‘A D V E N T U R E B E F O R E D E M E N T I A’ – K AT H Y L E T T E The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 40 #49 • May 13, 2026 • www.echo.net.au
Leading pigs to slaughter not so easy
If wishes were fishes, mothers wouldn’t do dishes
Aslan Shand Booyong Abattoir has approval to slaughter 5,000 pigs per week, although it has historically slaughtered 7,000 to 10,000 animals at times, and a Booyong Village local residents’ group doesn’t want the abattoir’s development application (DA 10.2024.305.3) to be approved by Byron Shire Council (BSC). In March 2025 a $7m redevelopment of the abattoir owned by Casino Food Company Ltd (CFC), was approved by BSC. At that time, the request to remove the cap on the number of animals slaughtered at the facility each week was rejected, and new limits on the hours of operation were imposed as part of the DA. Nevertheless, Booyong Residents Group (BRG) has told The Echo ▶ Continued on page 2
Budget talk The Echo went to bed prior to the federal Budget announcement on Tuesday night, but far too excited to sleep. Treasurer Jim Chalmers says tonight’s budget will be the government’s most ambitious and will feature ‘more than the usual amount of savings and more than the usual amount of reform’. The Betoota Advocate’s take on strongly-tipped CGT reform: ‘Labor to finally even the playing field for younger Australians by stopping future generations from using the tax loopholes that boomers will be allowed to keep using’.
Mother’s Day wishing: Granma Sue and mum Monique made a wish with Pippa at the wishing well at The Farm in Byron Bay after a delicious brekky at Three Blue Ducks followed by a trip the Crystal Castle on Sunday. Photo by slightly damp wish-giving Tree Faerie
Regional NSW newspapers to close Aslan Shand The closure this week of ACM’s (Australian Community Media) Tamworth printing facility has once again led to the closure of more local, regional newspapers. The closure left ‘up to ten small independent newspapers racing against time to secure alternative
Honouring Who should Marine Rescue pay for housing heros ▶ p3 infrastructure? ▶ p11
printing facilities,’ according to The Coonamble Times. ‘The closure is having a broader impact across the north-west, acting as a tipping point with one publisher already electing to close their publications.’ This included The Courier which serves the Narrabri Shire, the Wee Waa News and The Gunnedah
Billionaires bearing gifts a bit too good to be true ▶ p12
Times, along with the North West Magazine.’ Over the last ten years around 200 regional and community newspapers closed with another 20 or so closing in the last 18-months according to the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA). Research supports Narrabri Mayor Darrell Tiemens statement
Bangalow’s billycarts set to roll ▶ p22
that, ‘the closure of papers in his shire will have a negative effect on the social fabric of the community.’ Media expert Professor Kristy Hess of Deakin’s School of Communication and Creative Arts says, ‘Countries across the globe are mapping increasing news deserts and gaps as outlets struggle to ▶ Continued on page 9
Brilliant local Focus on the businesses by the fashionistas scoopful ▶ p25 ▶ p29
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