Jock Serong on protest, masculinity and imagination
FOR Jock Serong, calm surfaces often hide the strongest undercurrents. "You can launch a war from a boardroom, but for god's sake don't raise your...
Awakening Layne Beachley
THE ocean is where Layne Beachley still feels like herself. She surfs most days at her local break on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, or at least...
New government hub opens in Tweed
A NEW $2.3 million Service NSW Centre has opened at Tweed Mall, giving locals a larger and more accessible space for government services. The purpose-built...
Permanent base for community services in Lismore
A NEW community services hub has opened in Goonellabah, giving frontline staff a permanent base to support Northern Rivers families. The building brings together Department...
State funds housing and infrastructure for Northern Rivers
MORE than 355 new homes and $11.5 million for six major projects are headed to the Northern Rivers under funding packages announced by the...
DonateLife urges NSW residents to register as organ donor numbers fall
DONATELIFE is urging NSW residents to talk to their families about organ donation as new figures show registrations have dropped by 11 per cent...
Pickleball rally draws 242 players to Ballina
BALLINA will host a three-day pickleball tournament from August 1 to 3, drawing 242 players from across Australia. The Northern Rivers Regional Rally will be...
Registrations open for 2025 Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee
REGISTRATIONS are now open for the 2025 Prime Minister's Spelling Bee, a free online competition for students in Years 3 to 8 across Australia. The...
Byron Shire Council warns illegal ‘dark’ kitchens face heavy fines
BYRON Shire Council is urging anyone selling food to register their business, as authorities report a rise in home-based and online food operators since...
Community urged to slow down as koala breeding season begins
KOALA breeding season is approaching across the Northern Rivers, and local councils and Friends of the Koala are asking drivers to help reduce road...
New pump bolsters Murwillumbah flood defences
A NEW stormwater pump station will boost Murwillumbah's flood protection as part of ongoing efforts to reduce the impact of severe weather. Completed in February,...
Controlled airspace delayed at Ballina Byron Gateway Airport
CONTROLLED airspace at Ballina Byron Gateway Airport will not be introduced until June 2026, after Airservices Australia delayed the start date by seven months. The...
Last chance for local filmmakers to enter Byron Bay Film Festival
NORTHERN Rivers filmmakers have two weeks left to enter the Byron Bay Film Festival, which will showcase regional talent alongside global cinema this October. The...
The rise of the tribute
COLD Chisel's Khe Sanh rattles the windows of a Wollongong bar. Fleetwood Mac's Rhiannon drifts through a sold–out theatre in Perth. The bands aren't...
Longboard titles return to Tweed Coast
THE Australian Longboard Titles have returned to the Tweed Coast, bringing more than 300 surfers from across the country for six days of competition. The...
Cheaper home battery program now available for households
NORTH Coast households and small businesses can access 30 per cent discounts on home battery systems through a new federal program. The $2.3 billion Cheaper...
Marine Rescue NSW trains for flood readiness on North Coast
VOLUNTEERS from Marine Rescue's Ballina and Point Danger units have taken part in a major flood readiness exercise on the Corindi River at Red...
Grants open for projects supporting women and girls
APPLICATIONS are now open for the Northern Rivers Community Foundation's 2025 Empowering Women and Girls grants. Three grants of $20,000 will be awarded to women-led,...
Push to transform Byron town centre
CREATIVITY, culture and community will guide a new council project aimed at reinvigorating the Byron Bay town centre. The trial, funded by the NSW Government,...
Country mayors say regional councils hit hardest by cost shifting
REGIONAL councils are being forced to absorb growing state and federal responsibilities, with new figures showing cost shifting has hit $1.5 billion a year...
Roundabout upgrade complete in Lennox Head
A NEW roundabout is now operational at the intersection of Byron Bay Road and Byron Street in Lennox Head after a $1.53 million safety...
Council grants 15-year licence to Fletcher Street Cottage
BYRON Shire Council has granted a 15-year licence to Fletcher Street Cottage, securing the future of Byron Bay's homelessness support hub from 2026. The Byron...
Luxury riverfront estate heads to auction at Banora Point
A RENOVATED Hamptons-style estate on more than 11.3 hectares of riverfront land at Banora Point will go to auction on August 7. Known as Stone...
Locals invited to help shape Byron’s response to homelessness
BYRON Shire residents are being invited to help shape local action on homelessness as part of a new project gathering 1000 community voices. The 1000...