it is practised, taught and studied. Rooted in classical Pilates and shaped by modern concepts, their method values discipline, alignment, inclusivity and repetition. They invite you to deepen your practice with precision, purpose and long-term results. A curriculum for the body. A philosophy for life.
Get out of town! Visit Habitat where you can shop, eat, drink and recharge, all in one place. Think standout wellness, beauty and fitness studios, seriously good food, and a unique mix of flagship stores. Made for slow mornings, post-work resets, and long, lingering lunches in the sunny courtyard.
8. ASTRID DISPENSARY & CLINIC
1 Porter Street habitatbyronbay.com @habitat_byronbay
Come in with a specific question, or with just your curiosity. Our Byron Bay team is here to welcome you.
Unit 26/73 Centennial Circuit hello@akademie-byron.com
6. THE LARDER Catering made simple, events made memorable The Larder Byron Bay caters for life’s moments. Casual backyard BBQs and intimate gatherings to grand celebrations, The Larder lets you relax and savour the fun. Let them handle the heat so you get the most out of your event.
7. BYRON FAMILY LAW Byron Family Law is a boutique family law firm established in Byron Bay. Through collaborative and resolution-focused practices, they support clients to separate more kindly and to rebuild following divorce or separation.
Be a guest at your own party. Enjoy every moment while establishing unforgettable memories.
They work in collaboration with local counsellors, conveyancers, accountants, mediators, and health and wellness professionals to support you and your family to not only survive, but thrive following a separation.
02 6680 8644 catering@thelarder.com.au 1/12 Bayshore Drive
18 Parkes Avenue 02 6687 2774 byronfamilylaw.com.au
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Part clinic, part dispensary, and part lifestyle retail store, Astrid is a space to explore plant-powered wellness rituals.
Suites 57-58, 1 Porter St 02 7908 4459 astrid.health
9. RICHARDSON MURRAY LAW Practicing exclusively in family law, Richardson Murray offers legal advice and guidance in matters of separation, divorce, parenting arrangements and property settlements. With considerable experience in all matters of relationship breakdown, including domestic and family violence, Richardson Murray are known for their compassionate approach and commitment. Their dedicated team aims to deliver the best possible outcomes for clients. 42 Parkes Avenue richardson-murray.law
www.echo.net.au
September 23, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 23
Making
SPACES
Byron Bay are your local experts ready to Swimart Swimart help make pool care easy. They are part of a trusted, national franchise delivering high-quality pool and spa care to the local Byron community and the surrounding region.
They have extensive knowledge and experience servicing and maintaining all types of pools and spas, helping clients get the best use out of their pools throughout the year. Swimart Byron Bay have a team of three pool technicians (Sam, Chris and David) and they are committed to protecting your investment and keeping your pool or spa swim-ready all year-round. Call them on 0448 278 826 to ask any questions about your pool or spa – they are now located at Unit 1, 6 Centennial Cct, Byron Bay. 0488 278 826 1/6 Centennial Circuit, Byron Bay swimart.com.au
spring slowly getting us warmer and the presSwap a Bottle With sure of winter leaving us - you may like to consider if
choosing a true local for your gas supply is something to look into! Swap a Bottle are a local, small, family business, located in Murwillumbah. They enjoy offering regular local deliveries from Bangalow to Tugun. If they don’t personally deliver in your area - they have a local distributor that does! Choosing a small business run by locals is the decision to help the whole community. With no ongoing fees or rental charges - they maybe the change you have been looking for! If you feel like taking a lovely drive, you can drop in and have your BBQ bottles quick refilled on-site as long as they are in-date. Feel free to jump on the website to place an order or Free Call 1300 727 013 for any more information the team can help with! 10 Kite Crescent, South Murwillumbah Free Call 1300 727 013 swapabottlegas.com
Eden at Byron
There’s a door in your home that sticks. A window around it. Every time you tolerate something broken, you’re quietly giving up some comfort, style or freedom in your home. There’s always a reason why you’ve been putting it off. Maybe it’s something small, maybe it’s just not the right time. But that’s the thing with working windows: fixing them doesn’t have to be a big deal. Fixing what’s broken is more than just maintenance. It’s a small, physical act of creating something lighter, freer, more open and involved. That’s Working Windows. Sliding doors, windows, screens, locks. You name it, we’ve seen it. Because your home is meant to be lived in, not worked around. THIS SPRING: 20% OFF YOUR FIRST REPAIR 0435 506 465 | 0405 793 994 workingwindows1@gmail.com workingwindows.com.au
Konpak seasons of life.
Live in a Konpak home, built for the changing
It’s springtime, so get your garden growing! Summer crops like basil, tomatoes, capsicum, chilli, eggplant, beans, cucumber and corn, as well as salad leaves and herbs, can all be planted now. Growing your own is a great way to enjoy some of the more unusual heirloom varieties, and freshness is guaranteed. You’ll know exactly what has gone into the soil and on to the plants, so you’ll know it’s all clean and safe. Local, organically made Living Farm Compost is the perfect planting mix, providing the ideal conditions for your seedlings to thrive. It contains living microorganisms which boost soil health, and that means strong plants, and fewer pests and diseases. You can plant straight into it, no need to dig it in. 02 6685 6874 140 Bangalow Road Byron Bay edenatbyron.com.au
Combat humidity and protect your home
won’t quite close. A ripped screen you’ve Working Windows that stopped noticing because you’ve learned to work
During the Northern Rivers’ rainy season, excess humidity creates the perfect environment for mould growth in both air conditioning systems and homes. Artisan Air reminds homeowners that most modern air conditioners feature a dehumidifier setting – a powerful yet often underutilised function that removes moisture without overcooling spaces. Running the dehumidifier mode regularly during wet weather prevents mould development inside the unit while protecting furnishings, walls, and belongings from moisture damage. This setting uses less energy than full cooling mode, making it an economical humidity control solution. For homes requiring additional moisture management, Artisan Air supplies dedicated dehumidifiers that work independently or alongside existing systems. These standalone units provide targeted control in problem areas like bathrooms, laundries, and bedrooms, ensuring comprehensive protection throughout the home. 02 6680 9394 hello@artisanair.com.au artisanair.com.au
24 The Byron Shire Echo September 23, 2026
Based in Murwillumbah, Konpak design and build compact, architecturally-considered tiny homes made for modern living. Whether you’re seeking a backyard rental, a multi-generational living solution, or just a simpler lifestyle, Konpak offers functional, beautiful dwellings that don’t compromise on quality. Each home is locally built and delivered ready to live in which means no on-site construction stress. Our team works closely with you to customise your space and make the most of every square metre. Big on lifestyle, small in size, Konpak is about building smarter, not bigger.. 300 Lundberg Drive, South Murwillumbah (by appointment only) Call Cody 0434 272 353 konpak.com.au @konpak_homes
office or studio spaces, and supporting life’s Connecting Dots home, big moves. - Spaces Clare’s experience includes managing international
A structured yet human approach to organising your
moves and working with clients across New York to reshape their homes in ways that restore calm and clarity. Based in Byron Bay, Clare helps create spaces that function beautifully behind the scenes and support a stronger sense of self through:
• Decluttering and organising • Airbnb packing away and restaging • Packing, unpacking and home set-ups • Downsizing and move management Clare and her team look forward to helping you connect the dots between your living habits and your home, so you can live with more ease and confidence. Servicing the Northern Rivers, from Yamba to South Gold Coast, book your free consultation with Clare and you can get started! clare@connectingdotsspaces.com 0411 405 652 connectingdotsspaces.com
www.echo.net.au
Mungo from the Bardo
Soapbox www.echo.net.au/soap-box
Crossword by Mungo MacCallum
Lets Talk About Dementia
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his week is Dementia Action Week. Some of its purposes are to raise awareness, reduce stigma and build understanding. We don’t talk about dementia because it scares us. A dear friend who has decided to care for her mother to ensure she has the best possible older life with dementia told me of her sadness that her mum’s friends no longer made contact. These were women that her mum had known for most of her adult life. They saw each other regularly and holidayed together at least once a year. Once the dementia diagnosis turned up they disappeared. No phone calls for her birthday. No drop-ins. Nothing. This isn’t uncommon. Lots of people caring for a loved one with dementia talk of the ‘drop off’. The friends who just disappear. Why do we do this? Why does dementia make us so uncomfortable? It’s not contagious. It’s perfectly safe to continue a relationship with a person with dementia. Of course the relationship will change over time. But all relationships change over time. Your overall lifetime chance of developing dementia after 55 is roughly 42 per cent. They’re pretty strong odds. And of course none of us want dementia. It scares us. Losing our memory and our sense of orientation in our lives is terrifying. We’ve seen it happen to people we love. I’ve seen it happen to people I love. It’s cruel to watch someone lose their connection to their lives, their friends, their families, and themselves. It’s isolating and lonely. It’s known, yet it’s unknown. Every dementia, while similar is entirely different. When I started working with people with dementia, years ago, I asked my husband, John, who is an academic and has dedicated over a decade to research about this. In simple terms he said, ‘the brain is like a blanket that a moth has gotten into. The pattern of what the moth has destroyed is different on every blanket.’ But what is the same, is that there’s a moth locked in with the blanket. That helped me understand both the commonality, and the uniqueness. My husband has a friend who developed dementia some years ago. The man was his mentor, and someone who shaped his world view. That man
STARS BY LILITH The challenging changes of five planets retrograde receive a welcome respite from this week’s Sun joining Mercury in peace and party-loving Libra…
LIBRA THE SCALES www.echo.net.au
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It’s perfectly safe to continue a relationship with a person with dementia. Of course the relationship will change over time. But all relationships change over time. lives in Sydney and is in a secure unit. My husband speaks to him several times a day, most days. He visits when he is in Sydney. The man doesn’t know he’s in a secure unit. He thinks he is at a conference. It’s heartbreaking. But John’s small ongoing contribution of friendship is his connection to the world his degenerating brain has configured. There is so much stigma around dementia. Last week I hosted the annual symposium for Dementia Inclusive Ballina Alliance – a day that raises awareness and educates those caring for people with dementia, clinicians, support services and all those with an interest to learn more. Every time I told someone I was hosting this event, every second person would make a joke about me forgetting to attend and how no one would mind. Not once, about four different people made the same joke. It wasn’t funny. It was revealing. It told me that people don’t feel comfortable. That ‘othering’ people with dementia was their way of signalling that this isn’t a group they belong to. I have been a comedian for over 40 years. I don’t make jokes about
ARIES: If Chiron rejoining Neptune and Saturn both retrograde in your sign is testing you to the max, this week’s good news is the upcoming weekend’s annual Aries full moon: your date to absolutely celebrate the unique features and personal quirks that make you the rare individual you are. TAURUS: Artistic, aesthetic Libra season beckons Taureans out of the comfort zone this week with your cue to spruce up your workspace with plants and mood-lifting accessories and slip something stylish on even when you’re dashing to the gym or corner store, and to enjoy art, music, theatre and your social circle. GEMINI: This week welcomes the return of Libra season, the most Gemini-friendly time of year, with its astral emphasis in your passionate and fun-loving zodiac sector for a month of pleasure, play and self-expression. So say yes to creative inspirations, and expect heart-opening results.
dementia. I was fortunate to work with people with dementia over five years to develop a comedy program. I made jokes with people with dementia. That’s different. That’s inclusion. I probably worked with over 300 different people with dementia. I got to see how different presentations were. I witnessed days of lucidity, days of loss and confusion. Most importantly I witnessed the powerful personhood of people with dementia, and saw firsthand how our fear of dementia, and not having a dementia-friendly world, erodes that. We need a dementia-friendly future. Because that person with dementia will probably be your mother or your father. But it will also quite possibly be you, or your kids. And your chance to do something is now. ■ 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.
CANCER: Exhilarating Mars in your sign has probably been sparking ideas and prompting more than a few late nights. Now the coming weekend’s confident full moon encourages stepping out into those new experiences you’re brave enough to try, with all of your determined Cancerian spirit that just doesn’t give up. LEO: Looking for a new business partner or creative soulmate? Spring equinox ushers in the zodiac’s solar-powered season of coupling up. If you need to broker a deal, this diplomatic cycle gives you extra edge at the bargaining table, so focus on win-wins that leave everyone grinning. VIRGO: You’ve sorted, organised, decluttered, put things in order, been ultraindustrious, addressed the administrivia and now it’s time to take a break. To relax. Enjoy. Have fun. Spring has sprung, with its call to let the to-do list rest, focus on beauty routines, get out and socialise.
