NSW Police say a body, believed to be that of a man reported missing from the Yamba area, has been located.

The 65-year-old Yamba man was last heard from about 9pm on Monday, 5 June.

When he could not be contacted or located, officers attached to Coffs/Clarence Police District were notified and commenced inquiries into his whereabouts.

Following extensive enquiries and a multi-agency search with assistance from Coffs Harbour Water Police, NSW Police Divers, and NSW Surf Rescue jet ski and drone resources, the body of a man was located in the Clarence River, Yamba, about 8.20am today, Friday, 9 June.

While the body is yet to be formally identified, it is believed to be that of the missing 65-year-old man.

A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

The post Body found in the Clarence River appeared first on The Echo.

The village of Brunswick Heads is set to host its Old & Gold Festival tomorrow with three big fairs, entertainment and plenty of fun come rain or shine. 

Activities include the Whole Town Garage Sale, Ye Olde Church Fair on Tweed St; the Brunswick Heads Public School Treasure Trove on Fingal St; the Memorial Hall Collectibles Fair also on Fingal St and the CWA handmade crafts, preserves and takeaway Devonshire teas extravaganza.

There will also be a Lucky Penny event from 8am and live music from Hubcap Stan & The Sidewalk Stompers from 1.30pm, both at the Memorial Hall. 

The events starts at 8am. See more at www.brunswickheads.org.au.

The post Brunswick Heads going for Gold & Old appeared first on...

Local community groups at Evans Head are putting out a Call to Action after being excluded from the Land and Environment Courts (L&EC) hearings and deliberations over the development application (DA) for Iron Gates. The Call follows the revelation that the L&EC could decide next Friday, 16 June whether or not to allow revised plans for residential development at the controversial Iron Gates site. The Community Against Iron Gates Development and Evans Head Residents for Sustainable Development Inc. (EHRSD) are urging the community to write to the General Manager of Richmond Valley Council asking him to oppose new plans being accepted by the L&EC.

Definitely the newest, and possibly the best tourist attraction Byron has to offer, Jarjumirr Park, is a competition-level skate park that is located between the courthouse, library and Youth Activities Centre (YAC).

An Echo article about saving koalas in the Braemar State forest prompted 12-year-old Leila, from Byron Public School, to share the plight of our cute marsupial icon with her class.

As a result, Leila and her friend, Chaska, with the help of Leilas mum, Tara, have started an online petition and have included the details of the ministers for environment and forestry, so they can see the progress of the petition.

Leila said that after hearing that koalas in NSW are now classified as an endangered species, she had to take action. 

Bangalow Koalas

I have been raising money for a local koala group (Bangalow Koalas), and now I am raising awareness about the destruction of their habitat, she told The Echo.

There is a population of koalas in NSW...

Koalas and their health and habitat have been in the news more than ever in recent months and the word is starting to get out that they need our help.

Recently in an effort to bolster conservation of this furry friend, a contingent of volunteers gathered at Tucki Tucki to plant out an area with trees that koalas love to eat.

Members of Bangalow Koalas and the World Wide Fund (WWF) were on hand to get their hands dirty. They got together on a slice of privately owned land to plant 750 koala habitat and food trees. 

A wildlife corridor

The planting is building a part of a wildlife corridor that allows koalas to safely move between their forest homes. The land is owned by farmers who are keen to provide and restore homes for their resident koalas. 

Gold Coast model and WWF ambassador Sam Harris, along with her husband Luke, swapped the catwalk for hillside at Tucki Tucki to help with the plant in the hope of raising awareness and encouraging Aussies to do their part in supporting habitat regeneration.

It means so much to be able to give back, and see the work at hand, said Sam. Joining the local community, the Git...

Aboriginal artworks have been installed at nine overpass bridges spanning four lanes on the new Pacific Motorway between Woolgoolga and Ballina on the north coast of New South Wales.

The new artworks along the Woolgoolga to Ballina Aboriginal Art Trail depict the creation stories and ancient travel routes (Songlines) of the Aboriginal nations of the region.

The Woolgoolga to Ballina Aboriginal Art Trail is part of the Pacific Highway upgrade project which also included upgrading nine interchanges, more than 170 bridges and more than 350 other connecting roads.

Federal Member for Richmond Justine Elliot says the artworks tell the Songlines of the Gumbaynggirr, Yaegl and Bundjalung nations, reflecting their physical and spiritual belonging, and connection to Country. The artworks are in place on nine highway overpasses, along a 155-kilometre section of highway between Woolgoolga and Ballina.

The artists were selected by local Aboriginal communities and stakeholders, and their artworks communicate the rich and ancient history of these nations.

Transport for NSW is planning a community event involving all the artists and their communities, to be held in the coming months.

For more information visit www.pacifichighway.nsw.gov.au/drive-songlines.

The post Aboriginal artworks installed on M1 overpass bridges appeared first on The Echo.

