Sanctuary
8-PAGE GUIDE
14—16 August
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Byron Writers Fe stival – 30 years , homecoming
As we count down to this weekend, there is a hum of anticipation running through the Byron Writers Festival team that feels different from any year before it. Now in our thirtieth year – a milesto that, after the disrupt ne ion of 2025, we are determ ined to meet with celebra tion.
We invite our commu nity to take sanctuary in the real thing: the slow, deliberate work of writing , reading and thinking togethe r.
with Richard Flanagan returning to present Heresies, Booker Prizewinner Geetanja rom Friday 14 li Shree bringing to Sunday 16 Tomb of Sand, August, the heart and an extraord of Byron inary local lineup Bay will transform including Trent into a literary precinct: Dalton, Antionet seven iconic vente Lattouf, Evelyn Byron Bay provides ues, including two Araluen, Melissa a stunning backdrop marquees – one Lucashenko and on the foreshore to Australia’s favourite Steve Toltz among , the other in the them, standing regional meeting the heart feels centre of town alongside place of global voices. storytelling and like a homecom – weaving together ideas. ing: 30 years on from markets, live This year’s theme, Join us in commun music and ocean the festival’s first Sanctuary, we’re ity this feels especially gathering as the bathing with over weekend as we inviting our community apt. In a moment Northern Rivers celebrate not just 110 sessions of to 30 years of of global upheaval Writers Centre. storytelling and take sanctuary Byron Writers Look how far we’ve ideas. Moving into in the real thing: , when algorithFestival, mic tools and come! the slow, deliberat but the literary technology imitate arts, right here e work of writin human ingenuity ing, reading and Byron Bay. Thank thinking together. and creativity you for thirty , Our program years of continue reflects that spirit, d support – we can’t wait to welcome you home. This year, Byron Writers Festival returns to Byron Bay on the land and waterways From the festival of the Bundjalu stage to the bookng nation. With a store and the cafes, take new precinct in sanctuary the heart of town, here alongside the 2026 festival those nourishe d by is both reinvention the doing of writing, and homecoming reading and – an offer of sanctuary thinking. in a tumultuous world. Discover the best in literature from around Over three days, we will gather the country, with many of the with internati As a proud founding finest Australia onal guests from partner, Southn and international Aotearoa, Chile, ern Cross Universit As Byron Writers India, Singapor writers whose y’s relationship Festival marks e, with Byron insight and originalit UK and the USA, its 30th annivers Writers Festival and engage in y will illumiary, Southern has Cross Universi nate the possibilit uplifting conversat grown from a shared ies and purpose ty is honoured ions on literary commitment to of literature. From most easterly craft, philosoph to storytelling, celebrate this milestone point of mainland y, politics, climate, ideas and communew ways of , recognisunderstanding Australia. love, and family. nity into a lasting ing the stories, the past, present thinkers and comcollaboration and future, to grounded in creativity We present this munity that continue In uncertai n exploring expectatimes, these festival at a and to shape who tions of form moment of great conversations we are, now and Across three decades, place. and language, offer the antidote global change, into the we future. the have writers of Byron in times that to despair. It helped foster Join Southern is our pleaseure are increasin conversations Writers Festival Cross Universit gly welcome that at Byron to challeng ’26 bring wisdom, y chaotic, dark and e, you to Byron Writers Festival. joy, irreverence, absurd, as algoWriters amplifyin inspire and connect, from Hear and indefatigable rithmic tools offer Festival ’26. our academics g voices from our curiosity to the a cheap illusion across the region festival of creativity and and beyond and program and book understanding. – Jessica Alice, celebrating the a compeople and stories plimentary one-on-o Artistic Director that shape ne writing our community. workshop with Dr Aidan Coleman . Limited places available.
F
A word from the
SUPPLYING THE BYRON SHIRE WITH RUBBER BANDS SINCE 1986 The Byron Shire Echo • Volume 41 #09 • August 12, 2026 • www.echo.net.au
Writers Festival liftout feature in this issue!
Artistic Director
Celebrating 30 years of partnership, stor and community ies – with Southern Cross University
Uniqu e Fashio n, Acces sories , Furnit ure and Home wares . Two distinc t locatio two unique experi ns, ences .
Byron Writers Festival comes to town Island Luxe Bangalo w 02 6687 1605 62 Byron Street, Bangalow info@islandluxe.c om.au
www.echo.net.au
The 30th Byron Writers Festival has Byron Bay at its centre – venues will come to life around the town from Friday to Sunday this week. Some of the most exciting voices in Australian and international writing will be there including Trent Dalton, Geetanjali Shree, Richard Flanagan, Melissa Lucashenko, Evelyn Araluen, Steve Toltz, Kerry O’Brien, Richard Fidler, Luke Bateman, and Turia Pitt, alongside hundreds of other celebrated authors.
www.i slandl
Island Luxe Tribe Byron Bay 02 6680 9600 1/11 Marvell Street, Byron Bay tribe@islandluxe.c om.au
uxe.co m.au
August 12, 2026
The Byron Shire
Echo 21
Of course the festival could not go ahead without its amazing staff of volunteers (above) who have once again stepped up to make this iconic event possible. Get your tickets at: www.byronwritersfestival.com. Photo Jeff Dawson ▶ Check out our special feature for Byron Writers Festival 2026 including full program and session highlights on page 21.
Byron Council puts rate rise case to the public Paul Bibby Pay more rates or accept fewer services. That’s the choice Byron Council is putting to residents as it launches community consultation on a proposed 35 per cent Special Rate Variation (SRV). The consultation, which opened this week, seeks community
How Byron’s getting high ▶ p8
feedback on a proposal that would increase ordinary land rates by a compounded 35.03 per cent over three years if Council ultimately decides to apply to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) for approval. Under the proposal, rates would rise by 12 per cent in 2027–28, 10 per cent in 2028–29 and 9.6 per cent
Jail for pot use in Queensland ▶ p12
in 2029–30, including the annual rate peg. Rather than simply asking residents whether they support the increase, the consultation material frames the discussion around what level of services and infrastructure the community expects Council to provide into the future. Without additional revenue,
Time to get to know ‘lifestyle medicine’ ▶ p20
Council says it will face growing difficulty maintaining roads, bridges, footpaths, stormwater infrastructure and other community assets, while continuing to meet service expectations. The consultation also asks residents to consider the trade-offs between affordability, service levels and long-term financial sustainability.
The Last blasphemy ▶ p29
The documents warn that if additional funding is not secured, Council may ultimately need to reduce road maintenance, cut operating hours at facilities such as libraries and pools, reduce maintenance of parks, gardens and public amenities, defer infrastructure upgrades and potentially reduce non-core services. ▶ Continued on page 7
Hold a person to your ear and hear the sound of what they see ▶ p34
Thoughtful tiny homes designed and built in Murwillumbah with you and your site in mind.
Gigs galore in Seven ▶ p35
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