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Cryptic Clues
Quick Clues
ACROSS
ACROSS
1. Dumb betting to ease, they say, with 50 in board game (10) 7. Flag kitty? (4) 9. East Street holds a load of gourmet food (8) 10. Wordplay is hard to penalise (6) 11. Mendicant grizzly swallows viceroy (6) 13. It’s said you come from the largest continent, but that’s only half right (8) 14. Prepare to be zealous? Rot. How cold can it get? (8,4) 17. Like 14 across, the joint gets the brush off (4,8) 20. Radio to order start to circuit back to male cycad (4,4) 21. Duck back around North Carolina for medical journal (6) 22. Manx android mad to confer holy orders (6) 23. Backpack for game creek loot (8) 25. Street of unknowns, river of Hell (4) 26. Direction follows time limits: a fatal quality (10)
1. Shocked beyond words, struck dumb (10) 7. Target in lawn bowls (4) 9. Edible snail (8) 10. Inflict penalty, pain (6) 11. Mendicant, one seeking alms (6) 13. Person of mixed descent from two northern continents (8) 14. Minus 273.15 Celsius (8,4) 17. Snub, social rejection (4,8) 20. Tropical tree used for starch production; Pacific Island staple (4,4) 21. Two-edged surgical knife (6) 22. Appoint to the clergy (6) 23. Backpack used by hikers (8) 25. River surrounding Hades (4) 26. Fatal or lethal quality (10)
DOWN
2. Casual wayfarer who ignores incidents around him (6,2) 3. Greek letter equivalent to E (3) 4. More enormous (5) 5. Furthest, utmost, final (7) DOWN 2. Unconcerned traveller to hand over 6. Film or comic book character like Captain Marvel or Ironman (9) the queen, with the authorship of … (6,2) 7. Great rock singer who wanted a Mercedes Benz (5,6) 3. …queen a very long time… (3) 4. …even bigger embrace for queen (5) 8. One of two top performers, usually in a film (6) 5. Limit? Beyond the limit (7) 12. Great vaudeville comic, a brother (7,4) 6. Spiderman, perhaps, gets over 15. Ignorant, uneducated (9) Leander’s love (9) 16. Methods of resistance, responses to 7. Singer Ian and pianist Scott – attack (8) together they make great rocking blues! (5,6) 18. Ancient Middle Eastern kingdom covering parts of Iraq (7) 8. Latin American country drops off CIA, still receives joint billing! (6) 19. Root vegetable (6) 12. A hundred in the untamed rough, 21. Nearby, part of the neighbourhood (5) but reported grade of zero. Still, he’s 24. Vice, evil (3) very funny. (7,4) 15. Ignorant 50 covered by investment Last week’s solution #26 income (9) I N C O M P A R A B L E 16. Removes barriers to back players (8) S N R U P E A U N I C O R N P A R S N I P 18. First class uncle from Joel Chandler P T U I L A G R Harris turns up to reveal where E R I S T I C E N T H U S E writing began (7) R A O I O I S 19. Vehicle rubbish, but it complements N O L A N P A R T R I D G E the stick (6) A A E N T E N T A C L E S F I R S T 21. Non-fattening pub? (5) U A N E A U T 24. I, trapped between poles, commit R E B A T E S N O T A B L E evil (3) A L
■ Crossword circa 2009
LIBRA: As spring equinox balance of day and night, light and dark, announces Libra’s season in the sun, the world can’t help but smile. And with sun and Mercury in your sign lightening the intense chemistry of world events, your elegant style and graceful ways are a gift to this week. SCORPIO: This week’s Sun/Mercury alignment in the sign of balanced viewpoints make finding common ground and reaching agreement easier than it has been recently. Bonds can grow stronger during this coupling-up transit, so it’s definitely worth a judicious lowering of the Scorpio drawbridge to let people in. SAGITTARIUS: Archers are social beings, and as this week morphs from close focus to a more Sag-friendly bigger picture, connect with others for business, pleasure and some frisky fun. Your natural Sagittarian generosity can be good medicine, so show your favourite humans how much you appreciate them.
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C O S M O P O L
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CAPRICORN: This week highlights the balance between professional ambitions and personal relationships. Your loved ones shouldn’t have to compete for your attention Capricorn, so make sure your inner circle knows they matter by putting the phone on silent and scheduling quality time that’s completely free from work talk and notifications. AQUARIUS: If you’ve been carrying a clear vision of what partnership should look like and your current reality’s falling a little short, this week can help you communicate more effectively about what you actually need. The catch? Multiple choices, so limit distractions and focus on single-tasking. PISCES: With Mars and Venus both in emotional fellow water signs, feelings are likely to run deep and high, especially around late week’s sensitive Pisces moon. One suggestion for soothing ruffled feathers would be putting some energy into creating home and work spaces that feel beautiful, serene and nourishing.
September 23, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 25
Volume 41 #15 23–30 September, 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
seven Seven days of entertainment
Animals reveal a human story at BBFF Closer to home, Australian documentary Guided by Horses travels to the Kimberley, where Aboriginal researcher Professor Juli Coffin’s equine-assisted learning program works with young First Nations people. Developed in response to youth suicide in Indigenous communities, the program uses relationships with horses to create opportunities for reconnection, healing and hope.
Animals take an unexpected starring role in the newly revealed program for the 20th Byron Bay International Film Festival, with filmmakers from Australia and around the world using our relationships with animals to explore some distinctly human questions. Across the festival’s 20th edition, stories involving foxes, storks, hens, horses and dingoes touch on survival, displacement, inequality, loneliness, cultural connection and resilience. The thread begins on opening night with The Fox, featuring the voices of Olivia Colman and the late Sam Neill, and continues through films ranging from internationally awarded features to Australian documentaries. From Oscar-nominated Honeyland director Tamara Kotevska, The Tale of Silyan follows Macedonian farmer Nikola, whose encounter with an injured white stork develops into an extraordinary companionship as economic hardship threatens his livelihood and separates his family. The film won Best Feature Documentary and Best Cinematography at the 2025 IDA Documentary Awards and the Cinema & Arts Award at Venice. In Hungarian director György Pálfi’s Hen, a hen, escaping an industrial farm, searches for somewhere safe to raise her chicks. Her struggle unfolds alongside the darker story of a Greek family caught up in people-smuggling, creating a provocative exploration of exploitation, survival and human behaviour.
35–43 JONSON ST BYRON BAY 6685 6454 THENORTHERN.COM.AU @thenorthernbyronbay
26 The Byron Shire Echo September 23, 2026
Australian short documentary Ganibarra, co-directed by Jirrbal woman and cultural knowledge-holder Sonya Takau, and Alix Livingstone, explores the relationship between First Nations people and dingoes, drawing parallels between displacement from Country and the persecution of dingoes following colonisation. Festival Director J’aimee Skippon-Volke said the recurring presence of animals across such different films was striking. ‘These aren’t simply films about animals. Through them, the filmmakers are exploring some very big human questions, about survival and displacement, inequality, loneliness, cultural connection, resilience and our responsibility to each other and to the world around us.’ The animal-themed films are part of a much broader program marking BBFF’s 20th edition, with the full 2026 program now available online. The Byron Bay International Film Festival runs from 16 to 25 October, with screenings and events in Byron Bay, Brunswick Heads, Ballina, Mullumbimby and Lismore.
Greasing up Bright Lights Bright Lights senior musical theatre troupe is proud to present Grease for their 2026 musical production. After a sell-out seasons of Frozen Junior in 2023, Legally Blonde Junior in 2024 and Beauty and the Beast in 2025, the company are excited to welcome you to watch the talented performers bring this classic musical to the Byron Theatre. Step back into the rock ‘n’ roll world of Rydell High, the electrifying musical that has captivated audiences for generations. Follow the unforgettable romance of Danny and Sandy as they navigate teenage life, friendship, and first love, joined by the iconic T-Birds and Pink Ladies. Packed with high-energy dance numbers, vibrant characters, and timeless hits including ‘Summer Nights’, ‘Greased Lightnin’’, ‘Hopelessly Devoted to You’, ‘You’re the One That I Want’, and ‘We Go Together’, Grease is a feelgood celebration of the music, style, and spirit of the 1950s. Bursting with nostalgia, laughter, and irresistible fun, it’s the perfect night out for audiences of all ages. Hopelessly devoted to great theatre? This one’s for you! Grease is the word – see you at the theatre! Tickets and information at www.byroncentre.com.au.
Full program and tickets from BBFF.com.au.
THUR 24 SEP
Dan Hannaford 6pm | DJ Renee Simone 9.15pm Duelling Piano Bar 9pm
FRI 25 SEP
Kane Muir Band 7pm Duelling Piano Bar 8pm
SAT 26 SEP
JB’s Blues Breakers 7pm | DJ Oren Selecta 10.15pm Duelling Piano Bar 8pm | Hypnotize 9pm
SUN 27 SEP
Dizzy J 5pm | Vinyl Sundays ft. Eric Downer 8.15pm Duelling Piano Bar 9pm
MON 28 SEP
Jerome Williams 6pm | Duelling Piano Bar 9pm
TUES 29 SEP
Marshall Okell 6pm | Duelling Piano Bar 9pm
WED 30 SEP
Hayley Grace 6pm | Duelling Piano Bar 9pm
LIVE MUSIC EVERY NIGHT
COCKTAILS!
NORTHERN BOTTLESHOP
www.echo.net.au
The Whitlams Return to Rock Island The Whitlams are coming to the Hotel Brunswick on Friday, 2 October for the first show of the Return to Rock Island tour. The band is revisiting its favourite rock venues down the East Coast, where long, sweaty nights formed the bedrock of The Whitlams’ reputation as a memorable force in the Australian live music scene. In the mid-‘90s The Whitlams cut their teeth playing the Byron-triple every few months – consisting of the Rails on Friday night, the Great Northern on Saturday night, and the Brunswick on Sunday afternoon. Tim Freedman says, ‘The stage at the Brunswick is in the same spot as it was back then, maybe a foot higher, but apart from that it is mercifully a blast from the past. I fondly remember playing three sets on Sunday afternoons to packs of bikers, hippies and barefoot families. It was a great scene back then, and it still has a lot of magic on a Spring night under the stars’. The band recently completed its biggest tour ever – Orchestral ’26 - with eight symphony orchestras, 30,000 people, and concert halls across the country. Now it’s back to the pubs where the audience is standing up close. Joining the bill for the whole tour is William Crighton (with band), promoting his fourth studio album, Colonial Drift. The pioneer of bush-psych and a bold voice of Australian folk rock, Crighton weaves stories of land, spirit, and struggle with raw intensity. The Whitlams’ set list will tend towards the high energy side of the seven album repertoire – loud, and built for a crowd with nowhere to sit. Tim Freedman is joined by stalwarts Terepai Richmond on drums and Jak Housden on guitar, with Ian Peres on bass and keys. Tickets available via Moshtix for a loud, standing-roomonly rock show.
Byron Ballet’s 20th Anniversary Nutcracker After a successful season performing with the Victorian State Ballet in Beauty and the Beast, dancers from the Byron Youth Ballet Company are preparing to take the stage once more – this time for their own production of The Nutcracker. This mid-October weekend marks a special milestone: Byron Ballet’s 20th Anniversary presentation of the world’s bestloved ballet. The company has staged The Nutcracker several times over the years, and this four-show season promises to be a joyful celebration of two decades of classical dance in the Byron community. Artistic director Yvonne Hall, says young audiences will be captivated by this enchanting coming-of-age story. ‘A joyful Christmas party transforms into an extraordinary adventure, complete with a thrilling battle between the toy soldiers and the army of rats. With Clara’s help, the Nutcracker Prince defeats the wicked Rat King and leads us into a magical world of wonder.’
Ms Hall says that The Nutcracker has long served as a rite of passage for young dancers. ‘It’s performed every year to packed houses in hundreds of cities around the globe, it allows dancers to work their way up through the ranks over the years – from the youngest little chorus angel to the divertissements, solos and, for a lucky few, the principal dream roles of Clara or the Sugar Plum Fairy. Byron Ballet makes it a true community ballet, as extra dancers of all ages join for the Christmas party scene.’ Tchaikovsky’s sublime and instantly recognisable score remains one of the most accessible and best-loved in the classical repertoire, making the ballet the perfect introduction to classical music and storytelling through dance for children and adults alike. Join the Byron Youth Ballet Company and special guest artists as they celebrate this masterpiece of music and dance. Shows are on 16 to 18 October at the Byron Theatre. Tickets on sale now from byroncentre.com.au.
