Byron Bay

The Nimbin Mardi Grass is set for a HUGE year this year, celebrating their 20th anniversary! Entry into Plantem Park and the Nimbin Hall where most MardiGrass events are held costs $50 for a weekend pass including Friday night, or $30 for a one day pass. With three nights camping a full ticket costs $100. Armbands are available at the Nimbin Hall and the Hemp Embassy. Camping sites and tickets can be booked online at www.nimbinmardigrass.com The 21st annual Cannabis law reform rally and gathering begins at midday on Wednesday May 1st when we march from Lismore Court House to the Police Station (Next Door), then to the office of our local Federal MP Janelle Saffin, and on to the [...]

INITIAL RESPONSE FROM THE SCHOOLIES HUB COORDINATOR, NICQUI YAZDI, TO THE NEWS OF BYRON SHIRE COUNCIL REMOVING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE BYRON SCHOOLIES SAFETY RESPONSE HUB in 2013 – “With all of the current high profile alcohol issues in Byron, it comes as a serious blow to the community that Byron Shire Council have essentially pulled all of their support for the Byron Schoolies Safety Response HUB this year. For the last four years, the HUB has provided much needed assistance during this high traffic time, not only to the visiting schoolies, but also to the local community, in making sure that the safety issues of having 10,000 extra young visitors here, are attended to. To clarify for the community [...]

For the youth of Byron!! Hey it’s YOUTH WEEK this week and there’s some special events coming up at the YAC – the first of which is the Youth Week Youth Forum – “Things are getting dire * have your say about the Shire” – happening from 6-8pm at the Byron YAC on Thursday 11th April… The adults of Byron have been having their fair share of ‘community forums’ of late… now it’s time to hear from the young people!! Free yummy food too!! Get along and tell us what you think about the state of affairs in Byron these days!!

BOOMERANG FESTIVAL FOR BYRON IN 2013 Launched at Bluesfest 2013, Festival Director Peter Noble in partnership with leading Cultural Creative Rhoda Roberts, a Bundjalung women and Boomerang’s Festival Director & Curator announced details of an exciting new cultural event titled Boomerang Festival. To be staged annually over the October Labour Day long weekend at the Bluesfest site and featuring an eclectic line up of artists from around the globe, Boomerang Festival will be a unique world cultural exchange where audiences will experience living cultures through traditional and contemporary music. Featuring some of the world’s oldest instruments, dance and rituals along with traditional arts practices and workshops with a focus on mother tongues and first instruments. This multi-arts event is the [...]

Today is Harmony Day in Byron!! Lots of great food and entertainment happening in Railway Park… from 12-9pm… it also sees the last of the Artisans Markets happening for this season… Get along and enjoy the festivities!!

THE BYRON BAY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL MARCH 1-10, 2013 In 2013, the Byron Bay International Film Festival (BBFF) celebrates its seventh year. The festival continues to grow, this year screening over 200 films from more than 30 countries with a program comprised of feature films, documentaries, animation and short films that support and celebrate local and international cinema. A large array of films and activities make up the 7th Byron Bay International Film Festival. Workshops, panels, parties and premieres form the backdrop for 55 public sessions in 4 venues across the Northern Rivers Region. In addition to our Festival HQ – The Byron Community Centre BBFF has partnered with what we consider to be some of the best and most [...]

Positive Change For Marine Life’s ‘Movie Under The Plastic Stars‘ is an evening of local and international music, delicious vegetarian/vegan food, a screening of the critically acclaimed ‘Bag It’ film, art installations and special presentations as we launch Phase II of our ‘Honour the Ocean’ marine debris campaign. Since May of 2012 we’ve collected over 100,000 pieces of trash from Main and Seven Mile beaches in the Byron Shire! Through sorting the trash and collating our data we’ve found that the majority of litter on Main Beach is a result of direct dumping and storm water outlets. This event will unveil our plans to make Byron Bay Australia’s most ‘ocean friendly’ tourism town and outline how we are turning this [...]

