News
Local news, alerts and who's making the calls. Sourced, never written by us.
The Daily Maverick
Sunday 18 October 2026
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Byron Bay & Suffolk Park 2481
Live alerts: 2 fires within 100 km. See alerts →
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Alerts
In an emergency call 000.
Fire danger today
🟢 MODERATE Plan and prepare.
No Total Fire Ban today. Gas, electric, wood and charcoal BBQs are fine with care: keep an adult on it, water handy and nothing that burns nearby. Burning off or a fire in the open? Check if you need a permit.
Tomorrow: 🟢 MODERATE
Source: NSW Rural Fire Service, Fire Danger Ratings (Far North Coast). Updated Sun, 18 Oct, 9:00 am.
Fires within 100 km
- BUSBYS FLAT RD, BUSBYS FLAT Not Applicable
BUSBYS FLAT RD, BUSBYS FLAT 2469 · 88 km away · Under control · 251 ha - OIL RIG RD, GIBBERAGEE Advice
OIL RIG RD, GIBBERAGEE 2469 · 91 km away · Under control · 1039 ha
Source: NSW Rural Fire Service, Fires Near Me. Updated Sun, 18 Oct, 9:00 am.
Weather warnings
No current warnings for our area.
Source: Bureau of Meteorology, NSW warnings. Updated Sun, 18 Oct, 9:00 am.
Team Smarketing is on it.
A live roads and traffic feed.
For now, try Live Traffic NSW.
It's a big job. We'll get there.
More news today
“If you think you are big, you become small. If you know you are nothing, you become unlimited.”— Sadhguru
These stories are written and owned by The Echo, NBN News, not us. We show the headline and a short summary; tap a story to read it in full on their site. Updated Sun, 18 Oct, 9:00 am.
Why you'll love Byron Bay
What 2481 has that nowhere else does. Every fact sourced.
- Gold in the black sands
In the 1870s, up to 20 mining leases operated on Tallow Beach, taking gold from its black sands.Source: Wikipedia
- Longboard surfers arrived in the 1960s
Longboard surfers came to Byron Bay in the 1960s and surfed the natural breaks at The Pass, Wategos and Cosy Corner.Source: Wikipedia
- Suffolk Park began as a gift
Suffolk Park is named after George A. Suffolk, who gave a large parcel of land to Byron Shire Council for community use on 16 November 1922.Source: Wikipedia
What's on
Specials, members nights, bingo, trivia, live music, markets and events around Byron, in one place.
Read from each venue's own website twice a day. Specials can change, so check with the venue before you go. Know a venue we're missing? Tell us.
Community events
Nothing listed in 2481 yet. Know something on? Add it free.
Births, Deaths and Marriages
Deaths
Remembering locals who have passed. Our thoughts are with their families and friends.
No recent notices.
Top baby names across NSW, 2025
Girls
- CHARLOTTE =
- AMELIA =
- OLIVIA =
- ISLA ▲1
- MIA ▼1
Biggest climber: LAINEY, up 41 to #56
Highest new entry: AMIRA at #79
Boys
- NOAH =
- OLIVER =
- THEODORE =
- LUCA =
- LEO ▲1
Biggest climber: ELIAS, up 52 to #35
Highest new entry: MATEO at #65
The latest full-year list from the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Arrows show the move since 2024. NSW doesn't publish names by town. Checked Sat, 17 Oct, 3:17 pm.
Number one in every state, 2025
| Girls | Boys | |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | Charlotte | Noah |
| VIC | Charlotte | Noah |
| QLD | Charlotte | Oliver |
| WA | Isla | Noah |
| SA | Charlotte | Oliver |
| TAS | Charlotte | Noah |
| ACT | Evelyn | Oliver |
| NT | Amelia | Noah |
From each state and territory's Births, Deaths and Marriages registry. There's no single official list for all of Australia.