Nutcracker
The
16th-18th October
Holly Throsby FRI 6 NOV 2026 ......................... BRUNSWICK PICTURE HOUSE with special guest McKisko
BUY TICKETS:
Tickets via hollythrosby.com Normal Magic out now on Hobbledhoy Records
www.echo.net.au
September 23, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 27
INTERVIEW
FINN REES
KEYBOARDIST, COMPOSER AND PRODUCER You’re in Byron at the moment? Yeah, just on the road. I was up for a wedding, so I ended up being up here early, and I was meeting up with festival director Si (Jay Gould) to do some little promo for Dingo. I managed to do two things this weekend.
LIVIN’ LA VIDA LOCAL
A new music and arts festival is coming to the Northern Rivers, with Bangalow set to host the inaugural Dingo Music & Arts Festival across four days from 8 to 11 October. Anchored in jazz and programmed through a contemporary lens, Dingo brings together internationally acclaimed musicians, leftfield selectors, performance artists, chefs, and thinkers for four days of performances, conversations and shared experiences. Unfolding across Bangalow’s halls, galleries, record stores and public spaces, the festival invites audiences to move through the town at their own pace, discovering unexpected encounters where music, art and community intersect. Seven spoke to temporarily-lately-local Finn Rees, a Tasmania-born, Melbourne-lived, London-based pianist, keyboardist and composer who has quietly become one of the most sought-after musicians in Australian jazz. Rees was roadside in Byron Bay – phone in hand, waiting on a lift to South Golden Beach… Best known as one half of Close Counters alongside Allan McConnell, he has also done bunches of other cool stuff along with his 2024 debut solo album Dawn Is A Melody – a spiritual, deeply textured jazz record that draws a line from Alice Coltrane through Herbie Hancock to Arthur Verocai while sounding unmistakably, warmly present.
ADMIN SPIDER SKILLS WANTED VOLLIE BayFM’s website some TLC Put your face needs to our name
Good on the web? Skilled in a BayFM community radio needs Wordpress? Do you have an hour so capable, organised volunteer foror our a week inand yoursome work light schedule? front desk admin. You’ll greet guests, manage We need your help to make our payments, answer phones and keep website look and work better. things ticking. We’ll provide training, We have folks here who can write, but you need to know your way but we need to get those words in the around email and Google and have a right place at the right time to make love of words. our online experience sing. If you can spare 10am-2pm one day a week to help your localcontact community, If that’s you, please please email gaylecue@bayfm.org studiomanager@bayfm.org
bayfm.org Made locally, played globally Listen like a local 28 The Byron Shire Echo September 23, 2026
What’s happening for you musically at the moment? In terms of output, I’ve got an EP coming, I’ve got two new singles called ‘Another Spring’ and ‘Feel The Sun’. The EP’s coming out at the end of October. That’s as a solo artist – you’ve got a few hats. What about the others? With Close Counters we have a bunch of different releases coming out at the moment. We just dropped an EP which is a collaboration with River Star and Andre Espoo – more of a soulful house sort of EP. And we’ve done a bunch of remixes recently, including a Kazakhstani band, Magic of the Nomads. There’s a lot of stuff coming out at the moment. You’re on the Dingo program twice, one solo and one with Close Counters. How does your head get around that – I’m doing this now, I’m doing that later? Energetically, my music is a little more dynamic and jazzy and instrumental, and then Close Counters is much more of a dance, kind of a funky, party act. They’re different energies, but Close Counters suits the later evening a lot more as people get into it. Having a little break in between definitely helps. It’s just putting on different hats. They’re kind of somewhat related – they’re a lot of my compositions – but sometimes you just need different outlets. Do you think having all those different outlets makes you a better, more well-rounded musician? I think so. Being able to approach music as a whole, no matter what genre, there are these overarching values and concepts you can apply to anything. And I think with my wellbeing, it helps doing a few different projects, because I never get bored with something. I find it very easy to become inspired, and having a few things going means there’s always a new avenue for expression. If I don’t feel like making a spiritual jazz record, I might be more in the mood to make a house record. Even though they might be different worlds and different settings, there’s a lot more overlap – and overlap in the audience as well. Especially this festival: if you’re into this thing, you’re probably into that thing. They might not be anywhere near the same kinds of rhythms, but it still exists on more of a valuesbased sort of thing.
Who are your jazz inspirations? Too many! But I could speak to recently seeing the amazing Brazilian pianist Amaro Freitas. It was one of the most incredible performances I’ve seen recently. Just the way he incorporated the sounds of the Brazilian rainforest in a musical sense, through an atmospheric way of playing, but also very technical and playful. Being deep as well as playful at the same time are things I aspire to. Arthur Verocai, who’s maybe jazzadjacent but very much a cinematic composer, and of course Bill Evans and Herbie Hancock. Chick Corea was a massive inspiration of mine. People who have explored electronic and more acoustic stuff, who aren’t afraid to go outside the box – that sweet spot of the early ‘70s, experimenting with synthesizers and fusion. I really love the sound of that era. And of course our local legend Barney McCall has been a big inspiration, the way he infuses a lot of gospel and Cuban inspirations. Many eras of music – rock ’n’ roll, folk, new wave… they are often stuck in their time zones. Is jazz still moving and growing with the times? I think so. In the last ten years it’s become less of a taboo word, especially in Australia. It used to be quite an old sound, old-timey. People used to associate it with old white men for some reason. It’s definitely had a new wave. It’s hard to say why, but we’ve had a lot of rock music at the forefront of Australian music, and now that hip hop and jazz, and all these adjacent things have taken over a bit, it’s cool again. Young people are much more interested. It’s so expressive with so many avenues for expression, a never-ending wormhole of discovery. Speaking of worms – what’s your current earworm? I’ve been at a wedding over the weekend, so every pop song known to man has been going around in my head. ‘Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough.’ There was a bunch of MJ songs. On a daily basis I often have a two-bar loop of a song going around in my head until I get sick of it. So tell us about your involvement with the festival? A little while ago Si hit me up saying he’d love to organise a show for me in the Northern Rivers, and then the conversation gradually evolved into him organising this much bigger thing and getting all of my favourite Aussie acts involved. So it feels like a big family affair. A lot of people who have inspired me coming up through the Melbourne scene over the last ten years are playing. I’ll be playing on the Saturday as my own project, and then as Close Counters later in the evening.
What will you be bringing – new material or old? I’ll be playing stuff off the new EP, Feel The Sun, as well as stuff off Dawn Is A Melody which was my first album, out a couple of years ago. A mixed bag. And with Close Counters we’ve got a four- or fivepiece playing stuff off Lover’s Dance Academy, our most recent album. We’ve got a new one in the works as well. We’ll be bringing the live band along for that. Festivals are dropping like flies. How important is it that punters support them? Incredibly important. I couldn’t put my heart behind it more. Festivals have this beautiful ability to create a shift in one’s consciousness and psyche and emotional wellbeing, and people just forget that. When we have the option of being on the internet browsing the whole weekend, or manifesting new forms of art and being involved in-person, in real life – now more than ever, with our digital tech age, I think it’s so important to be there in person, soaking up and experiencing things happening in real time. Especially something like Dingo. They’re really taking a few risks, but there’s going to be a lot of incredible stuff happening. You’ve got to be willing to put yourself out there and make it a bit experimental and allow the audience to be part of it. It’s very collaborative. I’m anticipating a very beautiful coming together of people from many different walks of life. Anyone in particular you’re looking forward to seeing? Oh, so many – so many of my favourite acts. I’ll be watching David Versace, Coco Maria, Allysha Joy – who’s also my partner, Barney McCall obviously, and Miss Kaninna, who I’ve produced a couple of songs for in the past. There’s so many more! Finn, are you having enough fun? I think so. I’d like to keep this level of fun – that’s a deep question. If you asked me on a Tuesday I might have a different answer, or a Thursday. But it’s a Sunday, and I feel very full. I’ve seen a lot of friends over the last few days. As a creative artist, we can switch into working at almost any point in the day, so it needs to be self-directed to actually take us out of our work and enjoy ourselves. Over the last month? I probably need to have some more fun.
You can have fun with Finn Rees at Dingo festival on Saturday, 10 October. To find out more, visit: dingofestival.com. www.echo.net.au
Seven days of entertainment
GIG GUIDE WEDNESDAY 23 ■ BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 6PM LILLI FAIRFAX BAND
■ NORTH BYRON HOTEL 5PM JEROME WILLIAMS
■ BRUNSWICK HEADS PICTURE HOUSE 7PM CHEEKY CABARET
■ PALACE CINEMAS, BYRON BAY, ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL
■ THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 7PM KANE MUIR BAND + DUELING PIANOS, 7PM LILLI SHEEN
■ WANDANA BREWING CO., MULLUMBIMBY, 4PM DJ DARLAN
■ OTTILIES, MULLUMBIMBY, 6PM MONDO HUM JAZZ ENSEMBLE ■ COOLANGATTA HOTEL 5PM JASON DELPHIN
THURSDAY 24
Stone & Wood’s kitchen is getting in on it too, with Bavarianinspired specials to go with the beer (as it should be), and Byron Bay Pretzels will be on hand with the real deal – soft, salty, perfect for mopping up a Dunkel. Add in live music all weekend from the Rhinelanders and you’ve got a pretty good excuse to spend a couple of days at your favourite local brewery. No need to dress up (though they won’t stop you if you’ve got lederhosen). Just come thirsty. Stone & Wood’s Oktoberfest is on all day Saturday, 3 October and Sunday, 4 October, all day at the Stone & Wood Byron Bay Brewery. Free entry.
to post your gig in the Echo Gig Guide
■ LENNOX HOTEL 7PM DRUNK MUMS ■ BRUNSWICK HEADS PICTURE HOUSE 7PM CHEEKY CABARET ■ WANDANA BREWING CO., MULLUMBIMBY, 4PM DJ MOCCHI ■ MIDDLE PUB, MULLUMBIMBY, 5.30PM BALCONY BEATS + KRAPPYOKEE WITH JESS
■ RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, HILLBILLY SKANK DUO
■ THE TOP PUB, MULLUMBIMBY, 7PM MATTHEW ARMITAGE DUO
■ BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 6PM LECIA LOUISE W/ CORNER POCKET
■ DRILL HALL THEATRE, MULLUMBIMBY, 7.30PM HOT SHORTS! 2026
■ PALACE CINEMAS, BYRON BAY, ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL
■ ST JOHN’S SCHOOL HALL, MULLUMBIMBY, 7.30PM ECSTATIC DANCE MULLUM WITH DJ SEIJIN
■ THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 6PM DAN HANNAFORD + DJ RENEE SIMONE + DUELING PIANOS
The brewery’s head brewer Caolan Vaughan just got back from Germany with a serious appetite for the real thing and a notebook full of ideas. So for one weekend only, Stone & Wood is pouring six German-style beers brewed just for the occasion: a crisp Pilsner, a Kölsch, a Hefeweizen, a smoky Rauchbier, a Festbier and a rich Dunkel. Something for everyone, whether you’re new to German beer or you know your Helles from your Hefe.
■ BALLINA RSL 6PM ADAM GARDINER
■ ELEMENTS OF BYRON 5PM GUY & NICCI
■ THE PADDOCK PROJECT, MULLUMBIMBY, 4PM JAM AND CURRY OPEN MIC
Grab your steins and throw on your lederhosen, Stone & Wood is doing Oktoberfest properly this year.
