Construction of a new roundabout on Bayshore Drive, at the intersection of the access road to Byron TAFE and the IGA shopping centre, is going to take five months longer than first scheduled to complete due to unexpected road and stormwater issues. The new roundabout is a $2.4m project including footpaths, garden beds, new kerbs and gutters and lighting – and is now due for completion by the end of March 2026, weather permitting.The project is part of the development of a 5.8-hectare Council-owned block of land where the Byron TAFE is located, known as Lot 12 Bayshore Drive.“Since starting works, we’ve had a number of unforeseen and substantial stormwater drainage issues around the roundabout construction site on Bayshore Drive and they can’t be ignored - they have to be fixed now,” Council’s Manager Assets and Major Projects Christopher Soulsby said.“Unfortunately, some of the stormwater issues are complex and have been compounded by months of rain and a very high water table which makes upgrades to the drainage and construction of new roads really problematic. “We wanted to be up front about these issues and let the local community and businesses know about the expected delay to completion of works as soon as possible. We’ll continue doing all we can to work with everyone to minimise impacts and we’ve introduced work on a Saturday to speed things up,” Mr Soulsby said.Council built a slip lane through the Lot 12 Bayshore Road (TAFE site) earlier this year to ensure two lanes of traffic remain open for the majority of the roundabout construction and to provide access to the shopping complex. “The new roundabout, once completed, sets up this education and innovation precinct for success and will be a great long-term asset for the future of Sunrise and the Byron Arts and Industry Estate,” Mr Soulsby said. For more information about the roundabout works go to Council’s website.

Byron Shire Councillors have supported a motion put forward at Thursday's ordinary meeting for Ethical Procurement Policy in Compliance with International Human Rights Law.The motion appears to have brought a war of words to the Northern Rivers, causing division in the community. Byron Council staff said, 'The proposal to strengthen these commitments through greater alignment with international human rights standards is consistent with Council's policy direction. However, given the complexity and potential breadth of the proposed changes, it is essential to proceed with caution and utmost diligence. A thorough assessment is required to ensure full compliance with Council's legal, operational, and financial obligations, and to mitigate the risk of unintended consequences which could affect Council’s governance, financial position and service delivery.''Implementing the actions proposed in the Motion would require a significant increase in staff time, legal oversight, and procurement resourcing.'The advice was ignored, the motion passed, and two press releases were sent by the Northern Rivers Friends of Palestine and the Northern Rivers Jewish Community Association.NORTHERN RIVERS FRIENDS OF PALESTINEByron Shire Council today voted to boycott companies operating in illegal Israeli settlements, taking a step forward in protecting ratepayers’ money from human rights abuses.“In 2024 we said ‘Not In Our Name’ — and now we’re saying ‘Not With Our Money’,” said Subhi Awad from Northern Rivers Friends of Palestine. “Our community, and communities across this country, do not want our money going to bombing hospitals and killing kids. This isn’t about division or anything else, it’s about basic human decency. It’s another clear signal to the government that we want sanctions on Israel and another huge win for the boycott movement.”The original motion was co-sponsored by Greens Councillor Elia Hauge. Her motion was foreshadowed by Labor councillor Asren Pugh, whose motion was similar but removed the 2025 list of companies that listed in Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese’s report, From Economy of Occupation to Economy of Genocide. Cr Pugh’s motion referred only to a smaller 2020 UN list of companies. Cr Pugh’s motion was carried.Cr Hauge has said: “Ethical procurement is core council business. People here don’t want their rates funding companies that demolish homes, displace families, or profit from killing civilians. This is good governance — and good conscience.”Greens Cr Michelle Lowe, who seconded Cr Hauge’s motion, has said, “This motion asks us to live up to our existing values, to listen to our community and to take meaningful action in solidarity with those facing atrocities. It is the least we can do and it’s exactly what is expected of us as community representatives. Collectively we have power.”Northern Rivers Friends of Palestine welcomed the progress but pledged to continue campaigning for full divestment from all companies complicit in Israel’s war crimes.THE NORTHERN RIVERS JEWISH COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONThe NSW Jewish community condemns the decision of some Byron Shire councillors to import division and hatred into our communities by supporting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign.Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions is not a peace-based movement, its leaders openly oppose dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians, reject a two-state solution, and advocate for the dismantling of the world’s only Jewish state.The Byron Shire decision will have no impact on the global conflict raging in the middle east but will risk feeding the antisemitism and bigotry already running rampant on our streets. Councillors were provided with compelling evidence of this escalating hate in the region and chose to ignore it. Stunningly, councillors admitted during debate that no work has been undertaken to examine the cost of this decision to ratepayers.The motion includes an order that council will be “ceasing to conduct business” with any business named on an opaque United Nations list that includes Airbnb, Booking.com, TripAdvisor.com and Expedia. This list is intended as advisory only and has been criticised for politicisation by the United States, United Kingdom, European Union and Canada.It is unclear what that will mean for the thousands of short-term rental providers, tourism operators and hospitality businesses in the region.Council must answer questions about whether it will continue to collect rates and levies from businesses and owners which operate with these providers, and if so, how it can justify doing so.NSW Jewish Board of Deputies CEO Michele Goldman said, “This isn’t just virtue signalling, this will cost rate payers and council must tell them how much."Weighing into an overseas conflict will not bring peace to the Middle East but is causing clear rifts between Byron community members where they were previously harmonious, undermining local cohesion and hurting both the Jewish and broader local community."Northern Rivers Jewish Community Association President Annalee Atia said, “The Byron Shire Council conducted no meaningful engagement with its constituents on this divisive and highly contentious matter and despite several attempts, has chosen to ignore important input from the local Jewish community, causing irreversible harm with their decision to adopt this motion and greatly affecting their relationship with one of its minority communities.“Many misinformed and divisive statements were made on the day. We respect that councillors hold strong personal views, but motions that single out one nationality or community are discriminatory by nature and have real, negative implications for our local community.”It appears that the effects of the Gaza war have reached the Northern Rivers.