FLICKERFEST CONTINUES TODAY AND TOMORROW! Saturday 26th Jan – 3 Sessions as follows 2.30pm – ‘FlickerLab‘ Concept to Market: presented by SAE Come and join us for an interesting and enlightening workshop on distributing your short form content across various platforms to audiences far and wide. Panellists include Damian Walshe-Howling, who will share his experiences of the prestigious Locarno Film Festival where Suspended screened in Official Competition, ABC Open Producer Catherine Marciniak and Flickerfest Director Bronwyn Kidd. A must do for all keen film makers out there ! $10/8 conc (free entry for SAE students) 4.30pm – Byron All Shorts programme: Northern Rivers Short Film Competition supported by Southern Cross Credit Union & SAE Byron Bay; Sit back relax and [...]

PUBLIC FORUM IN BYRON TONIGHT!! Strange Bedfellows-Making the tourist/resident Marriage Work. Byron Bay Community Centre from 5.30pm – In response to the public outcry in relation to the impacts of tourism on the local community over peak holiday periods, a community forum has been organised to discuss how the community can benefit from the industry and how they may be able to address the inherent challenges. Presented by Byron Shire Council in conjunction with The Echo, Byron Shire News and Bay FM, the Public Forum will be conducted in the style of Q&A with former ABC journalist Mick O’Regan as moderator. Panel Members include Jan Barham – NSW Legislative Council, Don Page – NSW Minister for Local Government and local [...]

BYRON ARTS CLASSIC OPENING NIGHT IS TONIGHT! The Byron Arts Classic Awards Night is all about the celebration of local artists and their work. The Byron Theatre becomes the three tiered Dawkins Gallery with a floor to gantry central sculpture garden surrounded by paintings, photographs and works on paper. This extends to the upper level where many of the smaller works are intimately displayed. Upstairs and down the foyers and other gallery spaces are filled with artworks from emerging  visual artists sitting side by side established artists. On opening night 11 awards are announced to an audience of friends and families, local art lovers, sponsors and supporters from the community. Throughout the event the Community Table Cafe & Bar is [...]

Today Bluesfest, Australia’s multi award winning Festival held over the long Easter Weekend (March 28 to April 1) treats its Audience and all Music lovers across the country to a massive Easter Monday surprise. Yes, it’s time to take a breath and sit down!! Paul Simon, multi-award and 13 time Grammy winner, has today been added to the supreme Bluesfest line-up of 2013. Simon will be performing at Bluesfest on Easter Monday but there is more! Festival goers are in for a double treat: Taking the stage before Paul Simon will be the hugely gifted Canadian singer/songwriter & composer Rufus Wainwright. The 2013 Bluesfest bill is truly shaping up to be the biggest one yet. Already headlining the incredible Bluesfest [...]

Third Artist Announcement Bluesfest 2013: It’s A Bluesfest Dream Come True Today Bluesfest, Australia’s multi award winning Festival, held annually over the long Easter Weekend (March 28 to April 1) announced its 3rd sensational Line-Up for 2013! Headlining this announcement is ROBERT PLANT, the legendary front man of the band Led Zeppelin, presenting Sensational Shape Shifters. Led Zeppelin came to Australia in 1972 and a Robert Plant Tour of Australia has been long awaited by his Australian fans.  He last toured in 1996 with Jimmy Page. Plant was voted in the Rolling Stone Readers Pick in 2011, ‘The Best Lead Singer of All Time’. Even greater is the news that he has been performing 8 Led Zeppelin songs on stage [...]

Australian documentary maker David Bradbury was detained by police late yesterday in Tamil Nadu while investigating the Indian nuclear industry. Greens nuclear policy spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam said the arrest was only the latest in a series of moves to suppress criticism of India’s notorious nuclear sector. “Mr Bradbury was approaching Idinthakarai, a village that has been subjected to severe police repression in response to anti-nuclear protests, when he was detained and taken to Radhapuram Police Station. He has since been released. I will be raising the matter with the Indian Ambassador today. “On October 12 an ‘All India Fact Finding’ team of about 12 people was intercepted on route to Idinthakarai, interrogated and remanded in Tirunelveli Jail. This is [...]