■ LENNOX HOTEL 9PM EPIC
■ RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, SLIM PICKENS
■ THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 6PM FELICITY LAWLESS + DUELING PIANO BAR
Prost, Byron! Oktoberfest is back
■ PALACE CINEMAS, BYRON BAY, ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL
■ GARDEN BAR, BYRON BAY, 7.30PM TEMPLE OF FIRE ■ FOXY LUU’S @ COORABELL HALL 5.30PM RAHEL ■ BALLINA RSL 7PM THE BIG GIG COMEDY NIGHT
■ OCEAN SHORES TAVERN 5.30PM OPEN MIC AT THE TAV ■ BEXHILL HALL 6.30PM ORK LIZ ■ MURWILLUMBAH SERVICES CLUB 6PM DAVE CAVANAGH ■ CONDONG BOWLS CLUB 7PM HINT OF SWING BIG BAND
■ MIDDLE PUB, MULLUMBIMBY, 6PM JOHN HILL PIANO BAR ■ DRILL HALL THEATRE, MULLUMBIMBY, 7.30PM HOT SHORTS! 2026 ■ OCEAN SHORES TAVERN 8PM NATHAN KAYE ■ BILLINUDGEL HOTEL 6.45PM HASHIMOTO’S CACTUS ■ ELTHAM HOTEL 7PM EMILY LUBITZ, MANDY HAWKES, ABBIE CARDWELL, GENNA PYEWACKETT & CHRISTINA WEBSTER ■ CORAKAI MEMORIAL BOWLS CLUB 7PM SONIC FX ■ KINGSCLIFF BEACH BOWLS 1PM ROCKIN’ RON ■ SALTBAR, KINGSCLIFF, 6PM KANE MUIR ■ CLUB TWEED 7.30PM OFF THE GRID ■ MO’S DESERT CLUBHOUSE, GOLD COAST, 2PM PEACH FUR, CHEAP FAKES, WOODHILL, ROXFERRY, KARL S WILLIAMS & BOOF HEADS
SUNDAY 27
■ HOTEL BRUNSWICK 6PM TAHLIA MATHESON
■ RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, ANDY JANS BROWN DUO
■ BRUNSWICK HEADS PICTURE HOUSE 7PM CHEEKY CABARET
■ SALTBAR, KINGSCLIFF, 5.30PM CHRIS PALMER
■ BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 4.30PM SOFT TREADLY, 7PM DJ LONGTIME
■ SAINT MARIES, BRUNSWICK HEADS, MONDO HUM JAZZ ENSEMBLE ■ DRILL HALL THEATRE, MULLUMBIMBY, 6PM JAMIE LENA AND GRACIANA HOLLAND, 7.30PM HOT SHORTS! 2026
■ CLUB TWEED 7.30PM CHARLIE BRAVO ■ COOLANGATTA HOTEL 5PM ALTER EGOS + ULTIMATE SUPERSTARS OF COUNTRY + DIV 4, 5PM REKLESS + DON ROGERS BAND
SATURDAY 26
■ PEARCES CREEK HALL 6PM JAMIE LENA KERSLAKE WITH GRACIANA HOLLAND
■ RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, THE SWAMP CATS
■ ELTHAM HOTEL 6PM IRISH FOLK JAM
■ BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 5PM DJ LONGTIME
■ LISMORE CITY BOWLO 7PM THE SUPPER CLUB SOUL BAND
■ BYRON THEATRE 2PM & 7PM BRIGHT LIGHTS – GREASE THE MUSICAL
FRIDAY 25
■ PALACE CINEMAS, BYRON BAY, ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL
■ BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 5PM LACHIE DWYER, 9PM MADISON KAT
■ THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 7PM JB’S BLUES BREAKERS + DJ OREN SELECTA + DUELING PIANOS + HYPNOTIZE, 7PM CATH SIMES
■ BYRON THEATRE 7PM BRIGHT LIGHTS – GREASE THE MUSICAL
■ WILLIAMS STREET KITCHEN & BAR, LENNOX HEAD, 5.30PM GUY & NICCI
■ RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, JB’S BLUES BREAKERS
■ PALACE CINEMAS, BYRON BAY, ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL ■ THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 5PM DIZZY J + VINYL SUNDAYS FT. ERIC DOWNER + DUELING PIANOS ■ COMMON PEOPLE BREWING, BANGALOW, 5PM THIRST TRAP, MOPOKE & SERENA ROSE ■ LENNOX HOTEL 4PM FRONT UP ■ BALLINA RSL 10AM THE BALLINA COUNTRY MUSIC CLUB ■ SHAWS BAY HOTEL, BALLINA, 3PM THE NINTH CHAPTER ■ HOTEL BRUNSWICK 4PM DAVID MCCREDIE ■ BRUNSWICK HEADS PICTURE HOUSE 2PM LIL’ CHEEKY, 6PM CHEEKY CABARET ■ MULLUMBIMBY EX-SERVICES CLUB 3PM OPEN MIC WITH THE SWAMP CATS ■ MIDDLE PUB, MULLUMBIMBY, 3.30PM HARRY NICHOLS
PALACE BYRON BAY
SPECIAL SCREENINGS SESSION TIMES THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 24 TO WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 30
AVENGERS: ENDGAME ENCORE (M)
Thurs, Fri: 7:15PM. Sat, Sun: 3:00PM Fri, Sat, Sun: 1:30PM
TRAINSPOTTING (R18+) CULT VAULT NOW SHOWING
Mon: 6:30PM
VERITY (CTC) MOVIE MIXER Wed: 7:00PM
FAMILY FILMS COYOTE VS. ACME (PG) NOW SHOWING
Daily except Mon: 10:30AM, 12:50PM, 5:20PM. Mon: 10:30AM, 12:50PM, 6:20PM
Daily: 11:00AM, 12:45PM, 3:30PM
7:20PM. Wed: 10:30AM, 5:30PM
Daily: 10:30AM, 12:45PM
Daily except Mon: 6:00PM
THE LAST WHALE SINGER (PG) NFT THE INVITE (MA15+)
ALL FILMS
THE ODYSSEY (M)
Thurs, Fri, Mon, Tues: 3:00PM, 7:00PM. Sat, Sun: 10:50AM, Daily: 1:00PM, 3:45PM, 6:20PM 7:00PM. Wed: 3:00PM, 7:20PM
CHARLIE HARPER (M) NFT
WEIGHT (MA15+) HEART OF THE BEAST (M) NFT THE Daily: 8:30PM Daily: 11:15AM, 1:30PM, 4:00PM, 6:15PM, 8:30PM
PRACTICAL MAGIC 2 (M) Daily: 10:50AM, 2:40PM, 3:40PM, 7:30PM
TONY (MA15+)
Daily except Wed: 2:10PM, 8:30PM. Wed: 1:30PM, 8:30PM
RESIDENT EVIL (MA15+)
Thurs, Fri, Tues, Wed: 3:00PM, 6:20PM, 8:20PM. Sat, Sun: Daily: 11:15AM, 1:40PM, 5:00PM 3:00PM, 6:30PM, 8:30PM. Mon: 3:00PM, 6:10PM, 8:30PM
www.echo.net.au
SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY (M)
Daily except Wed: 10:50AM, 4:45PM. Wed: 10:50AM, 4:05PM Thurs, Fri, Mon: 11:10AM,
It will appear in the paper, the online gig guide and on Bay FM
SCAN TO BOOK ONLINE
■ RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, RESONANT HAND ■ BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 6PM HARRY NICHOLS ■ PALACE CINEMAS, BYRON BAY, ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL ■ THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 6PM JEROME WILLIAMS + DUELING PIANOS ■ KINGSCLIFF BEACH BOWLS 12PM THE HITMEN
TUESDAY 29 ■ RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, SAM BUCKLEY ■ BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 6PM MATTHEW ARMITAGE ■ PALACE CINEMAS, BYRON BAY, ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL ■ CASA LUNA, BYRON BAY, 6PM HUSH POETRY ■ THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 6PM MARSHALL O’KELL + DUELING PIANOS
WEDNESDAY 30 ■ RAILWAY HOTEL, BYRON BAY, LACHLAN JACQUES ■ BEACH HOTEL, BYRON BAY, 6PM NOAH ROBINSON ■ PALACE CINEMAS, BYRON BAY, ITALIAN FILM FESTIVAL ■ THE NORTHERN, BYRON BAY, 6PM HAYLEY GRACE + DUELING PIANO BAR ■ BANGALOW HOTEL OPEN MIC WITH SLIM PICKENS ■ THE PADDOCK PROJECT, MULLUMBIMBY, 4PM JAM AND CURRY OPEN MIC
■ OTTILIES, MULLUMBIMBY, 6PM MONDO HUM JAZZ ENSEMBLE ■ PEARCES CREEK HALL 6PM THOSE FOLK & KRIS MIZZI ■ KINGSCLIFF BEACH BOWLS 6.30PM KINGY COMEDY
BALLINA FAIR CINEMAS
SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE BEAST 5:30PM. Sat, Sun: 5:30PM, 7:15PM. Tues: 11:10AM, 5:30PM, OF MOSSY BOTTOM (G) NFT
FORGOTTEN ISLAND (PG)
PAW PATROL - THE DINO MOVIE (G)
■ DRILL HALL THEATRE, MULLUMBIMBY, 5PM HOT SHORTS! 2026 ■ BACCO WINE BAR, MULLUMBIMBY, 6PM ROD MURRAY JAZZ ■ OCEAN SHORES COUNTRY CLUB 3PM OPEN MIC WITH DR BAZ ■ BILLINUDGEL HOTEL 1PM MANDY HAWKES ■ ELTHAM HOTEL 4PM BELLA FRANKIE ■ KINGSCLIFF SURF CLUB 3PM JON J BRADLEY ■ CLUB TWEED 1PM RAVIE, 2PM TOM ROBERTS ■ COOLANGATTA HOTEL 4.30PM THE JACKS
MONDAY 28
■ KINGSCLIFF BEACH HOTEL 5PM BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES
THE GREAT ARCH (PG) PREVIEW SCREENINGS
email gigs@echo.net.au with the details
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
FOR ALL ITALIAN FF SESSIONS, PLEASE VISIT ITALIANFILMFESTIVAL.COM.AU
COYOTE VS. ACME (PG) Daily: 9:40AM, 1:50PM
FORGOTTEN ISLAND (PG)
Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun: 9:45AM, 11:40AM. Mon, Tues, Wed: 9:45AM, 12:00PM
HEART OF THE BEAST (M) NFT
Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun: 4:20PM, 6:30PM. Mon, Tues, Wed: 1:45PM, 4:20PM, 6:30PM
PAW PATROL - THE DINO MOVIE (G)
Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun: 2:00PM. Mon, Tues, Wed: 11:45AM
PRACTICAL MAGIC 2 (M)
Daily except Wed: 4:00PM, 6:00PM. Wed: 4:00PM
RESIDENT EVIL (MA15+)
Daily: 4:00PM, 6:40PM
SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE BEAST OF MOSSY BOTTOM (G) NFT Daily: 12:00PM, 2:30PM
THE LAST WHALE SINGER (PG) NFT Daily: 9:30AM
VERITY (CTC) MOVIE MIXER Wed: 7:00PM
6686 9600 BALLINA FAIR • 6680 8555 BYRON BAY
September 23, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 29
Classifieds
North Coast news online
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
PUBLIC NOTICES
WHERE TO GET THE ECHO
*** If you live in NEWRYBAR, LENNOX HEAD, BALLINA MAIN ARM, BILLINUDGEL, LISMORE but outside our current home delivery area, you can pick up an Echo from many locations.
www.echo.net.au/ classified-ads
Epiq Marketplace Hutley Dr Lennox *** MULLUMBIMBY Mullumbimby IGA; Mullumbimby Newsagent; Liberty and Carsburgs servos, Echo office stand. *** BYRON BAY Byron Bay Newsagent, Community Centre, supermarkets, cafes, servos etc *** ALSO: FEDERAL Store MAIN ARM Store BILLINUDGEL Newsagent BILLINUDGEL General Store & Pub CRABBES CREEK Store NEW BRIGHTON Store OCEAN SHORES Country Club
HEALTH
FIRST SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH
BEETU FULL BODY MASSAGE A divine experience. Nurturing, healing, regen. 28 yrs exp. Lucy 0427917960
• Sausage sizzle • Hot dogs • Sandwiches • Coffee & tea • Fruit Salad
KINESIOLOGY
Clear subconscious sabotages. Reprogram patterns and beliefs. Restore vibrancy and physical health. De-stress. 0403125506 SANDRA DAVEY, Reg. Pract.
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
Supporting humans of all ages to thrive. Stress, sleep, learning, behaviour, posture, muscles, healthy emotions, trauma release & more...
HYPNOSIS & NLP
Over 30 years of experience WendyPurdey.com. Ph 0497 090 233
Proposed Road Disposal Section 152D Roads Act 1993 In accordance with section 152D of the Roads Act 1993, notice is hereby given of the proposed sale of the Crown public roads listed in Schedule 1. If a sale proceeds, the road(s) will cease to be a public road upon transfer of the road to freehold land in accordance with section 152H of the Act. Schedule 1: • Crown roads at Ewingsdale, adjoining property at 168 Kennedys Lane. (File ref: 20/00497, Cluster: 685809)
Any person is entitled to make submissions with respect to the sale or disposal of the road. Please note that submissions may be referred to third parties (such as council or the applicant) for consideration in accordance with the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009. Som
Psychotherapy
atic Prac tice
Body Base d
Psychother
AG0591
Julie Wells
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
(nee Mannix)
ons Pty. Ltd . For further enquiries please visit the website Ph: 02 66 85 5185 Dip.Som.Psych, Clinical PACFA Reg. https://roads.crownland.nsw.gov.au/ or contact Tracey Mobile: 04 01 277 68 Individual and Couple Therapy 8 Ward by email at tracey.ward@crownland.nsw.gov.au or Supervision and Coaching on T:02 4904 2576 quoting file references above. (02) 6685 5185 9 Fletcher St, Byron Bay
Experienced Professional Trainer
WANTED TO RENT
BIRTHDAYS
BED IN SMALL ROOM, Tweed Heads or Coolangatta after losing accom of 20yrs. Close walk to Twin Towns. Male, 80yrs, DBA, RSL. Active push biker. References. Non smoker, non drinker. No use of kitchen, phone, lounge, tv, garage. No friends arrive. $120pw, month in advance, month bond. No animals. Mike 0432187105
Happy Birthday Renee
Summerland Environmental
The Liquid Waste Specialists! • Septic tank cleaning • Grease trap servicing • Oily Liquids • Portable toilet hire • 24 hour service
6687 2880
TREE SERVICES LEAF IT TO US - Tree Care Specialists Local, qualified, insured, free quotes. Big to small we enjoy it all 0402487213
LOCAL REMOVAL
20 years local experience • 19 inch chipper • Stump grinding • Cherry picker • Crane truck • Bob Cat
Fully insured • Free quotes
WANTED TREE FERNS Any shape, size. Royalties paid. Ongoing supply needed. 0414904396 LP RECORDS: good condition, no op shop crap! Matt 0401955052
GARAGE SALES
HUGE SALE
Sat 26th September. KNOCKROW 450 Hinterland Way. Tools. Furniture. Homewares etc Shed full of bargains. Everything must go.