A man has died following a single-vehicle crash near Grafton overnight.About 12.30am today (Friday, 29 August 2025), emergency services were called to Bent Street, South Grafton, following reports of a crash.Officers attached to Coffs/Clarence Police District attended and located a vehicle that had crashed into a tree.The passenger of the car, a 19-year-old man, was found deceased at the scene.The driver, a 39-year-old man, was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being airlifted to Gold Coast Hospital in a critical condition.A crime scene was established by police attached to Coffs/Clarence Police District, and an investigation into the crash has commenced.As inquiries continue, anyone with information or dashcam footage of the crash is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.A report will be prepared for the information of 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.

Attention Byron Shire-based community groups, schools, P&Cs and not-for-profit organisations.  Applications for the 2024/25 Byron Shire Mayoral Fund are now open until Friday, 3 October. There’s a total pool of $3,500 available. “Last year, the Mayoral fund provided small grants to ten community organisations to support a diverse range of projects and initiatives happening across the Shire,” Mayor, Sarah Ndiaye said.“Small, well-considered projects can create very meaningful change, and I encourage all community groups to have a think about how they could put a modest funding boost to use and get an application in.“This fund is all about supporting projects with heart that will make a significant, positive impact on our local communities,” the Mayor added. Last year’s Mayoral Fund recipients included:Mullumbimby Chamber of Commerce - $500.Drill Hall Theatre - $500.Byron Youth Service - $500.Bangalow Quilters - $300.Bangalow Public School - $300.Shara Community Gardens - $300.Hinterland Christian College - $300.Mullumbimby High School P&C - $300.Ocean Shores Public School - $300.Ocean Shores Public School P&C - $300. More information about the Mayoral Fund and how to apply is on Council’s website. Applications close at 9:00am on Friday, 3 October 2025.