The Tweed Valley Hospital (TVH) development has already been having negative impacts on traffic congestion in Kingscliff, Cudgen and Chinderah with extra traffic rat running through local streets causing congestion and reducing safety.

On Monday evening concerned residents, Tweed Shire councillors and staff, and police came together to discuss the impact of traffic on locals as the TVH comes online in early 2024. 

Villages like ours are stretched in relation to traffic and the impacts of traffic because the road networks are not built for todays level of traffic, President of Kingscliff Ratepayers and Progress Association Inc (KRPA) told The Echo. 

He also highlighted the influx of people during covid and increasing population and visitor numbers will continue to impact...

The first whale entanglement happened at the Gold Coast early on Monday evening when a young sub-adult whale was caught in shark nets.

At only one week into the whale migration season and with 2022 being the worst whale entanglement season on record Sea Shepherd are calling on the Queensland government to commit to the removal of shark nets during whale migration season.

Left overnight

The distressed young whale was left overnight where it was forced to struggle alone before crews were able to free it around 8am the following morning, said a Seashepherd spokesperson. 

Sea Shepherd Australias Threatened Species Campaigner, Lauren Sandeman says this one event could be a death sentence for the young whale. 

After being abandoned overnight to struggle and fight for his life alone, this young whale may now no longer have enough energy reserves to make the return trip home to Antarctica. A release from a shark net does not mean this poor guy actually survives to see the next season.

Off the back of the wo...

Three projects for flood recovery will receive funding in relation to local disaster preparedness under the first round of the Commonwealths new Disaster Ready Fund. The almost $20 million in funding for the region should be available from 1 July. 

The NSW Government successfully applied for three local projects for our region under and joint Commonwealth and State funding will provide a total of $19.8 million, said State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin.

The successful projects covering the Northern Rivers are:

• Nature Based Solutions: Building Flood Resilience in Lismore Catchment. Works to reduce flood and erosion risks in the Lismores river catchment. Richmond Landcare received $5.67million for the project.
• Fire Country and People: Aboriginal Community Disaster Ready partnership. The establishment of strategic partnerships with...

A woman and baby reported missing from Wilsons Creek, near Mullumbimby, have been located safe and well overnight.

The 21-year-old woman and her three-month-old son were reported missing after they were last seen in a white utility vehicle driving on the M1 at Brunswick Heads about 3am on Sunday 4 June 2023.

Following extensive inquiries, the woman and baby were located safe and well in Queensland about 9pm yesterday (Wednesday 7 June 2023).

Police wish to thank the public and the media for their assistance.

The post Woman and three-month-old baby located appeared first on The Echo.

As the landscape dried out in the leadup, and during, the 201920 Black Summer fires, Ocean Shores resident, Kitty Crain, began to look around and wonder who would come to her rescue if a fire started in the bush around her home. 

Ocean Shores is surrounded by bush, and I felt vulnerable in a suburb surrounded by bush. I thought whos going to come to our rescue? I decided Id better go and investigate, and that is why I joined the RFS, said Kitty, who is now President of the Billinudgel and Ocean Shores RFS.

Following three years of wet weather, the resulting plant growth, and the prediction of an El Nio that will make eastern Australia drier this year, there is general concern that the upcoming fire season will be dangerous. 

Start training

Now is the time to join and start training for the next fire season, explained Kitty. 

It is the time for new recruits t...

A man has died following a single-vehicle crash near Lismore.

About 5.45pm yesterday (Wednesday, 7 June), emergency services were called to Rous Road, near Molly Grass Road, at Tregeagle about 9km southeast of Lismore following reports an Audi sedan had crashed into a tree.

On arrival, officers from Richmond Police District found the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle a 48-year-old man had died at the scene.

A crime scene was established, and investigations commenced into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.

The post Driver dies after single-vehicle crash near Lismore appeared first on The Echo.

Political attack ads are underway by the local sitting Labor MP just a week after Greens candidate, Mandy Nolan, announced her second tilt for the local federal seat of Richmond.

According to www.aph.gov.au, the next federal election could be between August 3, 2024 and May 17, 2025. 

Despite a comprehensive refusal of the development application (DA) for residential development at the Iron Gates at Evans Head last year by the Northern Regional Planning Panel (NRPP), the DA is still live in the NSW Land & Environment Court (L&EC) following challenge by the developer, Graeme Ingles, to the NRPP decision. The DA is in its ninth year despite two independent assessments by planning experts who recommended refusal, and the wider community which roundly rejected the proposal. 

Two community forums are being held to look at the issue of youth vaping. The first is taking place today in Coffs Harbour and a second forum will be held in Ballina on 20 June.

The highest users of vapes are young people and this has been identified as a real problem in local communities. In 202021, the NSW Population Health Survey found 32.7 per cent of people aged 16 to 24 had used a vape, and 11.1 per cent were current users.