MASSIVE COMBINED SALE
Sat 8am-2pm Byron: 47 Sunrise Blvde Tools, furniture, clothes, household etc
contact@thinkblinkdesign.com www.thinkblinkdesign.com
[
STUDIO WITH AMENITIES Upstairs, Billinudgel $402pw Ph Lifestyle Group 66851206 MULLUM Lge room/ ensuite, $350pw. 0408547654
POSITIONS VACANT
TAXI DRIVERS WANTED Flexible work hours – perfect 2nd income Email operations@byronbaytaxis.com
BOOKKEEPER
wanted for cafe operation, Xero invoice entry, 3-5 hours per week. Please call Michael 0435 646 365
VOLUNTEERS WANTED
Much Love Joanne and Dad.
5 0 HAPPY BIRTHDAY
LOVE FROM THE CREW
SUN, MOON & TIDES
– TIMES FOR NEXT 2 WEEKS
UPHOLSTERY
FABRIC SALE CASH ONLY Sat 26 Sept from 8am. 21 Brigantine St Byron Arts/Ind Estate.
• Photoshop • Indesign • Illustrator
TO LEASE
LADIES WANTED, MUST BE 18+ Work available in busy adult parlour. Travellers welcome. 66816038 for details.
FOR SALE
Body Based
0408 210 772
Septic Waste Removal
Now available again in private practice Individual and Relationship Therapy 0403 730 304 awarecounselling.com.au
Certified Mindfulness Educator Paul Bibby 0401 926 090
Adobe Tutoring
& backloads to Brisbane. Friendly, with 10 years local exp. 0409917646
0427 347 380
Bring greater focus, clarity and calm into your workplace.
TUITION
TRADEWORK
Masti Adler
Mindfulness @ Work
All interested persons are hereby invited to make submissions concerning the proposal or to Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure - Crown Lands, PO Box 2215, DANGAR NSW 2309 within twenty-eight (28) days of the date of this advertisement.
WORDPRESS WEBSITE CREATION Fair rates info@wordpressit.com.au
TO LET
0413 003 301
Simple and effective solutions. Anxiety, Cravings, Fears & Trauma. Maureen Bracken 0402205352
Corner of Cherry & Crane. Just behind the Presbyterian Church.
WORK WANTED
www.katemessengerkinesiology.com.au
HYPNOSIS & EFT
In the Ballina Presbyterian Hall
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.
Tip Runs & Rubbish Removal
Prepayment is required for all ads.
COMMUNITY FREE HOT BRUNCH
30 The Byron Shire Echo September 23, 2026
Echo Classies also appear online:
Cash, cheque, Mastercard or Visa
For example: LISMORE: Dragonfly Cafe NEWRYBAR: Newrybar Providore *** BALLINA Richies IGA Ballina, Ballina RSL, One Stop Shop Ballina, Ballina Golf Club East Ballina, Brighton St Takeaway near The Shawsy *** LENNOX HEAD IGA Lennox Head, Seagrass Lennox, Lennox pub drive-through, Station St Grocer Lennox,
For the Manager, Divestments
CLASSIFIEDS THAT WORK ALL WEEK!
DISCLAIMER
DATE DAY, SUN MOON HIGH Sept / MOON RISE / RISE / TIDES, Oct PHASE SET SET height (m)
1st Byron Bay Scout Group
Volunteers needed. Any age, any skill to continue the adventure. CONTACT SAM AT GL.1stByronBay@nsw.scouts.com.au www.1st-byron-bay.group.scoutsnsw.com.au
Mullumbimby & District Neighbourhood Centre 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
LOW TIDES, height (m)
5:34 14:24 05:57 1.12 00:13 0.41 23 W 17:42 3:22 18:20 1.54 11:37 0.40 5:33 15:22 06:36 1.22 00:45 0.33 24 TH 17:42 3:55 18:58 1.59 12:19 0.32
25 F
5:32 16:20 07:14 1.33 01:14 0.26 17:43 4:26 19:32 1.61 13:00 0.26
5:31 17:19 07:52 1.43 01:43 0.19 26 SA 17:43 4:56 20:07 1.60 13:40 0.23 5:29 18:20 08:31 1.52 02:12 0.15 27 SU 17:44 5:26 20:42 1.55 14:22 0.21 5:28 19:23 09:11 1.59 02:43 0.12 28 M 17:45 5:58 21:17 1.46 15:06 0.23 5:27 20:30 09:53 1.64 03:15 0.13 29 TU 17:45 6:34 21:56 1.35 15:55 0.28 5:26 21:38 10:38 1.65 03:51 0.17 30 W 17:46 7:15 22:38 1.22 16:48 0.35 5:25 22:47 11:27 1.62 04:30 0.23 1 TH 17:46 8:03 23:28 1.08 17:53 0.43
2
F
5:24 23:52 05:15 0.32 12:25 1.58 17:47 8:59 19:13 0.49
5:22 00:34 0.98 06:16 0.40 3 SA 17:47 10:02 13:36 1.53 20:40 0.49 6:21 1:51 03:07 0.93 08:40 0.46 4 SU 18:48 12:09 15:57 1.53 23:00 0.44 6:20 2:42 04:41 0.99 5 M 18:48 13:18 17:10 1.56 10:09 0.44 6:19 3:25 05:50 1.10 00:00 0.36 6 TU 18:49 14:25 18:11 1.60 11:24 0.38 6:18 4:03 06:45 1.24 00:47 0.28 7 W 18:49 15:29 19:02 1.62 12:26 0.31 Data sourced from Bureau of Meteorology. Times adjusted for Daylight Savings when applicable.
www.echo.net.au
Classifieds / Community at Work PETS
shady
PET SITTER AVAILABLE Kind, confident animal carer available for your four-legged fur baby. References available. Call Pawla on 0415340744
DESEX YOUR PETS Help reduce unwanted litters of kittens and puppies. The AWL can assist you with the cost of desexing,. Together we can make a difference! Please call us on 0436 845 542. Please be a responsible pet owner & save lives. To meet our cats & kittens, please contact the Cat Adoption Centre at 124 Dalley Street, Mullumbimby. OPEN: Tues 2.30-4.30pm Thurs 3-5pm Sat 10am-12 noon. Call AWL 0436 845 542 Like us on Facebook!
AWL NSW Rehoming Organisation Number: R251000222
Byron Dog Rescue (CAWI)
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
CAN YOU SPARE 3 HOURS ONCE A WEEK OR ONCE A MONTH? Every minute of your time helps towards re-homing dogs, desexing dogs, and helping people in desperate situations with housing and difficult home lives. Please call Astro (shop manager) at 0492 861 905 or visit the shop to chat about helping us to help dogs in need
Meet Shady, a very sweet, easy-going sedentary young lad, who just loves a cuddle! Ok with dogs, cats, and children. Gorgeous seal point colour and ragdoll breeding, medium size, 4 1/2 years old. Book an appointment now to see your potential new family member! Microchip 991003001951766 d.o.b 20/1/2022 Desexed and vaccinated 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!
DEADLINE NOON FRIDAY
KRYSTAL ADULT SHOP Large variety of toys and lingerie 6/6 Tasman Way, A&I Est, Byron Bay 0416 899 048
Culinary obsession and sensual comedy come together in a Japanese masterpiece, the much acclaimed Tamporo (1985) for the next Drill Hall Film Society screening on Wednesday, 23 September at 6.30. The film follows a charismatic truck driver who helps a determined widow transform her noodle shop into a hugely successful venture. Subscriptions are due and can be paid on the Trybooking site or in cash at the door. Annual membership is $75 and includes associate membership for The Drill Hall Theatre. All enquiries to drillhallfilms@gmail.com.
alteros.com.au byronbayshibari.com 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.
Who gives a Cluck? Adopt a Rooster. Corey (#87) along with his 2 friends, Travis (#88) and Nick (#89) were dumped on the side of the road at Uki a few weeks ago. They are beautiful large boys. Easy going, friendly. They are twice or more the size of ISA Brown hens, Rhode Island Reds, crosses. Check them all out by this link. whogivesacluck.org/shop/roosters-toadopt/ whogivesacluck.org @whogivesacluck
The Echo’s Market Guide Find it online: www.echo.net.au/market-guide
MONTHLY MARKETS:
mr magoo
www.byrondogrescue.org
Mr Magoo is a 2.5 year old, Dingo/Cattle X. This clever boy is looking for an active home with good fencing, where he’ll have plenty of space to run and explore. He would do best as the only dog in the home. Location: Murwillumbah M/C # 991003001704141 For more information contact Yvette on 0421 831 128. Please complete our online adoption expression of interest. friendsofthepound.com/adoptionexpression-of-interest/ Visit friendsofthepound.com to view other dogs and cats looking for a home.
MR CAT
ABN 83 126 970 338
Mr Cat is a handsome almost nine-year-old, silver fox looking for mature companionship. I’m calm and independent. Not your cuddly lap cat but I do like to hang with humans. I’m quiet, well-mannered and hoping to settle into a safe, peaceful home. If you think you and I could make the perfect housemates, then call or email the folks at NRAS and set up a time to meet. Rehoming #R251 00 00 60
T: 6681 1860 E: shelter@nras.org.au W: www.nras.org.au
www.echo.net.au
On The Horizon
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:
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.
Email copy marked ‘On The Horizon’ to editor@echo.net.au.
Film Society Mullum
Ork Liz global dance party Ork Liz (also known as Orkeztar Lizmoré) a mixed abilities ensemble that plays tunes from around the world will be at Bexhill Hall on Friday, 25 September from 6.30pm. Entry by donation (suggested $10 pp) kids free, with food by Il Carretto Pizza. Come and join the fun.
Spring Fling Join Byron Bay Seniors for a joyful Spring Fling this Thursday, celebrating the beginning of spring and honouring the end of winter as we welcome the warmth and light of the new season. Taking place from 1pm to 3pm at the Byron Community Cabin, Carlyle Street, Byron Bay tickets are $10 at the door.
Devonshire tea Come along to the Crowley Show Day and treat yourself to a traditional
Devonshire tea hosted by Crowley Care Auxiliary. Enjoy fresh-baked scones whilst supporting initiatives for our elderly on Thursday, 8 October at the Crowley activity centre, 154 Cherry Street, Ballina from 10am to 2pm.
Free coach trip to Murwillumbah Looking for a fun mid-week outing? Together She Thrives is taking local women on a free coach trip to Murwillumbah on Wednesday, 30 September to explore the Murwillumbah Farmers Markets and enjoy an op shop crawl through the CBD. Sit back and let us do the driving while you browse the markets, discover some second-hand treasures, explore local shops and enjoy a relaxed day out with other women from the community. The coach departs from the Mullumbimby Netball Courts at 8.15am, returning at 2pm. Bookings are essential at www. togethershethrives.org.au.
Join the digital world If you are a senior, or know someone who is, who would like to feel more confident in navigating the digital world, be part of the free, fun basic digital skills sessions for seniors at Mullumbimby Library every Wednesday morning and Friday afternoon from 2 September through to 18 December. Covering such topics as getting to know your device, using it for entertainment and connection, and staying safe online. Phone (02) 6684 2992 to book a 40-minute session and learn how we can help you interact in this digital world.
Bruns CWA spring market CWA Brunswick Heads will be holding their spring market on Saturday, 26 September at their hall, corner of Park and Booyun Streets, Brunswick Heads, from 8am to 1pm. All your favourites: cakes, jams, pickles, craftwork, plants and flowers. Come early to avoid disappointment. Contact 0431 908 063.