The Tweed Regional Gallery and three local artists have been successful in the latest rounds of NSW arts funding announced this week.The NSW Government has reformed the Arts and Cultural Funding Program to better support creative organisations across every art form.For the first time, multi-year funding is available for organisations, instead of having to apply every year. This enables them to employ and develop artists and arts workers and foster long-term strategic partnerships.The Tweed Regional Gallery and Margaret Olley Art Centre has been successful in the 2-year Arts and Culture Funding Program with a grant of $80,000.In the Lismore electorate, three individual artists have been funded under Creative Steps-New Work with one grant of $4843 for a regional residency and grants of $3845 and $10,000 for professional development. For privacy requirements, the names of the individual artists are not released.Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said, “I am pleased to see the reformed Arts and Cultural Funding Program has delivered simpler, fairer, and certain funding.“It’s always great to see dedicated arts funding supporting our local artists and organisations and I look forward to seeing these projects develop and enrich our cultural life.”All funded applications were assessed against published criteria and ranked in order of merit and impact by the ten Artform Boards. For more information about the funding outcomes, visit create.nsw.gov.au 

Work will begin at Mullumbimby’s Lavertys Gap weir in September to repair serious erosion along the creek bank.Erosion has been progressing for some time and was worsened during the 2022 floods and Cyclone Alfred earlier this year.Byron Shire Council Manager Utilities Cameron Clark said the work at the 100-year-old weir on Wilsons Creek will protect and preserve one of the Shire’s most important heritage assets.“The weir is the main source of drinking water for Mullumbimby and is listed on the NSW State Heritage Register,” Mr Clark said.“Without repairs, there is a risk of channels forming in the earth around the weir wall, causing leaking.“NSW Public Works will carry out repairs that will preserve the heritage fabric of Lavertys Gap weir and secure its long-term integrity.”Water cannot be drawn from the weir during the repairs, and Mullumbimby will be temporarily supplied with water from the recently extended Emergency Water Main.The Mullumbimby Emergency Water Main was upgraded in 2025 to support all of Mullumbimby, whereas previously it could only supply about half the town.The main is connected to the Rous regional water network, which supplies the rest of Byron Shire.There will be no disruption to supply, and residents will not experience any changes to their water service during the works.The project is expected to take approximately 16 weeks. Flows in Wilsons Creek will be maintained by pumping water past the weir wall.Information about the repair of Laverty’s Gap weir is on Council’s website.The work is being carried out under the NSW Government Water and Wastewater Repair and Recovery Program. 

Byron Shire Council's Regenerative Agriculture Small Grants Program is back for 2025-2026, giving local landowners and producers an opportunity to receive a grant of up to $3,500.Mark Duncan, Byron Shire Council’s Agricultural Extension Officer, said that the aim of the 2025-2026  Regenerative Agriculture Small Grants Program was to encourage and support regenerative land management practices while also improving on-farm productivity.“Projects that increase the land's capacity to produce more crops and improve biodiversity, such as implementing composting systems, is just one example of a project that could be considered,” he said.“The grant provides not just a financial boost to kick start regenerative practices but also gives successful applicants a chance to later showcase the outcomes of their projects. This may inspire and encourage more landowners to adopt similar practices, making Byron Shire farms more sustainable, resilient and biodiverse,” he said. Projects selected for the 2024-2025 program included funding towards:Electric fencing and water infrastructure to facilitate rotational high-density grazing to improve soil carbon.Beneficial insect releases to support a productive and environmentally friendly approach to pest management in a macadamia orchard.Implementation and assessment of biological treatments to improve soil health and seedling root establishment in a syntropic market garden.Setting up a worm farm to compost waste.If you are a primary producer, market gardener or small-scale farmer, and are interested in applying, please visit Byron Shire Council’s website to apply. Applications close Friday, 3 October. Successful grant recipients will be notified in early December. 

Ballina Shire Council is seeking community feedback on the concept design, cost estimate and preliminary impact assessment reports for the North Creek Road and Bridge project.This project will involve:Reconstruction, widening and raising of North Creek Road between Forest Oak Boulevard in North Ballina and Skennars Head Road in Skennars HeadProvision of an adjacent new shared pedestrian/cycle pathConstruction of a new bridge across North Creek.“Rebuilding the North Creek Bridge, which was demolished in the 1970s following construction of The Coast Road, will reconnect the Skennars Head/Lennox Head areas with Ballina/North Ballina, helping to ease congestion and cater for future traffic volumes,” explained Council’s Traffic Engineer Patrick Knight.Modelling predicts that North Creek Road will carry traffic volumes of 14,162 vehicles per day by the year 2036, and this project aims to alleviate congestion along The Coast Road.Further road network traffic modelling is underway to predict volumes to the year 2046, with this work due to be completed in late 2025. This network modelling will also inform future decision-making regarding this project.Have your sayThe community is invited to provide feedback on the draft concept design, cost estimate and preliminary reports by completing the online form at yoursayballina.com.au/North-Creek-Road-and-Bridge.Submissions close Wednesday, 24 September 2025.Community feedback will be collated and reported to a future council meeting, where Council will consider the draft documents, landowner and community feedback, before deciding whether to proceed with and fund the next stage of this project.