Reclaim the Night is a global women’s protest against men’s sexual violence held, on the last Friday in October each year. The date for 2012 is October 26. The philosophy of Reclaim The Night encourages grass roots participation in the organisation of events by as many women as possible. In this way Reclaim The Night is able to draw together women from diverse backgrounds and experiences to work together in addressing issues of men’s sexual violence against women and children. With the tragic death of Jill Meagher in Melbourne recently, the timing for Reclaim The Night has never been more important. This year’s Reclaim the Night will have a special focus on young women. We would encourage all mothers to [...]

A major protest and concert at Murwillumbah to kick off the Lock the Gate Alliance “National Week of Action” against coal and coal seam gas in the Northern Rivers. Come and join with other Northern Rivers residents to send a strong, clear message to local, state and federal governments that the Northern Rivers Community says “Lock the Gate” to coal and coal seam gas. Gates open at 9.30am for a 10am start. March through the Murwillumbah CBD from 12 noon. Concert starts at 1pm back at the Showgrounds. Please wear yellow.

JINGI WALLA! Join us for a celebration of native culture, language, music, art and food as we gather to support the Indigenous Elders of the Rainbow Region. The first in a monthly series, Bunjala Day is being established to create ongoing opportunities for the people of Byron Bay and the Northern Rivers to gain a deeper understanding of Indigenous Culture while directly supporting their communities in need. Entry is BY DONATION with all funds going directly to the Elders SUNDAY OCTOBER 7th PROGRAM 2pm: Meet the Elders / Kids Arts and Crafts 3pm: Storytelling with Pop Harry Walker 4pm: Indigenous Language Class 5pm: Traditional Song and Dance 6pm: Family Dinner – Kangaroo Stew + Vegetarian Options 7pm: Concert for the [...]

Treehouse On Belongil before the fire in March (Photo by Nadine Vaas) Byron’s Iconic Treehouse On Belongil to reopen by Xmas! After a devastating fire ripped through Treehouse at Belongil cafe, in Childe Street back in March this year, they are now set to reopen. Their DA has been approved and they have Council’s full support with their plans to redevelop the site. Many Byron locals and visitors alike, were saddened by the news of the fire, as Treehouse on Belongil is literally part of the colourful history of Byron Bay. The cafe has played host to hundreds of musicians over the years, and many will fondly remember the old sunset drumming circles after the markets of years gone by. [...]

PCYC TO CALL THE BYRON REGIONAL SPORT AND CULTURAL COMPLEX ‘HOME’ The Police Citizens Youth Clubs (PCYC) will soon take up residence at Byron Shire Council’s sport and cultural complex. Mayor Jan Barham said the Council decision to agree to the PCYC’s expression of interest to operate from the new facility would see a memorandum of understanding (MOU) initiated. The MOU will then trigger a lease and participation agreement to be drafted. “The draft lease agreement will be reported to the new Council in October, forwarded to the PCYC for signing and hopefully the PCYC will be in the building soon afterwards,” she said. Mayor Barham said the PCYC operates 57 clubs in NSW and is a leading youth organisation [...]

The 18th WOW (World of Women) Film Festival screens as two sessions from 11am to 4pm with a lunch break. This unique festival gives us glimpses of the world as seen through the eyes of women comprising the year’s best 17 short films primarily produced by women. Plus the very special screening of the two winning films from local female film-makes (under 18 & adult) in the Byron Breast Cancer Support Group ‘Women’s Short Film Making Competition’ Sunday 26 August Screenings: 11am & 1.30pm Tickets on the door: Day Pass (2 sessions) $15 / $5 student 1 session (11am OR 1.30pm) $10 Session 1 ★ 11am Slashed (11 mins) (Comedy) Graham Gates/Rogan Brown – Producer, Rebecca Thomson – Director, Claire [...]

FREE entry – book here Battle For Byron (52 minutes) Friday 10 August from 6pm to 7.30pm Byron Bay Community Centre Gold coin donations welcome at the door THE BATTLE FOR BYRON Back in the mid 90s for most Byron Shire residents it seemed that the arts and eco minded surfing Shire they lived in was about to become the next Gold Coast, or at least Noosa. A huge tourist complex, Club Med, was about to be built and the Council was overwhelmingly pro-development. Helicopters regularly flew overhead as developers looked for the next great site. And then something happened. David Bradbury’s classic 52 minute 1996 documentary tells the story of a community lead campaign that shaped the Byron Shire we enjoy today. Despite our many differences and unresolved issues we remain a model for planned sustainable development for many lin Australia. For its Byron Bay [...]