Free teen girls creative connection day Together She Thrives is inviting teen girls aged 12–16 to a free creative connection day during the school holidays on Wednesday, 7 October. The relaxed morning will provide an opportunity for girls to step away from screens, meet others and enjoy a range of creative and social activities in a supportive environment. Activities will include macramé, knitting, crochet, painting, journaling, collage, colouring, board games and other activities, along with a clothes swap. The event will run from 9.30am to 12.30pm at Mullumbimby Community College, 6 Burringbar Street. For more information and registration, visit togethershethrives.org.au. Girls can also register on the day.
Bruns U3A Lifelong learning for retired folk in their 3rd age. Interest groups are Tuesday Forum, garden group, foodies, movie and lunch group, men’s shed, French revisited, Scottish folk dance, Mahjong, walker’s and talkers, Shabashi, chess, debating group, ukelele. The table tennis need more players phone Jane 0403 170 315. For more info phone Denise 0423 778 573 or info@ bvu3a.org.
Regular As Clockwork DEADLINE NOON FRIDAY
Please note that, owing to space restrictions, not all entries may be included each week. Email copy marked ‘Regular As Clockwork’ to editor@echo.net.au.
Mullumbimby District Neighbourhood Centre Mullumbimby & District Neighbourhood Centre is open Monday–Friday 9am–4pm (closed 12.30–1.30pm for lunch). We offer a variety of services. Everyone is welcome. Call reception on 6684 1286. Some of our services include: Flood recovery support service: personalised, long-term support for those impacted by the floods. Community support: food parcels, meals, showers, assistance with electricity bills. Work Development Orders. Listening Space: free counselling. More Than A Meal: free community lunch Tuesday–Thursday 12.30–1.30pm. Financial counselling Staying Home, Leaving Violence program: Information, referral, and advocacy. Gulganii affordable pantry shop: located at 3 Bridgeland Lane. Orange Sky: free laundry service Mon morning & Wed afternoon. To enquire about accessing any of these services call reception 6684 1286, check our website www.mdnc.org.au, or follow us on Facebook or Instagram. @ mullumbimbyneighbourhoodcentre.
Byron Community The Byron Community Centre provides community services and programs including meals, advocacy and counselling for locals in need. Fletcher Street Cottage: A welcoming, safe and respectful space where people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness can come to enjoy practical relief opportunities, find connections and access broader support. Fletcher Street Cottage services are open Tuesday–Friday;
breakfast 7am–9am; showers and laundry 7am–12pm; office support 9am–12pm. Individual support appointments with community workers and specialist services available please book on (02) 6685 7830. Fletcher Street Cottage, 18 Fletcher St, Byron Bay. More info: www.fletcherstreetcottage.com. au. Byron Seniors Club: www. byronseniors.com.au. More info on Community Services: www. byroncentre.com.au Phone: (02) 6685 6807.
Low-cost or free food Food Box Thursdays 9.30–11.30am at Uniting Church, Mullumbimby. You may purchase cheap food, obtain free veges, and enjoy a cuppa. The Hub Baptist Church in Ocean Shores has food relief available for anyone doing it tough, please contact us on 0434 677747 if you find yourself doing it tough. No ID or Concession Card required. NILs referral service also available. Check Facebook page The Hub Baptist Ocean Shores for details. Liberation Larder Takeaway lunches and groceries Monday and Thursday 12 till 1pm. Fletcher Street end of the Byron Community Centre.
Respite Service Byron Shire Respite Service delivers high-quality respite care to a broad range of clients throughout the Byron, Ballina and Lismore shires. Donations welcome: Ph 6685 1921, email fundraiser@byronrespite.com.au, website: www.byronrespite.com.au.
Alateen meeting Alateen meeting every Thursday at 5–6pm. Do you have a parent, close friend or relative with a drinking problem? Alateen can help. For 8–16-year-olds meet St Cuthbert’s Anglican Church Hall, 13 Powell Street,
corner of Florence Street Tweed Heads. Al-Anon family groups for older members at the same time and place. 1300 ALANON 1300 252 666 www. al-anon.org.au.
Drug support groups Call Alcoholics Anonymous 1800 423 431 or 0401 945 671 – 30 meetings a week in the Shire – www.aa.org.au. Are you experiencing difficulties and challenges because of the alcohol or drug use of someone close to you? Learn coping skills and gain support from others. Narcotics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem. We are recovering addicts who meet regularly to help each other stay clean. For information and meetings call 1300 652 820 or text your postcode to 0488 811 247. www. na.org.au. Are you concerned about somebody else’s drinking? Al-Anon Family Groups meetings held Fridays at 2pm by Zoom. 1300 252666 www. al-anon.org.au.
Support after suicide StandBy provides support to people who have lost someone to suicide. They provide free face-to-face and telephone support and are accessible 24/7. Follow-up contact is available for up to one year. Find out more at: www.standbysupport.com.au or call 13 11 14. If you, or someone you are with, are in need of immediate support please call an ambulance or police on 000.
Volunteer call out Support for New Mums Inc. a Northern NSW community program are recruiting volunteers in the Byron Shire. We offer a free of charge, home visiting program for mothers with babies. For more information email Deb: newmums8@gmail.com.
September 23, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 31
Service Directory
North Coast news online
BUILDING TRADES
ECHO SERVICE DIRECTORY RATES, PAYMENT & DEADLINE
• 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).
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
B&B Timbers 66867911
110 Teven Road, Ballina New logo - Same quality & service Structural – Landscaping Fencing – Composite Decking Hardwood – Pine – Hardware
COASTAL RESTORATIO
sales@bbtimbers.com.au
www.bbtimbers.com.au
MOULD KEEPS COMING BACK COASTAL RESTORATION COASTAL RESTORATION COASTAL RESTORATION COASTAL RESTORATION The problem may be underneath your h MOULD KEEPS COMING BACK? MOULD KEEPS COMING BACK? COOLMAN AIR CONDITIONING 36+ years exp. Lic 178464C AU30147.......................0422 291433 MOULD KEEPS BACK? Moisture &your Mould inspection MOULD KEEPS COMING COMING BACK? - $299 The problem may be underneath home ARTISAN AIR Airconditioning and refrigeration. ...............................................................66809394 The problem may be underneath your home www.echo.net.au/service-directory
SERVICE DIRECTORY INDEX Accountants & Bookkeepers.32 Handypersons..................... 33 Acupuncture....................... 32 Health................................ 33 Air Conditioning & Hypnotherapy..................... 33 Refrigeration...................... 32 Landscaping ....................... 33 Architects........................... 32 Painting.............................. 33 Automotive......................... 32 Pest Control........................ 33 Bicycle Repair..................... 32 Photography....................... 33 Blinds, Awnings, Curtains, Shutters.............................. 32 Physiotherapy..................... 33 Bricklaying.......................... 32 Picture Framing.................. 33 Building Trades................... 32 Plastering........................... 33 Bush Regeneration & Plumbers............................ 34 Weed Control...................... 32 Removalists........................ 34 Carpentry & Joinery............ 32 Roofing............................... 34 Cleaning............................. 32 Rubbish Removal................ 34 Computer Services.............. 32 Concreting & Paving............ 33 Self Storage........................ 34 Curtains.............................. 33 Solar Installation................ 34 Decks, Patios & Extensions... 33 Television Services.............. 34 Design & Drafting............... 33 Tiling.................................. 34 Driveway Maintenance........ 33 Tree Services....................... 34 Earthmoving & Excavation.. 33 Transportation Services....... 34 Electricians......................... 33 Upholstery.......................... 34 Fencing............................... 33 Valuers............................... 34 Floor Sanding & Polishing... 33 Veterinary Surgeons............ 34 Garden & Property Water Filters....................... 34 Maintenance....................... 33 Welding.............................. 34 Gas Fitters, Suppliers & Servicing............................ 33 Window Cleaning & Repairs.34 Guttering............................ 33 Window Tinting.................. 34
ARCHITECTS
Cinzel coastalrestoration.au Cinzel 0404Decorative 184 079 Cinzel Cinzel Decorative 0404 184 079 Cinzel Decorative 0404 184 Cinzel 0404Decorative 184 079 079 coastalrestoration.au
coastalrestoration.au BUILDER – JOHN MCGAURAN Personalised Service. 20 yrs exp. Lic 170208C........... 0415 793242 coastalrestoration.au coastalrestoration.au HAVEN BUILDING All aspects of building. Lic 326616C................................................0432 565060
AUTOMOTIVE
CARPENTER / JOINER 30 years experience. Prompt efficient service. Fully insured. Other licensed trades
WE PAY FOR
avail, incl plastering/painting etc. 24/7 Emergency 4WD call-out avail. Lic 43794C.........0423 500693
UNWANTED CARS
BUILDER very exp. All aspects: comm/residential + bthrm/ktchn renos Lic348357c.......0483 279644 BUILDER Asher Landini All aspects: building, renovations, extensions Lic498385c...........0488 150778
$50–$1500
6684 5296
Free metal drop off Locally owned
TRADIE DAN MULLUM - Building work/repairs under $5k.................................................0410 284550
BUSH REGENERATION & WEED CONTROL
ABSOLUTELY FREE
reforestnow.org.au
Bush Regen Tree Planting Native Forest Nursery Weed Management
CAR BODY REMOVAL CASH ON THE SPOT GUARANTEE
$50 – $1000
0461 164 911 enquiry@reforestnow.org.au
WE BUY UNWANTED CARS, UTES & VANS
PHONE 0466 113 333 24/7
CARPENTRY & JOINERY
EMAIL: enquires@adrians.com.au
BICYCLE REPAIR
ALL CARPENTRY Doors & stairs, all repairs. Reliable. 20 years exp...............................0437 202050
MOBILE BICYCLE REPAIRS & servicing. All bikes/e-bikes: twowheelstoday.com........0474 148450
BLINDS, AWNINGS, CURTAINS, SHUTTERS
LOCAL
SHOWCASE DEALER SHOWROOM SHOWCASE DEALER SHOWROOM
BLINDS
ACCOUNTANTS & BOOKKEEPERS BLOOMING BOOKKEEPING and BAS Agent................................................... Ph Leah 0434 121077 LOCAL
0404 184 079
OCEANARC ARCHITECTS Reg. 6042 www.oceanarc.com.au..........................................0412 251392
LOCAL
BOOKKEEPER Reg BAS provider, payroll, A/P, A/R. Xero & MYOB. Local, reliable..........0410 206627
Cinzel home The The problem problem may may be be underneath underneath your your home Moisture & Mould inspection -inspection $299 Decorative Cinzel Moisture & Mould $299 Cinzel Mould Moisture inspection Cinzel Moisture & & Mould inspection -- $299 $299
SKIP AIR: Airconditioning installation, servicing, repairs. Free quotes. 5-star rated......0406 485187
LOCAL
LOCAL
SHUTTERS
AWNINGS
CLEANING
P
Services List Locally owned and Operated (Low Pressure Softwashing) Residential and Commercial Houses, Gutters, Roofs, Awnings, No job too big or small Obligation free quote SUNSCREENSSolar panels, Retaining walls SUNSCREENS Driveways, Paths, Pavers, Fully insured Fences, Decks, Patios, CURTAINS AQUA PRESSURE CLEANING Pool areas.
