Yesterday saw newly elected Premier for NSW Chris Minns visit Lismore and local member Janelle Saffin call on the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation (NRRC) to feel the communities sense of urgency in responding to the impacts of the devastating 2022 floods. 

Minns visit to Lismore was the second regional visit by the Premier since his election and Saffin said that, It shows that the Minns is concerned about our area, concerned about our needs, concerned about our rebuild, our recovery, which is a long term project. It is good to have him here because we know that he is backing us for the long haul. Because it is a long journey for all of us.

Theres more food and drinks to celebrate and explore in the Northern Rivers with the expansion of this years Northern Rivers Food Harvest Food Trail over the weekend of 67 May.

The food trail has expanded to offer 37 locations across the Northern Rivers and now includes local businesses in the Lismore and Richmond Valley Council areas. The councils supported a number of their local businesses to engage with the year-long program that helps businesses to align with some of the most high-profile food and beverage producers and providers in our region and open their doors to new customers and markets, as well as receive industry support and professional development.

IMAGINE was a photography exhibition at the Mullumbimby Youth Cottage that was the culmination of ten weeks of work by young people in Mullumbimby as part of Project YES. 

This project was an experiment with photography giving participants the opportunity for the exploration of self and environment whilst developing a range of techniques and artistic expressions throughout the ten-week course. 

The exhibition was outstanding, project coordinator Jacqui Adams told The Echo. 

Margo Hills collaborates with Jacqui as an art creative facilitator during the course which was funded by the Children and Young People Wellbeing Recovery Initiative.

Police have released CCTV in an appeal for public assistance as investigations continue into an alleged break-in and sexual touching at Banora Point.

Just before 9.30am on Wednesday 1 February 2023, police have been told that an 18-year-old woman was inside a home in Banora Point, when a man broke into the property.

He allegedly grabbed her and sexually touched her before threatening her and running from the house on foot.

The woman was not physically injured.

Will Byron Council add its voice to the growing chorus of opposition to the proposed waste-to-energy incinerator at Casino?

The controversial plan to build the facility in, or near the town, has been put forward for consideration by the state government, with some support from Richmond Valley Council, as a possible solution to the regions waste management problems.

They argue that the incinerator, if managed properly, would prevent thousands of tonnes of waste from going into landfill, and instead efficiently convert it into energy.  

But residents living in and around the town are deeply concerned about the health impacts from what they say will be toxic emissions produced by such an incinerator.

Speaking at a recent meeting opposing the plan, local doctor, and former industrial chemist, Dr Jurriaan Beek, said the incinerator was the biggest risk to the health of our community....

An elderly Mullumbimby grandmother has been warned by Council staff that her regular questions around what flood mitigation works are planned for her street could result in restrictions on your contact with our office.  

Like many other dwellings on the eastern side of Mullumbimby, the Ann Street home of Marie Oliver, 80, was severely flood-damaged in early 2022. 

Oliver told The Echo she puts the number of damaged homes at around 100, and has been regularly asking Council for a year when drainage works along the length of Ann Street will commence. 

Trunk Drain needed 

She says a New City Trunk Drain, which existed previously from the CBD to the towns outskirts heading east, would alleviate the potential for flo...

A Lismore local is engaged in a protest action to halt native forest logging in the Doubleduke State Forest near Woodburn.

23 year-old law student, Kashmir Miller, has suspended herself on a platform 25m high in a tree by a rope attached to three NSW Forestry machines.

Native forest logging is accelerating the climate crisis, Ms Miller says.

Every tree cut down is a step further along in the extinction crisis. We need to preserve the amazing, unique biodiversity of Doubleduke for our own sake, as well as the wildlife.

The 2,600 hectare forest is located 50 km south of Lismore and was closed by authorities in February as a response to increased protest activity in the area.

The forest was heavily impacted by the 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires, and  is a known habit for several vulnerable and endangered species, including koalas, four species of large forest owls, and the yellow-bellied glider.

Local ecologist, Anastasia Guise, says: the 2019-20 bushfires had a catastrophic impact on threatened species already under enormous pressure from climate change and environmental land use changes on a landscape-scale.

The Save the Banyabba Koala group have called for a stop to all logging in Doubleduke State Forest.

This forest is full of old, hollow-bearing trees which are essential habitat for these species, and one of the key features we know were lost right across the landscape during the fires, Ms Guise says.

Extinction is forever. We need to take seriously the protection...

Two years ago, in their debut radio interview on Bay FM, the teenage members of local band Loose Content talked about their dream of playing big festivals like Bluesfest and Splendour in the Grass.

This Saturday that dream will become reality, when the trio takes to the Juke Joint stage at Bluesfest.

Its definitely a big milestone, the bands drummer, Aquila Porter says.

Just growing up around the festival and seeing all our idols playing there over the years. To be part of that is amazing.

I dont think weve really spoken about it, but I guess this could be something really big for us.

The three-piece, consisting of MiLLa (bass and vocals), Sam Sanders (guitar) and Aquila, formed in early 2018 while they were students at the Cape Byron Steiner school.

After winning the Mullum Music Festival Youth Mentorship in 2018, the group have gone on to play at some of Australias most-loved festivals.

But Bluesfest promises to be their biggest gig yet.

It actually happened through the busking competition, MiLLa says.

We entered last year in the grommet section and won, and they gave us a slot on a small stage and this year were on one of the main stages.

The group will hit the stage at midday on Saturday at the Juke Joint stage, the first show on that day.

When theyre not preparing for their spot the...

University of Queensland researchers are analysing compostable takeaway food packaging for potentially polluting chemicals.

Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon from UQs Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS) said little is known about the substances used in compostable paper or cardboard products and how they may impact the environment.

The project will identify the chemicals in compostable food packaging.

Recent bans on single use plastic food packaging have led to an increase in alternatives, which is a really positive step, Dr Kaserzon said.

However, we have a limited understanding of the chemicals within these alternate products and how they may pollute recycling or composting streams.

We want to understand how these chemicals may persevere when the packaging is composted or recycled, leading to potential human and environmental exposure.

This knowledge is crucial as we divert waste from landfill and transition towards more sustainable practices.

Research has already found chemicals such as mineral oils, flame retardants and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in non-compostable paper containers, additives which enhance their structural integrity and resistance to heat, water and grease.

PFAS, synthetic compounds linked to human health problems, are estimated to be...

Independent Ballina Shire Councillor Stephen McCarthy has won a move to have the council upgrade access facilities to Angels Beach.

Staff made no attempt to disagree in agenda notes for last months ordinary council meeting with Cr McCarthys description of the timber beach entrance as nearing the end of its useful life and in need of replacement.

Instead, they acknowledged the structure was showing signs of wear and tear and would need refurbishment or rebuilding in the not-too-distant future.

The current structure is also designed for disability access.

Staff said they could include estimated costs in the April 2023 Finance and Facilities Committee reports, but already guessed the upgrade project would cost more than $100,000.

But support for the upgrades came only after time spent questioning how infrastructure projects are prioritised, with staff answering it was ultimately up to the elected councillors.

Councillors wary of changing priorities