On your marks…Get set…Go! The writers are flying in, the workshops are running, the school students have meet their idols. The week of the Byron Bay Writers’ Festival has arrived, the weather is superb and the festivities are underway. Take a break from the Olympics and head down Jonson Street – you may well see your favourite author wandering the town and getting acclimatised. There’s still time to join in. Tickets for the festival are available online at www.byronbaywritersfestival.com.au or you can buy day passes on site at North Byron Events (Bayshore Drive, Byron Bay) on any of the three festival days, starting Friday 3 August. While some feature events have sold out, there are still seats available for the [...]

What are the dates and venue for Splendour 2012 Friday 27, Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 July at Belongil Fields, Byron Bay, where Splendour took place from 2001-2009. For 2010 and 2011 the festival was temporarily relocated to Woodfordia, near Woodford Qld, but the intention was always to return to Byron Shire. What happened to the planned move to the new North Byron Parklands site at Yelgun? Since 2006 Splendour In The Grass has been part of a group working toward establishing a permanent sustainable event venue to stage the festival. The chosen 660 acre site received approval from the NSW Planning Assessment Commission on April 26th 2012 but will not be ready for the 2012 event. Please visit www.northbyronshireparklands.com if [...]

Award winning documentary I AM ELEVEN is coming to Byron Bay! Come to the special ‘Meet the filmmaker’ screenings and Q&A sessions this Sunday July 22 at 3.30pm and 6pm Pighouse Flicks 1 Skinners Shoot Road, Byron Bay. Ticketing times and information click here or call (02) 6685 5828. Please note this film has been selling out all over Australia so we suggest you purchase tickets early to avoid disappointment. The cinema has limited seating. The film will play select sessions over the coming week so check the Pighouse Flicks website for details Or visit www.iameleven.com for more details and the trailer! Australian filmmaker Genevieve Bailey set off around the world to produce this documentary feature film and online project. [...]

Since it started on March 9, the YACROCKCAFE at the Byron Youth Activities Centre, has seen over 100 young musicians and bands take to the stage. For many, it has been their first public appearances. The YACROCKCAFE is a music-based safe-socialising weekly drop-in program for teenagers, that happens on Friday nights from 5-10pm. The YAC stage is set up each Friday with a full PA system, which is managed by sound engineering students from the SAE, on work placement. The idea of these nights is to encourage young bands and musicians to get together and play music to a live audience in a drug and alcohol-free youth-friendly space. There have been a number of special party nights, including workshops from [...]

“WILD FOOD FEAST” The Wild Food Feast is a collaboration of a million good things. A feast for your bellies, your hearts and your ears. Wild Foods are thriving all around us in our Urban setting and, under the enthusiastic guidance of Peter Hardwick, you’ll adopt the eyes to see them. Learn with him as he forages for, cooks up and devours the incredible edibles of our landscape. On another level, your attendance will mean your participation in a beautiful, youthful community initiative. You will be helping the Byron Youth Nature Consciousness raise funds for solar panels for the Mullum Civic Centre. They’re almost on target, come help them over the line… And, what’s more, the whole day through you’ll [...]

BLUESFEST CLAIM VICTORY IN COUNCIL ROW Organisers of the Byron Bay Bluesfest are claiming a “huge win” after the Director General of the NSW Government’s Planning and Infrastructure department advised Byron Shire Council to scrap a controversial “major events” clause. The latest development in an ongoing saga between Bluesfest, and its director Peter Noble, and the Byron Council, the dispute surrounds the Byron Events Policy and its restriction on events to be held in the region. The letter from Sam Haddad, Director General of Planning and Infrastructure, reads, “I have decided… that the Byron Shire proposed “Major Events’ Clause, should not proceed. “I have formed the opinion that the proposal is not in the public interest, I believe matters of [...]