At approximately 5:00pm on Friday, 22 August 2025, officers from the Far North, Tweed Byron Highway Patrol were conducting stationary breath testing duties on Hinterland Way, Ewingsdale, as part of Operation RAID 2025.A black Ford Falcon sedan was directed into the testing site but failed to stop, prompting officers to initiate a pursuit. The vehicle entered the Pacific Motorway northbound, reaching speeds well above the posted speed limit and limits for a learner licence holder, he was observed forcing other vehicles off the roadway.The pursuit continued until the vehicle exited at the Gulgan Road exit and entered Fox Lane Tyagarah, a no-through road. The driver stopped, realising his error and surrendered to police without further incident.The driver was identified as a 16-year-old male learner licence holder from Queensland. At the time, there were no L plates displayed, no supervising driver, and further investigations led to identifying that the driver was recording the pursuit on his mobile.The male stated he had just purchased the car, and he didn’t know what to do. "I just panicked because I don’t have a licence." The male was Breath and Drug tested, returning a negative result. He was arrested and conveyed to Byron Bay Police Station.He was charged with the following offences to appear before the Byron Bay Children's Local Court:Police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously (1st offence)Class A motor vehicle exceed speed > 45 km/h (estimated)Fail to comply with request or signal to stop vehicleLearner not accompanied by driver/police officer/testerLearner driver not display "L" plates as prescribedLearner/P1/P2 licence holder use mobile phone while drivingHis NSW driving privileges were withdrawn for 6 months. As the registered owner of the vehicle, he is liable for towing and storage costs following the vehicle's confiscation for a period of three months.NSW Police remind all road users that learner drivers must comply with licence conditions at all times. Reckless behaviour places lives at risk and will be met with firm enforcement.

The Tweed Valley’s Riding for the Disabled group is now delivering therapeutic horse-related activities year-round thanks to the all-weather arena at its Murwillumbah home and has places open for more participants in its programs.Operating for more than 30 years in the local area, the group has previously battled through flooding and seasonal weather to meet client demand, but now with $407,975 from the NSW Government they’ve been able to extend and resurface the main arena and build a roof.Lismore MP Janelle Saffin, who is also Minister for the North Coast, congratulated Riding for the Disabled Tweed Valley President Leonie Dunne, her committee, and contractors – ABC Sheds and Uki’s Hardings Earthmoving -- on completing the major project.“Providing consistent activities for all members of the community is key to inclusivity,” Ms Saffin said.“This project will ensure people with disabilities can participate in enriching activities that boost their well-being with equity and dignity, and they won’t have to miss out on a key social activity in their lives due to weather.Ms Dunne said the upgrades will be life-changing for program participants.“Many people with disability have difficulties regulating their body temperature in heat and cold, and any rain makes riding boggy, slippery and dangerous – now we can keep classes going in all weather,” Ms Dunne said.“We believe riding develops abilities and benefits of the program include improved coordination, muscle power and balance, relaxation, outdoor activity, decision-making, communication, making friends, self-confidence, and importantly having fun.” Classes were limited to fine, clear days, and early mornings to keep clients comfortable, but now the community group will be able to run more classes each day, and that means supporting more people.With more than 20,0000 people in Tweed Shire living with disability, the ability to expand its offerings has been a long-term goal for the non-profit group.Emma Butler’s daughter Meg began riding with the group at the age of 11, and at age 20, she’s now volunteering and helping others.“For us personally, it’s been amazing; the horses themselves are great for building confidence, and then you see the participants grow new skills helping others with a disability, I’d recommend it to anyone with a child looking to make a connection,” Mrs Butler said.“The covered arena means you know it’s going ahead, too. Most of these kids thrive on routine, and you can pretty much guarantee it’s going ahead.”The Tweed Valley group is part of Riding for the Disabled NSW (RDA) and runs a range of programs for children and adults with both physical and mental disabilities.As one of the only equine facilities in the region with a covered arena, Tweed Valley Riding for the Disabled hopes to partner with other horse-related groups for events and arena hire to bolster funding for a future program delivery.Riding for the Disabled Tweed Valley has been operating in Murwillumbah since 1989. If you’re interested in participating in activities or volunteering with the group, you can go to the RDA Tweed Valley Facebook group for more information.