SHOWCASE DEALER SHOWROOM
SUNSCREENS SHOWCASE DEALER SHOWROOM
SHOWCASE DEALER SHOWROOM 1/84 Centennial Circuit Byron Bay
1/84 Centennial Circuit Byron Bay
6680 8862
6680 8862
LOCAL
BYRON BAY CARPENTRY & CONSTR. Decks, kitchen, bath, laundry. Lic 337421c........0432 549082
SHOWCASE DEALER SHOWROOM
Bay F1/84 REECentennial MEASUCircuit RE QByron UOTE
6680 8862
mpSlU etR eE raQ ng fE FoRnEoEurMcEoA UeOoT
CURTAINS
CURTAINS
SUNSCREENS 0426 119 550 info@nraquapressurecleaning.com.au
ABN: 47576013867
SUNSCREENS
HOT WATER
SUNSCREENS PLANTATION SHUTTERS
CURTAINS
PRESSURE CLEANING
PLANTATION SHUTTERS
interior & exterior
on F oR urEcM ompletR e rQ an g e of CURTAINS wiE ndowEtArSeU atmEen tUsOTE PLANTATION SHUTTERS 1/84 Centennial Circuit Byron Bay ion t e r i o r & e x t e r i o n our complete rangr e of ROOF CLEANING & PAINTING • DECK RESTORATION CURTAINS SPECIALISTS IN HOME AUTOMATION CURTAINS AWNINGS riotr & tByron ee rn iotrsBay w inindtoew r eaetxm 1/84 Centennial Circuit 1/84 Centennial Circuit Byron Bay www.blinddesignbyronbay.com.au window treatments ROLL BLINDS
6 6 860 8AWNINGS 862 ROLL BLINDSCall or scan today 6 6 8 0 8 8 2 www.blinddesignbyronbay.com.au 6680 8862 SPECIALISTS IN HOME AUTOMATION
0431 409 045 • margraf.com.au
ACUPUNCTURE
SPECIALISTS IN HOM E AUTOM ATION
www.blinddesignbyronbay.com.au
AWNINGS
ATS UOTE SHUTTERS FREE MF ER ASE UE REM QE UO EURE QPLANTATION
Fr quote
ROLL BLINDS
ienn tm ee ritosfr & exterior on our compwlinedtoew r tra atg eno w n d ow treatments interiorSPECIALISTS & extINeHOME riio r BRICKLAYING AUTOMATION
AIR CONDITIONING & REFRIGERATION
45 Manns Road, Mullumbimby Lic: 299433C ARC: AU40492
www.blinddesignbyronbay.com.au window treatments
COMPUTER SERVICES
AWNINGS
SPECIALISTS IN HOM E AUTOM ATION
ROLL AWNINGS BLINDS
AWNINGS WALLFIX
www.blinddesignbyronbay.com.au SPECIALISTS IN HOM E AUTOM ATION
REMEDIAL
One-on-one, patient, experienced ROLL BLINDS teacher offering digital support for seniors needing help with phones, laptops and computers.
– Sales – Installation – Repairs www.blinddesignbyronbay.com.au ROLL BLINDS – All Commercial Refrigeration • 20 years’ experience in lintel replacement – Residential & Commercial • Crack stitching installation • Repointing Airconditioning • Retaining walls and all damaged brickwork – Coolroom Design & Construction Call: 0403 141 760 • Email: wallfixremedial@gmail.com – Freezer Rooms www.wallfixremedial.com.au
6684 2783
32 The Byron Shire Echo September 23, 2026
FCRTEAM.AU
PLANTATION SHUTTERS BETTY’S CLEANING & HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES............................................... Text 0476 984649 LUXURY BLINDS BYRON BAY Indoor & Outdoor Blinds, Motorised or Manual, Shade Awnings, o n o u r c o m p l e t e r a n g e o f o n o u r c o m p l e t e r a n g e o f FREE MEASURE QUOTE PLANTATION interBlinds. ior & exterioroResidential. r Zipscreen, Roman Commercial Free Quote & Measure................0480 304SHUTTERS 755 CLEAN AND GREEN BYRON residential cleaning. All areas.................................... 0494 823880
ACUPUNCTURE CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE M Collis..............................................0490 022183
Mullumbimby Refrigeration & Airconditioning Services
0455 573 554
Servicing the Northern Rivers Lic no. 292267C Master Builder No. 3029326
Phone or email: 0420 235 624 contact@thinkblinkdesign.com
BRICK/BLOCK LAYING Contractors. Lic 291958C. Phone Mark.........................................0409 444268 THE COMPUTER THERAPIST home callouts, repairs, Wi-Fi, printers, new PC setup......0422 697586
www.echo.net.au
Service Directory CONCRETING & PAVING
LANDSCAPING
SALISBURY
DARYL 0418 234 302 Over 30 yrs’ local experience. All forms of concreting. Residential • Civil • Industrial
Lic.136717c
CONCRETING SHAKA CONCRETING Driveways, sheds, slabs, p/ways, patios. Insured & Lic#391742C.....0402 728207
CURTAINS QUALITY CUSTOM MADE Curtains and Soft Furnishings. ............................Call Michelle 0412 771872
Swim Ponds, Landscaping, Water Features, Earth Moving JP ELECTRICAL All electrical. Level 2 ASP. Solar, data, TV, TV Antennas. Lic 133082C.....0432 289705
0448 401 638
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
FENCING EDL FENCING Installations & repairs. Prompt service. ...................................................0432 107262
DECKS, PATIOS & EXTENSIONS
FLOW FENCING Pool fencing, timber/colourbond, local, professional and reliable........0416 424256
DECK REFINISHING EVANS HEAD Customer satisfaction guaranteed..........................0413 786879
TOM’S FARM MAINTENANCE Fencing, orchards, cattle work. Experienced & reliable..0412 860132
FCR DECK SANDING, OILING Local, 12 years exp. 190x5-star reviews. Free quotes ... 0419 789600
FLOOR SANDING & POLISHING
DESIGN & DRAFTING MIRO HALFORD BUILDING DESIGN mirohalforddesign.com.......................................0402 613638
THE FLOOR SANDER New & old floors, decks, non-toxic finishes, special effects, free quotes..0407 821690
ROCKWALL CREATIONS
LIGHT SPACE DESIGN Interiors + building design. lightspacedesign.com.au...............0421 276996
GARDEN & PROPERTY MAINTENANCE
DRIVEWAY MAINTENANCE
• BUSH ROCK RETAINING WALLS • STEPS • EARTHWORKS • LICENSED & INSURED Lic #059505C
MULLUM.MOWING@gmail.com. Ride-on, large lawns & acreage. Ph Peter.................0423 756394
Designed and built by Roland Otte (Rolly)
GUTTERS CLEANED Solar panel cleaning, all areas, free quotes, fully insured..66841778 or 0405 922839
FREE QUOTES 0408 860 543
oast Asph alt st C Ea
admin@ecasphalt.com.au
ALL ASPECTS OF ASPHALT & BITUMEN SERVICES
6677 1859
SERVICING THE EAST COAST OF THE NSW NORTHERN RIVERS Burringbar
LEAF IT TO US Tree care specialists & acreage mowing...................................................0402 487213 TIP RUNS & RUBBISH REMOVALS 4m3 trailer..............................................................0408 210772
LEMONTREELANDSCAPES.COM.AU Liam. Lic 277154C...............................................0423 700853
PAINTING
RICK’S PROPERTY MAINTENANCE Mowing, brushcutting, gardening, hedging..........0424 805660 GREEN DINGO for all your mowing and gardening needs. Ph Michael..........................0497 842442 GW MOWING Ride-on /acreage. Tip runs...............................................Call George on 0408 244820
GAS FITTERS, SUPPLIERS & SERVICING
EARTHMOVING & EXCAVATION
www.rockwallcreations.com.au
STEEP SITE SPECIALIST
Professional Painter/Decorator •30+ Years Experience •Interior & Exterior •Reasonable Prices
TINY EARTHWOR Philip Toovey
0409 799 909
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
various implements available for limited access projects
GUTTERING ✔ Gutter guard ✔ Gutter cleaning ✔ Locally owned ✔ Fully insured ✔ Free quotes
CONSCIOUS EARTHWORKS
• DRAINAGE DESIGN • DRIVEWAYS • PADS • WATERWAYS • ALL ASPECTS OF EARTHMOVING Phone Zac: 0468 344 939 www.360earth.com.au Drainage Consultation & Installation
Call Junior for friendly, genuine advice and service.
www.spotlessgutters.com.au
0405 922 839 or AH 6684 1778 ABN 94 239 089 086
5T Excavator & Skidsteer
Landscaping Install & Supply
8 Tonne Tipper
Retaining & Rockwalls
Attachments:
Bulk & Green Waste Removal
Rock Grabber, Auger
All Earthworks Requirements
350/450, Compactor
BEN - 0499 985 555 License 479630C. Fully Insured.
HANDYPERSONS HANDY ANDY Carpentry, plastering, welding.......................................... 66884324 or 0476 600956
www.echo.net.au
Tree Faerie Fotos Professional • Commercial • Personal
ABSOLUTE HANDYMAN Repairs, renovation, maintenance, painting. Call Mark..........0402 281638
www.treefaeriefotos.com • 0417 427 518
A HANDY GUY All trades & small construction. Bruns, Ocean, SGB & Mullum................0411 858201
HEALTH AYURVEDA, NATUROPATH, Herbs, Jacinta McEwen – Om Healing...............................0422 387370
DOMESTIC ALL JOBS: SMALL COMMERCIAL OR LARGE 24 HOUR SERVICE Lic: 154293c
PHOTOGRAPHY
30+ years experience in commercial photography and photojournalism
ACUPUNCTURE & COSMETIC MEDICINE Dr Adam Osborne............................................66857366
0439 624 945 AH 02 6680 4173
Phone 02 6685 4490 • Email: service@sanctuarypest.com.au
AWESOME REPAIRS Professional, commercial & domestic. Wayne................................0423 218417
NORTHERN RIVERS TRENCHING 65hp chain trencher, excavator, cable locating & tpr..0402 716857 HOME MAINTENANCE Carpentry, painting, repairs, gardens, jet washing. Insured......0434 705506
ELECTRICIANS
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.
MASSAGE THERAPIST Sports, remedial, Swedish, relaxation. ................Contact Mark 0448 441194 ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE Jonathan Flantz. Mullumbimby. ...........................................0400 677672
HYPNOTHERAPY
PHYSIOTHERAPY OCEAN SHORES PHYSIOTHERAPY Manual therapies, dry needling, custom orthotics, shock wave therapy, real time ultrasound. Nigel Pitman.........................................................66803499
PICTURE FRAMING MULLUM PICTURE FRAMERS Studio located in Ocean Shores...................................0403 734791
PLASTERING PLASTERER, TRADE QUALIFIED repairs, renovations, cornices, quality assured. .Kurt 0431 015414 CAPE BYRON PLASTERING. Gyprock/Venetian. 30 yrs exp, free quotes, lic + insured.. 0402 538155
MOONLIGHT HYPNOTHERAPY QHHT, RTT for clarity, healing, insight, purpose. Teresa.0422 179941 PLASTERING cornices, partition walls, water damage repairs etc Guaranteed quality. 0413 338203
September 23, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 33
Service Directory
North Coast news online
PLUMBERS
TILING
Ben The Plumber
Servicing Mullumbimby, Ocean Shores, Brunswick Heads, Byron Bay & Surrounds 30 years’ experience Lic: 321191C
WALL & FLOOR TILER/WATERPROOFER/STONEMASON Lic 24418C. ............Ph Karl 0439 232434
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
BYRON BUS Co-
Taking on work NOW! 0427 528 108 | benwilton74@icloud.com MARK STRATTON All plumbing & emergency. Sewer drain camera/locator. Lic 57803C.....0419 019035 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
17 Years Experience as an Arborist Experienced crew ready to go. Free Quotes |Insured |Amenity Tree Pruning Removals |Chipping |Block Clearing Council DA Assistance if required
Call Sam 0456 044602
Door to Door Charter Services
Call 0490 183 424
arrive@ byronbuscompany.com.au
REMOVALISTS
SHIRE REMOVALS & FREIGHT CO From Middle Pocket to Middle Earth Just give us a ring
• Freight services to Brisbane weekly • Carriers of fine art • Furniture removal • E-bay pick up & delivery
sentineltreecare.com.au Get a Quick Quote Now Airport Transfers | Tours | Nights Out | Walks Events | Par ties | Weddings | Corporate | Festivals
BYRON TREE SERVICES AQF Level 5 consulting arborist, insured....................... Call Alex 0402 364852
TREE SERVICES
UPHOLSTERY
CHOPPY CHOP TREE SERVICES
BANGALOW UPHOLSTERY Now at Billinudgel. Re-covering specialists..............................66805255
0409 917 646
LEAPFROG REMOVALS BYRON BAY’S LOCAL REMOVALIST MOVING THE SHIRE FOR OVER 10 YEARS
The Fully Insured Professionals
• Stump Grinding • Bobcat • Cherrypicker • Crane Truck • 18" Chipper
Mark Linder Qualified Arborist choppychoptrees@bigpond.com
leapfrogremovals@yahoo.com.au
THREE TREES AQF Level 8 Consulting Arborist. ................................... Call Lisa Barnes 0427 959835
VALUERS BYRON BAY VALUERS NSW & QLD registerd. Chartered Valuers............. 0431 245460 or 66857010
VETERINARY SURGEONS
0408 202 184
0432 334 200 02 6680 8170
LEAF IT TO US 4x4 truck/chipper + crane truck. Local, qualified, insured. Free quotes........0402 487213
MULLUM VET CLINIC: Richard Gregory, Bec Wills, Heidi Jenal. After hours avail...............66843818
C
NORTH COAST VETERINARY SERVICES Dr Lauren Archer..................................................66840735
RYAN’S MINI MOVES....................................................................................................0406 657M 755
ROOFING
WATER FILTERS
Y
CM
FCR ROOF PAINTING Local, 12 yrs exp, best paints avail, 190x5-star reviews. Free quotes.0455 573554 MY
The Water Filter Experts
Metal Roofing & Guttering Experts CY
Serving from Ballina to Gold Coast.