This coming Friday 6th July in Byron, there is a special fundraiser to send Dr Helen Caldicott to Roxby Downs. Happening at the Mullum RSL from 6pm URANIUM BOOM NUCLEAR DOOM will showcase a huge line-up of performing artists including: Fyah Walk Ras Bin Sam & Lion I The Lucky Wonders MC Mandy Nolan Lewis Walker Nakula Tara Murphy DJ Sheik Yerbooty David Bradbury films and a live hookup with Fukishima This event is supporting Lizards Revenge www.lizardsrevenge.net Supported by Byron Neighbourhood Resource Centre Fukishima: Made in Australia! Stop Uranium Mining! LIZARDS REVENGE – 5 DAY FESTIVAL 14-18 JULY 2012 Lizards Revenge is excited to bring their 5 day festival to Roxby Downs, to protest at the door of potentially [...]

Next week is NAIDOC Week and there are a lot of events happening in Byron to celebrate. MONDAY  2nd July – Flag Raising Ceremony at the Byron Shire Council Chambers, Stations Street, Mullumbimby, with the Bigal Nali Dancers at 10am TUESDAY 3rd July- FAMILY FUN DAY – Mullumbimby Neightbourhood Centre from 11am -2pm~ Indingenous Arts Exhibition Opening; Dancers; Yarning Circle; Kids Activities; Art Workshops; Craft; BBQ and more… WEDNESDAY 4th July – ARAKAL WEBSITE LAUNCH – 4-5pm – Byron Cultural & Community Centre FILM SCREENING – 6.30-8pm – Byron Cultural & Community Centre-  $8/$6 conc. – Arakwal documentary “Walking With My Sisters” & premiere of experpt from new film “Back to Country” in celebration of 20 years of Mabo. THURSDAY [...]

The Human Rights Film Festival starts at the PigHouse Flicks in Byron tonight, with four sessions over four nights. The Island President – Tue 13 June, 7pm http://hraff.org.au/film-event/the-island-president-2 Australian Shorts – Wed 14 June, 7pm http://hraff.org.au/film-event/australian-shorts-home-grown International Shorts – Thu 15 June, 7pm http://hraff.org.au/film-event/international-mixtape Fantome Island – Fri 16 June, 7pm http://hraff.org.au/film-event/fantome-island Art is indeed a luminous language. When unbound by culture or borders, it becomes a powerful means of communication, transcending cultural, ethnic or linguistic differences. Harnessing such power, what sort of a world could be built when art is used to explore the difficult issues of human rights? This is the question that we at the Human Rights Art and Film Festival (HRAFF) 2012 seek to answer. In [...]

VIBADELIX One Earth ~Arts Music & Environment Festival For the third year running Vibadelix Arts, Music and Environment Festival will be presented by Rock the YAC Productions at the Youth Activity Centre. Our theme this year is One Earth – Get ‘Fracking’ Aware! – We are fundraising to combat Coal Seam Gas mining in the region. We are calling out to all interested performers, musicians, visual and creative artists and environmentalists to perform, exhibit or speak at the festival and run creative and environmental workshops. Vibadelix will be a vibrant celebration of community spirit, raising awareness on environmental issues featuring an eclectic mix of music, bands, DJs, Singer/songwriters, circus, theatre performances, market stalls, an art exhibition and creative workshops on [...]

BEATS N ROOTS HIP HOP SUMMIT AND CRANKFEST XTREME FINALE… Today marks day four of the Beats N Roots Hip Hop Summit and Youth Arts Leadership Conference, with a HUGE day planned at the Byron YAC today. Hundreds of young people have been involved in two days of dancing and making beats, keynote presentations, master classes, workshops and performances on Thursday and Friday at Multitask in Lismore, followed by CrankFest Xtreme in Evans Head yesterday. Sunday at the YAC 11am-2pm Special screening of Morganics Documentary with Q&A followed by a Hip Hop Community Worker Master class and artsworker round table forum in Byron Bay at the Byron YAC 2pm-5pm-Beats in the Bay Music Gig – featuring some of the best [...]