Summerland Way has alternating traffic conditions in place at The Risk, north of Kyogle, due to a serious motorcycle crash that occurred around 3:08 this afternoon.Emergency Services and Transport for NSW are in attendance.Expect delays if you need to drive in the area north of Wiangaree.It is believed a man in his 40s was treated for chest injuries before being flown to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle.Summerland Way was closed in both directions for two hours before the alternating traffic conditions came into place.Ongoing police investigations are expected to take some time. Motorists are advised to avoid the area.

A further 28 projects have been declared as State Significant Development following recommendations from the Housing Delivery Authority (HDA).Of these proposals, 25 are in metropolitan Sydney and 3 in regional NSW, including Evans Head.If lodged and approved, this could create more than 8,877 homes, including affordable housing across New South Wales.The Evans Head development states:"Development specified in EOI application 265348 dated May 2025, including development for the purpose of subdivision, dwelling houses, multi-dwelling houses and dual occupancies with provision of affordable housing at 17 Memorial Airport Drive, Evans Head, being Lot 3/DP1217074.To date, 215 proposals amounting to more than 79,094 potential homes have been declared state significant.Since the formation of the HDA in January this year, 71 projects have had Secretary Environmental Assessment Requirements issued and 5 Development Applications have been lodged.Recommendations from the HDA are published as required under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 before the SSD declaration.This is part of the Minns Government’s plan to build a better NSW with more homes and services, so young people, families and key local workers have somewhere to live and in the communities they choose. The Ministerial Order can be found here.

Motorists are advised of changed traffic conditions this weekend on the Bruxner Highway at the intersections of Canterbury and Richmond streets for geotechnical site investigation work. Work will be carried out on Sunday, 24 August from 9:30am to 5pm, weather permitting.Single lane traffic flow arrangements and a reduced speed limit of 40 km/h will be in place during work hours for the safety of motorists and workers. There may also be intermittent stoppages where motorists could experience short delays of up to five minutes. Motorists are advised to drive to traffic conditions and follow the directions of signs and traffic control.Transport for NSW thanks motorists for their patience during this time.For more information on this work visit https://www.livetraffic.com/incident-details/246170, download the Live Traffic NSW App or call 132 701. To receive updates direct to your phone, search for ‘Casino’ in your Live Traffic app, select the incident and click ‘Follow’.

UPDATE Sunday, August 24 3am: Jessica has been located and is safe.Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a woman reported missing in Casino.Jessica Henning, aged 25, was last seen on Lennox Street, Casino, on the morning of Monday, 18 August 2025.When she could not be contacted or located, officers attached to Richmond Police District were notified and commenced inquiries into her whereabouts.Police have concerns for her welfare as her disappearance is out of character.Jessica is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 160-165cm tall, of thin build, with brown eyes, and purple hair.She was last seen wearing long black pants, with a black or beige jumper, and white Nike shoes.She may be travelling in a white Hyundai i30 with a blue front bumper and a grey panel on the front passenger side.She is known to frequent Casino, Ballina, Lismore, and Orange, as well as Stanthorpe in Queensland.Anyone with information into her whereabouts is urged to call Lismore Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.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.