CMY
- A Lifetime Warranty on Workmanship - Double Satisfaction Checks - Spotless Work Sites, Every Time
K
for home, commercial and rural properties
6680 8200 or 0418 108 181
admin@oceanbluepr.com.au
0429 909 433 www.oceanbluepr.com.au License # QBCC: 15327621 NSW: 381929C
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
BLUE SKY ROOFING NSW Roof repairs Replacements
Gutters Downpipes
0450 659 114
Lic No. 304784C
RUBBISH REMOVAL TIP RUNS & RUBBISH REMOVAL 4m3 trailer.................................................................0408 210772
0427 347 380
ALL AREAS OF THE NORTHERN RIVERS & SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND
0401 208 797
SELF STORAGE
• 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
SOLAR INSTALLATION
Martino TREE SERVICES
Serving Northern NSW since 1998
Byron Bay & Beyond
BYRON BAY SELF STORAGE................................................................................................66858349
Your local, qualified team
TREE CARE SPECIALISTS
0428 320 262 sunbeamsolar.com.au
• 4×4 truck with 19” chipper • Qualified local arborists • 120 ★★★★★ Google reviews
TELEVISION SERVICES DIGITAL ELECTRONICS REPAIR & SERVICE TV. Audio. Antennas........... 66843575 or 0414 922786 INSTALL SERVICE: TV, Wi-Fi, AV, special pensioner/concession rate. ............ Damian 0414 741233
34 The Byron Shire Echo September 23, 2026
WELDING & FABRICATION Structural, General, Repairs: Steel, Aluminium & Stainless...0408 410545
WINDOW CLEANING AND REPAIRS 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
0435 019 524
Specialists in standalone and grid interact system designs
team@sunbeamsolar.com.au
WELDING
• Local • Reliable • Insured
0402 487 213
leafittous.com.au • kascha@leafittous.com.au
www.echo.net.au/service-directory www.echo.net.au
A timeless 30-acre hinterland estate in Federal R arely does an estate of this calibre come to market. Spanning 30 acres of pristine north-facing hinterland, just moments from Federal village and approximately 20 minutes from Byron Bay, this remarkable estate is a masterful expression of architectural elegance, natural beauty and timeless sophistication. Designed by renowned designer Toni Appleton, the Hamptons-inspired residence sits gracefully within its surroundings, embracing natural light and connecting seamlessly to the landscape. Soaring ceilings, expansive living areas and thoughtfully positioned interiors capture picturesque garden and hinterland views, with balcony access from every bedroom further enhancing the home’s seamless connection to the outdoors, creating a harmonious balance between refined living and nature. Inside, enduring craftsmanship and exceptional materials define every space. Rich American black walnut flooring flows throughout the home, bringing warmth and sophistication, while marble finishes elevate the kitchen and dining spaces.
This immaculate property at 755 Federal Drive, Federal, offers resort-style living and a self-contained studio. Bespoke tiling, exposed timber beams and two wood-burning fireplaces add depth, character and timeless appeal, while underfloor heating to the kitchen, main bathroom and ensuite delivers year-round comfort and luxury. Designed for effortless indoor-outdoor living, the expansive kitchen, dining and living zones extend to a collection
of covered terraces, garden rooms and entertaining spaces. From long lunches beneath the wisteria-covered arbour to relaxed gatherings by the pool pavilion, every setting has been carefully crafted to celebrate the beauty of its surroundings. At the heart of the outdoor experience lies a spectacular 15-metre self-cleaning, magnesium pool, framed by
0411 757 425 tim@millerrealestate.com.au millerrealestate.com.au
handcrafted stonework sourced directly from the property, lush gardens and sweeping lawns. Complete with a pavilion, daybed, and resort-style landscaping, it offers a private sanctuary for relaxation, recreation and entertaining. Beyond the main residence, the estate continues to impress with a spring-fed dam, productive vegetable gardens, a hedge
maze and open pastures, delivering an exceptional lifestyle of beauty and self-sufficiency. For golf enthusiasts, the property also features a private four-hole practice golf course. A charming, fully self-contained studio provides flexible accommodation for family and guests, or potential income opportunities, while extensive infrastructure ensures practicality accompanies luxury.
Framed by magnificent established gardens and breathtaking valley vistas, the property unfolds as a series of exquisitely curated landscapes. Sculpted box hedges, flowering wisteria, mature magnolias and elegant pencil pines evoke the timeless romance of an English country garden, while rolling lawns, open pasture and majestic trees create an atmosphere of serenity, privacy and grandeur. With a 14.52kW solar system, 11.04kW battery storage, substantial water reserves and a machinery shed, this remarkable property offers both sustainability, convenience and pure luxury. Rarely offered and impossible to replicate, this is far more than a home. It is a private family estate of exceptional beauty, where timeless design, established gardens and the natural splendour of the Byron hinterland combine to create a truly extraordinary offering. A truly exceptional Byron hinterland estate where refined luxury, privacy and natural beauty exist in perfect harmony. ■ Contact the agents:
Su Reynolds 0428 888 660 Mia Stevie 0402 098 032
Did you know? Not only does The Echo have fantastic circulation and distribution figures, it also has the most attractive, interesting and talented readers.
1-3 WALKER STREET, CLUNES
Telling it like we think it is since 1986.
Price Guide: $1,150,000 - $1,250,000 Open: Sat 26th September, 12:30-1:00pm
4
2
1
2070m²
Village living on half an acre
www.echo.net.au
September 23, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 35
36 The Byron Shire Echo September 23, 2026
www.echo.net.au
409 COORABELL ROAD, COORABELL
3 LOTS ALREADY SOLD! Historic Acreage Lots with Wilsons River Frontage & Mountain Views | Settle 2028 2.49AC - 6.43AC • Seven lots, Seven Stories - build your dream home on one of these stunning blank canvases • Embrace the freedom of acreage living with space for gardens, orchards, animals, a pool and so much more • Acreage homesites ranging from 2.4 to 6.4 acres, (approx) set on a private hinterland estate • Spectacular valley, mountain and rainforest outlooks, with select lots enjoying direct Wilsons River frontage
Tara Torkkola 0423 519 698
• Rich regenerative history featuring protected Big Scrub rainforest and abundant wildlife • Secure today with settlement planned for 2028, offering time to design your dream home while benefiting from potential future capital growth
PRICE | $950K – $1.59M OPEN | By Appointment
58 PACIFIC HEIGHTS DRIVE, CUMBALUM
Mediterranean Masterpiece, Grand Scale, Prestige & Panoramic Views 3
2
3
3
3.95AC • Landmark Mediterranean-inspired residence with breathtaking 270-degree hinterland and ocean views
Renee Schofield 0400 028 594
• Comprehensively rebuilt with grand proportions, luxury finishes, soaring tower and statement spiral staircase • Resort-style grounds with terraced gardens, 12m swimming pool, moat and irrigated vegetable gardens • Exceptional lifestyle infrastructure including twin wine cellars, 135,000L+ water storage and versatile office/ gym/workshop
Su Reynolds 02 6685 8466
PRICE | $3.5M OPEN | By Appointment
2/36 PATERSON STREET, BYRON BAY
Elevated Byron Bay Living with Charm & Character 3
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• Located at the beach end of a quiet no-through road, an easy walk to Clarkes Beach, the lighthouse walk and Byron Bay’s CBD
Su Reynolds 0428 888 660
• Spacious living and dining with high raked ceilings opening to two north-facing decks overlooking gardens • Updated kitchen with modern appliances and ample storage • Established gardens, leafy outlooks and plenty of space
Renee Schofield 0400 028 594
PRICE | $1.795m - $1.895M OPEN | Sat 26th Sept 11 - 11:30am
www.byronbayfn.com.au | sales@byronbayfn.com | 35 Fletcher St, Byron Bay NSW 2481 | 02 6685 8466
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September 23, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 37
38 The Byron Shire Echo September 23, 2026
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Property Business Directory AGENTS
CONVEYANCING BUYING and SELLING REAL ESTATE? We are here to help
TARA TORKKOLA SALES
NP CONVEYANCING
0423 519 698 tara@byronbayfn.com
PHONE 6685 7436 FOR A QUOTE
@taratorkkolafirstnational
0411 757 425 tim@millerrealestate.com.au millerrealestate.com.au @timmiller_realestate
@taratorkkola_realestate www.byronbayfn.com.au
NPC
PERSONALISED APPOINTMENTS IN BYRON BAY NOW NOW OPERATING OUT OF CENTRAL OFFICE IN POTTSVILLE Lic No 06000098
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
Boutique, family-owned and proudly serving Byron Bay & beyond.
SHARON McINNES 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
NSW & QLD Conveyancing, Leases, Business Sale & Purchase P: 02 6687 0548 | hello@bangalowconveyancing.com.au
FINANCE
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The Shire’s local finance expert Home Loans Investment Loans First Home Buyers Car Loans
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LAUREN DONNELLON Russel Shaw Finance Broker
russel@acceptancefinance.com.au 0412 833 280
entourage.com.au | (02) 6678 1751 Office | 3/6 Jonson Street, Byron Bay NSW Australian Credit Licence 475676
Conveyancing & Property Law Business Transfers & Agreements Retail & Commercial Leases Estate Planning, Wills & Probate
CALL: 02 5602 5000
Acceptance Finance Australia Pty Ltd ABN 20 678 011 571 Australian Credit Licence Number 391715 Credit Representative Number 395628
This week’s open homes
Real estate open homes, auctions and new property listings in and around the Byron Shire this week: www.echo.net.au/ofi
www.echo.net.au
September 23, 2026 The Byron Shire Echo 39
Backlash SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM. DRINK LOCAL LIMONCELLO.
...it just happens to be delicious.
Volume 9 ~ 2026-2027 Your free guide to the flourishing health and wellbeing industry of Byron and the Northern Rivers
Latest magazine and website refresh
OUT N OW!
www.byronhealing.com.au
As Trump’s delusions continue to spiral he has banned CNN, MS Now, and Politico from the White House and started Trump News. In response ABC, CBS, Fox News, and NBC suspended their video coverage. Getting desperate for a bit of a fix, Trump then crashed the New York mayor’s press conference. It was reported that even when his handlers told Trump he’d run out of time and would have to move on he chose to remain in front of the cameras. In further signs of the Trump administration’s continued spiral, Trump-appointed head of the FBI Kash Patel ‘repeatedly clashed with lawmakers’ during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing as both Republican and Democratic senators questioned his decision to no longer disqualify FBI applicants who have had sexual encounters with prostitutes, or engaged in bestiality. Senator John Kennedy (R-La), ‘questioned why Patel would “even get into bestiality” when it came to the hiring practices of the FBI,’ according to MS Now. Love Australian literature? Voting on Radio National’s Top 100 Australian Books countdown closes on 1 October. Last year’s Top 100 Books of the 21st Century countdown attracted over 280,00 votes, so this is likely going to be a seminal account of the greatest Aussie books. University of Queensland nanomaterials experts have engineered powder-like particles that can turn water-based paint into a
With muck-up day no longer allowed, Year-12 kids from Mullum High awoke early Monday morning (very rare in this age group), to make their way to the Bruns breakwall with many in Mullum graduation jumpers and PJs. They watched the sunrise, had a photo, and then a few went for a swim followed by milkshakes. Photo Cristina Sharatt self-repairing corrosion shield with the potential to slow rusting by more than 600 times compared with existing coatings. The Glasshouse Mountains is one of seven recommended Queensland regional stargazing destinations according to new research from LifeFlight Lotteries. They have ranked locations using light pollution ratings (Bortle Scale), seasonal rainfall, accessibility, mobile coverage, and camping options. Find out more at: www.lifeflightlotteries.com.au/blog/ best-spots-for-stargazing. Possums in the roof, wombats under the house and ducks on the balcony – new research has revealed that our houses are increasingly acting as substitute habitat as cities expand and natural hollows disappear – and that small changes to how we
design homes could make them better for wildlife and
minimise conflict with their human flatmates.
SPRING SPECIALS! SP I S!
E-bikes from $1,930 Below on-line prices!
15% off Bike Services Excl parts
02 6639 7700 Byron Bay Mon - Fri | 9am - 5pm Murwillumbah 7 Days | 8am - 5pm betterbybike.com.au
BestLifeWithJP.com 40 The Byron Shire Echo September 23, 2026
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