Crankfest Xtreme is the region’s largest celebration of youth arts and culture showcasing our young people’s talents and achievements gained as part of the National Youth Week Celebrations across the Northern Rivers. Running from 11am-5pm alongside the river in Evans Head the festival offers youth a chance to step up and shine at the Breakamove showcase stage, learn some hip hop moves or test your xtreme skills in the BMX or Skate competitions. If just kicking back and watching is more your style you can tune into the live sounds of youth bands at the Essential Energy Stage, funky deejays or enjoy the work of original songwriters and musicians. With creative workshops including tumbling, aerial circus and dance, heaps of [...]

Kevin cringes at binges Former prime minister Kevin Rudd has lent his weight and his 1.1 million online followers to back a Byron Youth Service (BYS) initiative to tackle binge drinking among the young. During a surprise visit to the BYS centre in Byron Bay on Friday to hear about its national project Cringe the Binge and how the federal government could help, Mr Rudd immediately offered to do an on-the-spot video clip to post on YouTube for his legions of fans to promote the campaign that day. Accompanied by Richmond MP Justine Elliot, Mr Rudd said the project aimed to raise consciousness that binge drinking ‘is a problem and can stuff your brain’. After watching a video presentation of [...]

Organisers of the 2012 Splendour In The Grass, have this morning announced a totally HUGE line-up for this years festival! For three days in July, Belongil Fields will come alive with the awesome sounds of - Jack White, Bloc Party, Smashing Pumpkins, At The Drive-In, Lana Del Rey, Azealia Banks, The Shins, Hilltop Hoods, The Kooks, Gossip, Miike Snow, Dirty Three, 360, Tame Impala, Explosions In The Sky, Ladyhawke, The Afghan Whigs, Missy Higgins, Wolfmother, Metric, Kimbra, Mudhoney, Band Of Skulls, Spiderbait, Django Django, Gypsy & The Cat, San Cisco, Last Dinosaurs, Electric Guest, Muscles, Angus Stone, DZ Deathrays, Howler, Lanie Lane, Wolf & Cub, Fun., Big Scary, Michael Kiwanuka, Seekae, Friends, Yacht Club Dj’s, Bertie Blackman, Jinja Safari, Blue King [...]

Art, music, employment and grant funding for young people’s projects are key themes for this year’s National Youth Week activities in Byron Shire. National Youth Week is the largest celebration of young people in Australia and this year’s theme isImagine. Create. Inspire. Council’s youth activity officer Belle Arnold said the Byron Shire Youth Council has been working with staff and community groups to deliver a fantastic line up for Youth Week 2012. National Youth Week (NYW) 2012 is on from Friday 13 April to Sunday 22 April 2012, with events running all over the country. The first Byron Shire FREE event will be the Youth Arts Exhibition, Friday 13 April from 6 to 8 pm.  The evening will showcase 90 entries from the [...]

With the 23rd BluesFest about to get underway, we thought we should give you a few tips on how to make it an easier experience… Take some sunscreen… The sun can be hellish if you’re spending 5 days out in it! Buy some gumboots! Available in every second shop in Byron! The BluesFest has another nickname in wet weather…. MudFest! And whatever you do, leave your thongs at home… there are thousands of them eternally buried in the ground out there from last year! Make sure you drink lots of water! There are hydration stations everywhere! Leave your dog at home… Unless you are a police person and your dog is a drug dog! And don’t try and pat the [...]

The Lismore Blisstas in 2011. WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN THE SAMBA BLISSTAS? THEN HERE’S YOUR CHANCE! Hugely popular Northern Rivers percussion band, the Samba Blisstas are recruiting new members across the Northern Rivers through a series of ‘Carnival Drumming & Percussion’ workshops and courses in Bangalow, Kingscliff and Ballina. There are now three versions of the Blisstas across the North Coast, due to their ever increasing popularity!  The Ballina Blisstas at Ballina, Samba Blisstas at Bangalow and the King Blisstas at Kingscliff. The ‘Blisstas’ are running  four-week courses across the North Coast as part of their 2012 recruitment drive. Courses will be held on Tuesdays in Bangalow at the Bangalow Pavilion Hall (starting May 1, 6pm to 8pm), Wednesdays at the [...]