Australians love fashion – but we may love it a little too much. On average, we buy 55 new clothing items every year, making us the biggest consumers of clothing in the world. At the same time, more than 220,000 tonnes of clothing end up in landfill annually, the equivalent weight of four Sydney Harbour Bridges.Ballina Shire Council is stepping up, with the support of the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA). The Resource Recovery team has received a $32,400 grant to deliver a project called Creating a Circular Clothing Community in Ballina Shire, which will run until June 2026.“Our aim is to work with the community to help shift behaviours around fashion and textiles by promoting repair and reuse to keep clothing out of landfill,” explained Justine Rowe, Resource Recovery Education Officer and project lead.The first phase of the project has already kicked off and involved Ballina Shire Council teaming up with North East Waste to audit textiles and clothing dropped off at the Ballina Resource Recovery Centre.Over four weeks, nearly 5,000 litres of textiles and more than 2,000 items were sorted by type and quality. Women’s clothing was the most common, followed by children’s wear.Unfortunately, 83.5% of the items were in near-perfect condition or needed only a minor repair or clean to be worn again – highlighting a significant issue of good-quality clothing unnecessarily ending up in landfill.“The numbers from the audit mirror the fashion waste problem across Australia. We have too many clothes, we wear them too little, and replacing them has become cheaper than repairing them,” said Ms Rowe.“This project is about giving our community the tools and confidence to repair, upcycle and make smarter choices so we keep clothing and textiles out of landfill.”The next stage of the project focuses on education and community engagement. Council has launched an online survey to better understand how locals buy, care for and dispose of their clothing. The survey is open until 1 September, and participants go into the draw to win a $50 gift card: ballina-clothing.paperform.co.Council will also be hosting a series of free workshops to help residents learn practical skills in clothing repair, mending and upcycling. Upcoming workshops include:Intro to Upcycling: Transform a T-shirt into a Peplum Top or DressLennox Head CWA Hall – Wednesday 3 September, 10am to 12.30pmVisible Creative Hand-MendingWollongbar Hall – Sunday 14 September, 10am to 1pmRegistration is required and spaces are limited. See Council’s website to register and to find out about future upcoming workshops: ballina.nsw.gov.au/textiles.The NSW EPA provided Ballina Council with a $32,400 grant under the third round of the Local Government Waste Solutions Fund, as part of the NSW Government’s Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy. The project is funded through the waste levy.

An accident between a bus and a car on Hinterland Way, near Sunnycrest Lane, has caused police to close the road in both directions.The accident happened around 4pm. Live Traffic is reporting that people are trapped.Emergency services, Transport for NSW and a helicopter are in attendance.You are advised to avoid the area and use the M1 Pacific Motorway as an alternative route.Ongoing police investigations are expected to take some time.

As the rain continues to fall, the Northern Rivers sporting fields and golf courses become unplayable once again.One registered charity, the Mid Richmond Education Fund, raises funds to help young people who need a boost to help them along with their career plans.They have two major fundraising events each year: an end-of-year raffle and a golf day at the Woodburn-Evans Head Golf Club.The first date was meant to be in May, but due to a saturated course, the golf day was cancelled.Now, it is Take Two for the Mid Richmond Education Fund committee as they have set a new date to raise these much-needed funds; Sunday, August 24.The golf day is a 3-person ambrose with breakfast at 7am and a shotgun start at 8am.So dry out your clubs and have a swing to help those struggling to reach their dreams.Visit or call the golf club on 02 6682 2385 to book your team or find a place. The cost is $35 per person.

Water is one of our most precious resources, and Ballina Shire Council is determined to track down every drop.Water loss in Ballina Shire’s water network is currently estimated to be around 10% of the total network input. Ballina Shire Council’s water team has been working hard to reduce this from historic levels of around 20%, which already equates to a saving of 160 Olympic-sized swimming pools or 400 megalitres annually.The water team is not stopping there. To help save even more water and reduce costs, Council is once again rolling out the Active Leak Detection Project to locate and repair hidden leaks in the Council network and identify potential leaks on private properties.Starting mid-August, contractors from AquaAnalytics will survey 350 kilometres of Ballina’s water main network using specialised listening devices to check mains and fittings.This equipment can detect leaks as small as 10 litres per hour, with no digging required. It can also help detect potential leaks on the private property side of the water meter. If contractors identify a suspected leak, residents will receive a letterbox notice with details on how to arrange repairs with a plumber.Council’s Manager Water and Wastewater, Scott Turner, said the project delivers big wins for both the environment and the community.“When we ran this program in 2022 and 2024, we repaired more than 150 leaks in the public network and identified around 80 on private properties. If left unchecked, those private leaks alone could have added about $200,000 to our residents’ annual water bills across the Shire,” said Mr Turner. “These results show the program is working, but there’s still more to do and more leaks to find. By detecting and repairing leaks early, we can protect this precious resource and help residents avoid unexpected high water bills,” added Mr Turner. The Active Leak Detection Project is part of the NSW Government’s $35.3 million Water Efficiency and Regional Leakage Reduction Program. To date 23,325 kilometres of water mains have been surveyed, over 3750 leaks have been found, and 7,885ML/year of water has been saved from leaks that have been repaired by regional Councils.For more information, visit ballina.nsw.gov.au or call 1300 864 444.