A man has been charged following a public place shooting in Ballina.

About 9pm on Monday, 10 April police were called to a home on Brunswick Street, Ballina, following reports of a public place shooting.

Officers attached to Richmond Police District attended and located damage to the exterior of a home. No person was injured.

Detectives established Strike Force Talmoi to investigate the incident.

Extradition

Following inquiries, a 50-year-old man was identified, and an arrest warrant was issued.

On Sunday, 4 June the man was arrested by Queensland Police in Collinsville. He appeared before Mackay Magistrates Court on Monday, 5 June where extradition was sought and granted.

On Tuesday, 6 June the man was extradited to New South Wales and taken to Lismore Police Station, where he was charged with eight offences including fire firearm at dwelling-house disregard for safety, possess unauthorised firearm, possess loaded firearm public place, not keep firearm safely, use unauthorised prohibited firearm, receive property stolen outside NSW and participate in criminal group continue criminal activity.

He was refused bail to appear at Lismore Local Court today (Wednesday, 7 June, 2023).

Investigations are ongoing and more arrests likely.

The post Man charged following shooting in Ballina  appeared first on The Echo.

Federal Labor have announced local Indigenous companies in Tweed Heads are starting construction of new facilities, which will benefit the Australian Armys A Company, 41^st Battalion, Royal NSW Regiment and 225 Army Cadet Unit.

In a press release on Monday, the office of local MP Justine Elliot, said, Local business, DDR Pty Ltd, which has 51 per cent Indigenous ownership, recently secured a $12.71 million contract for construction.

Importantly, Jabin Project Management, a wholly Indigenous-owned company, will provide support to DDR Pty Ltd throughout the construction process.

The development includes a multi-user depot with storage, parking, and associated infrastructure, including a minor refurbishment of the Training Ship Vampire, a facility that the Royal Australian Navy Cadets use.

The post Army depot construction starts in Chinderah  appeared first on The Echo.

The company behind a controversial mixed-use development in the heart of Suffolk Park has quietly submitted revised plans for the proposal as part of the ongoing court battle over the matter.

Sydney-based developer, Denwol Pty Ltd, took Byron Council to the Land & Environment Court after it refused their plans to build two new three-storey buildings, containing 16 units, seven town houses and 300m² of commercial space at 915 Clifford Street.

Council had set out 17 separate reasons for refusing the development application when it was originally submitted last year, including factors related to the environmental impacts, design, bushfire risk and affordable housing claims.

With the formal court hearing getting underway last week, Denwol made an application to the court to submit amended plans for the project.

This followed an amended DA that was submitted in April which involved a significant reduction in the size of the development.

Published on Councils website, these amended plans involve reducing in the number of residential apartments from 16 to seven, and the number of town houses from seven to six. There would be two retail tenancies.

Both buildings are reduced to two-storeys in the amended plans, though there is little difference in the overall height of the development.

...

The 2023 Chinny Charge, a fun run up Mount Chincogan just north of Mullumbimby, is open for registration for both runners and walkers. 

This year it will take place on Saturday, September 16, and it is the one day of the year that the access up the mountain is open to the public. 

It is a great opportunity to either test your endurance, or just enjoy a lovely afternoon walk with friends. 

There is the open adult race, as well as the childrens rac...

Up to 1,300 new dwellings could be accommodated in Byron Shire under vague draft fast-track development plans released by the NSW government-run Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation (NRRC) last week. 

Describing it as a unique opportunity, the glossy The Resilient Land Strategy brochure by NRRC identifies, but does not disclose, north coast land that will be accelerated for delivery with funding support.

The plans indicate Saddle Road, located on the highway turn off to Brunswick Heads and Mullumbimby, could house up to 800 homes, while land bordering Bangalows south could accommodate 500 homes. 

Another medium-term flood-free parcel of land is also pegged on the indicative map; it is located just west of Bangalow on Bangalow Road heading towards Lismore.

While NRRC are seeking public feedback on the proposals, the plans do not provide any framework that would ensure any newly released land would be affordable or directly benefit those affected by the 2022 floods.

However, there was mention of Financial support for social and affordable housing development, and Innovative housing pilot programs worth $100M.

Mute Mayor Michael

Mayor Michael Lyon, who has led closed doors discussions with NRRC, refused to comment to The Echo on the exact locations, nor why he excluded other councillors from negotiations.

Cr Peter Westheimer, who was elected on the mayors ticket, told The Echo he would have preferred to be involved. 

Additionally, local NSW MP Tamara Smith (Greens), told The Echo she was briefed by the NRRC and was told they only consulted with mayors and general mangers.  

She said, I would prefer a more transparent approach where the community genuinely gets to have a say about what will be significant developments across the region, and in the Ballina electorate. 

322 expressions of interest were received across the region, say the NRRC, and a panel have identified 22 potential development sites across the Northern Rivers on both private and public land.

Approximatel...