‘Connection to the community makes you feel good, useful and wanted’. Byron Bay at the heart of the Shire is filled with many different people who volunteer to make the community a wonderful place to work and play. TODAY, March 15th 2012, the Byron Community Centre is hosting the second Byron Shire Volunteer Expo. An exciting community celebration showcasing organisations in the shire that rely on volunteers as part of their workforce.Volunteer contributions keep the community vibrant and alive. The Byron Shire has an amazing diversity of organisations that need volunteers - from art projects to theatre, landcare, music performances and community events. The Expo will showcase these organisations and provide an opportunity to recruit more volunteers. Volunteering offers various ways [...]

Do you want to volunteer to do some good things in the community? Then head on down to the Volunteers Expo at the Community Centre on Thursday… Keep your eye out for the BUDDI stall… BUDDI (the Byron Underage Drinking & Drug Initiative-Community Drug Action Team) needs volunteers for the new YACROCKCAFE, a teen music cafe at the YAC every Friday night; the Byron Schoolies Safety Response Schoolie HUB and other community events… Are you up for volunteering?? Head on down and sign up to be a volunteer! BUDDI – the Byron Underage Drinking & Drug Initiative-Community Drug Action Team BUDDI was formed under NSW Health Community Drug Strategies Program and is auspiced by Byron Youth Service. BUDDI Team membership [...]

International Womens Day Exhibition becomes an Annual Event International Women’s Day will be celebrated in the Shire with an exhibition of photos and artwork, recognising and celebrating the inspiring women from our community. The Exhibition and celebration has become an annual event of the Women’s Resource Service and Byron Shire Council, now in its third year, and continues to evolve into a unique celebration of the women in our Shire who have inspired, enriched and contributed to our community. Held annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. Globally there is a web of rich and diverse local activity that connects women from all around the world that mark the [...]

“VOLUNTEER AND BE A STAR” BYRON BAY COMMUNITY CENTRE ‘Connection to the community makes you feel good, useful and wanted’. Byron Bay at the heart of the Shire is filled with many different people who volunteer to make the community a wonderful place to work and play. On March 15th 2012, the Byron Community Centre is hosting the second Byron Shire Volunteer Expo. An exciting community celebration showcasing organisations in the shire that rely on volunteers as part of their workforce.Volunteer contributions keep the community vibrant and alive. The Byron Shire has an amazing diversity of organisations that need volunteers - from art projects to theatre, landcare, music performances and community events. The Expo will showcase these organisations and provide an opportunity [...]

Rocky Creek Dam. Photo Jacklyn Wagner / The Northern Star CYANIDE has been detected in Rocky Creek Dam which supplies drinking water to much of the Northern Rivers. Last month, the naturally occurring compound was found in tap water at a level above that recommended under the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. Rous Water general manager Kyme Lavellesaid laboratory testing conducted in February found small traces of cyanide in water which had been filtered. However, all testing since has been clear. “It’s a minute amount,” Mr Lavelle said. The cyanide was detected at a level between .04 and .08mm above the acceptable level of .08mm per litre. Mr Lavelle stressed these levels were well below that which would cause health problems, [...]

Byron High Year 10 Vocational Learning Program Students Seek Work Placements 21 students enrolled in the Year 10 Vocational Learning Program (VLP) at Byron High School, are seeking local businesses willing to engage them on work placements for a period of up to 8 weeks at a time. These work placements will commence during March and students will be required to attend the work placements each Friday. These students have a wide variety of requests for experience in industries from building through to hairdressing. Businesses involved would be required to provide the students with employment related workplace skills and an understanding of the work environment. The VLP students are between 15 and 16 years of age. Vocational Learning prepares students [...]

A heavy police presence helped to improve behaviour last year. A CRIME report on Byron Bay has reinforced the need for a CCTV system in the CBD, with the town’s rate of drunken assaults well above the state average. But cameras may be a while off yet with no funding currently available to Byron Shire Council. Last November, The Northern Star reported on Tweed Byron Local Area Command (LAC) police and Byron Shire Council working to tackle alcohol-related assaults in the Byron CBD. Police put forward CCTV as a solution. Last month, council released their draft Safer Community Compact strategy for 2012-2016. It showed that Byron Shire ranked 11th in NSW for non-domestic related assaults in 2010. Forty-seven per cent [...]