The recently held Casino Truck Show was a resounding success, exceeding expectations in attendance, engagement, and community support, and reaffirmed its role as the biggest truck show in Australia, one of the greatest in the southern hemisphere, and a cornerstone of the local events calendar.Celebrating its 12th year, the NCP Casino Truck Show has grown into a vibrant and well-attended event, which attracts thousands of visitors, exhibitors, and transport professionals from across the country, and from New Zealand.In a report tabled at last night’s Richmond Valley Council meeting, it was evident the NCP Casino Truck Show played a critical role in supporting local businesses, creating tourism opportunities, and celebrating the essential work of the transport industry, which is the lifeblood of the country’s economy - particularly in regional Australia.This year’s event was held over two days, Friday 1 August and Saturday 2 August, and attracted around 43,000 attendees. The inclusion of Friday Night Lights – an amazing display of big, bright rigs in the Casino CBD, as well as live entertainment, proved a winning formula as people from all walks of life took to the streets to check out the hundreds of trucks on display.Spokesman for the volunteer organising committee, Darren Goodwin, said this success would not have been possible without the generous support of the Casino Truck Show’s sponsors.Mr Goodwin said their contributions ensured high-quality entertainment, marketing, and overall experience for both exhibitors and attendees.He said sponsors not only provided financial backing but also demonstrated their commitment to the growth and sustainability of the trucking industry and the local economy.“Ongoing sponsorship is essential to the continued success of the NCP Casino Truck Show,” Mr Goodwin said.“As the event grows in popularity and scale, so too do the operational costs and logistical demands.“Continued investment from corporate sponsors, government bodies, and industry stakeholders will help maintain the high standards of the event while allowing for future innovation and expansion.”Council’s General Manager Vaughan Macdonald said the event delivered a significant boost to the local economy, with a notable increase in activity for the local hospitality and retail sectors.Mr Macdonald said the event’s success proved it was a legitimate and significant economic driver not only for Casino and the Richmond Valley, but also for the wider Northern Rivers region, with local accommodation providers booked out months in advance.He said attendees responding to a post-event survey reported overnighting in Byron Bay, Murwillumbah, Ballina, Lismore, Nimbin, Kyogle, Grafton, and Ulmarra.“With the NCP Casino Truck Show attracting thousands of visitors, exhibitors, and industry professionals each year, its reputation as a key economic driver for the wider region is growing,” Mr Macdonald said.“This premier event not only showcases the latest in transport technology and innovation but also stimulates local business across hospitality, retail, accommodation, and tourism sectors. “By generating substantial direct and indirect economic activity, the NCP Casino Truck Show plays a vital role in supporting jobs, encouraging investment, and promoting regional growth.”Richmond Valley Council Mayor Robert Mustow said free entry and free family activities were at the heart of the NCP Casino Truck Show, ensuring everyone in the community could enjoy the event regardless of their financial situation. “By removing barriers to participation, we create an inclusive, welcoming space where families can connect, children can explore, and the spirit of community can thrive,” Cr Mustow said.“This commitment to accessibility helps us celebrate our shared interests and traditions while making lasting memories for all ages.”The record-breaking success of the 2025 NCP Casino Truck Show will flow onto important community organisations. The auction of a custom-made 2.4m x 2.4m bar, donated by Lionel Moore Trailers Pty Ltd, and a 16-inch air cans canister kit, including stainless-steel bowl and double filter system, donated by Air Cans Australia, raised $26,000.The successful bidder was Jon Kelly, from Heavy Haulage Assets, and the money will be shared between not-for-profit groups Get Yourself Checked ($12,000), Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service ($4000), Flanno for a Farmer ($4000), Casino Youth Hub ($2000), CFD Foundation ($2000), and St Mary’s Primary ($2000).