Happy to hear that Gaia Retreat and Spa has featured in heavily in the top Trip Advisor awards are staff (from left) co-owner Gregg Cave, accounts Jody Peachey, manager Leanne Schoen, front of house Karen Leggett, reservations Kylie Tuck, head chef Dan Trewartha, and seated with Gio is spa manager Naomi Quarrell. WORLD travellers have recognised the Byron Bay health retreat owned by Olivia Newton-John and Gregg Cave as one of the most luxurious spa experiences on the planet. Gaia retreat and spa has come in at number five in the top Relaxation and Spa Hotels in the World on the 2012 Travellers’ Choice awards. The Travellers’ Choice awards are judged by the editors and travellers of Trip Advisor, arguably [...]

SMILES: Byron Bay International Film Festival director J’aimee Skippon Volke predicts a magic event. Festival Reels In International Filmmakers FIVE venues, more than 170 films, a beachside sunset cinema and filmmakers from around the world. It’s all on offer at the sixth annual Byron Bay International Film Festival from March 2 to 11. With the official line-up of films expected to be announced this week and the possible attendance by Australian actors Jack Thompson and Vince Colosimo, the stage is set for the what festival director J’aimee Skippon Volke says will be the best ever festival. “The festival attracted 950 entries from all over the world and several of the films to be screened this year will be world premieres,” [...]

THE STATE government has released the results of its controversial review of NSW Marine Parks. The Independent Scientific Audit of Marine Parks calls for significant change in marine park management, including that the Marine Parks Authority, Coastal Management Panel and NSW Fisheries be abolished and replaced with a Coastal and Marine Management Authority. The audit, chaired by Professor Robert Beeton AM, also found marine park zoning should have been carried out in a more consultative way by the former Labor government. It said there had been an ‘ad hoc and generally poor approach to social assessment, if undertaken at all’ in relation to marine parks and recommended an independent scientific committee that would give a greater emphasis to social and [...]

NATURAL LOOKS: The face of the Byron Naturally Campaign, Lisa Mae, during the development of the highly successful tourism promotion. THE 2012 Byron Naturally campaign is shaping up to deliver an even greater impact than last year’s highly successful tourism promotion. The campaign, run by Byron United, is being supported by tourism industry heavyweights including Destination NSW. “In 2012 we will achieve additional exposure via more industry partnerships with airlines and airports,” Utopia Creative principal and campaign creator Adrian Nelson said. “We have developed exciting new components for this year’s campaign including a Smart Phone application that expands the functionality of the website with an integrated, trackable redemption system and extended marketing reach using TV on the web. “We are [...]

This business immediately advertised that Splendour in the Grass was returning to Byron Bay. IT WILL BE SPLENDOUR IN THE FIELDS LOCALS, loyal fans and businesses are celebrating the homecoming of Splendour in the Grass, which will return to its old stomping ground at Belongil Fields this year. The excitement was felt outside one Byron Bay business yesterday, where a blackboard inscribed with “Welcome back to Byron Splendour in the Grass” was set up within hours of the announcement. “It’s a godsend,” Byron United president Paul Waters said. “It’s been a hard two years with Splendour away.” Belongil Fields will host Splendour in the Grass on July 27-29. The festival was relocated to Woodford in Queensland two years ago after [...]

Blues Fest director Peter Noble spoke at a public meeting at the Byron Bay Community Centre today. EMOTIONS are running high at a meeting in Byron Bay today where almost 100 people have gathered to share their opinions on the contentious North Byron Parklands proposal. Late last year the State Government recommended the approval of the Yelgun site proposal, which would see Splendour In the Grass return to the Byron Shire plus two other major events with maximum crowds of 25,000 and 15,000, respectively, in the first year. The State Government placed the final decision into the hands of the independent NSW Planning Assessment Commission, which hosted a public meeting about the development at the Byron Community Centre today. In true [...]