Around the world, 2025
United States
Olivia, Charlotte, Emma, Amelia, Sophia
Liam, Noah, Oliver, Theodore, Henry
Top 5 from the US Social Security Administration.
England & Wales
Olivia, Lily, Amelia, Isla, Florence
Muhammad, Noah, Leo, Luca, Arthur
Top 5 from the UK Office for National Statistics.
New Zealand
Isla, Charlotte, Amelia, Hazel, Olivia
Noah, Luca, Oliver, George, Theodore
Top 5 from the NZ Department of Internal Affairs.
Noah, Oliver, Charlotte and Amelia make the top 5 in more than one country. Some names travel well.
Handy tools
☰ Everything on the Daily Maverick Every page we have, in one place → Community notice board Lost pets, volunteers, clubs and classes. No buy and sell → My home Bin night reminders and a house-sitter sheet to print or share → Why Byron Bay? What 2481 has that nowhere else does, plus the whole area → 🟢 What’s open? Local or visiting: pharmacies, doctors, servos, cafés, mechanics and more. Open ones first → Dog beaches & parks Off-leash spots near you → Dog-friendly cafés & pubs Places happy to see your dog → LGBTQ+ friendly Local places that welcome everyone → What to watch tonight Stop scrolling, start watching. See what locals rate → What's in your fridge? Dinner ideas from what you've already got → Birthday deals Which local places look after you on your big day → Kid Zone Games for kids 12 and under, with a grown-up’s OK. No chat, no ads, nothing collected → Gen Alpha interpreter What did your kid just say? Jimmy Joel translates → Births, Deaths and Marriages Family notices, filtered by what you’re looking for → Renting Every rental site, plus your rights and bond help, in one place → Jobs Every job site in one place, already searched for Byron Bay → School run check Weather and traffic for your school drop-off and pick-up →Dog friendly
Off-leash beaches, dog parks and places happy to see your dog. If there’s nothing mapped, it says so.
Source: OpenStreetMap (OpenStreetMap contributors), the free map anyone can add to.
LGBTQ+ friendly
Local places that welcome everyone. If there’s nothing mapped, it says so.
Source: OpenStreetMap (OpenStreetMap contributors), the free map anyone can add to.
Fuel
Source: NSW FuelCheck
Supermarket watch
The everyday basics at each supermarket today. Cheapest in green. We update these prices twice a day, around 6am and 2pm, so you always know how fresh they are.
Cheapest basket today (milk, bread, eggs, chocolate): Woolworths at $17.80, Coles $20.80.
| Woolworths | ALDI | Coles | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full cream milk 2L | $3.40 | $3.39 | $3.40 |
| White sandwich bread 650g | $2.50 | $2.39 | $2.50 |
| Free range eggs, 12 pack | $6.40 | $5.99 | $6.90 |
| Cadbury Dairy Milk 180g | $5.50 special | – | $8.00 |
| Extra virgin olive oil 750ml | – | $13.99 | – |
| Weet-Bix 575g | $5.00 | – | $5.00 |
| Bananas | $0.81 | $2.99 | $0.83 |
Online prices from each supermarket's own website, house brand where there is one. Checked: Woolworths Sat, 17 Oct, 4:30 pm · ALDI Sat, 17 Oct, 4:30 pm · Coles Sat, 17 Oct, 4:30 pm. Prices in store and specials can differ.
News in numbers
Facts from the sources named, side by side. No opinions: make up your own mind.
Cost of living
Figures from October 2026
NSW FuelCheck · Australian Institute of Petroleum, via NT Treasury
Big tech watch
Figures from June 2026
Figures from March 2026
Figures from June 2026
Life and death
Figures from December 2023
National Coronial Information System, via ScienceAlert · CDC data, via Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Figures from December 2021
Figures from December 2021
AI for good, AI for bad
A recent AI story of each kind from the news, so you see both sides.
AI for good
Croatia sets out €932 million plan for artificial intelligence development - Croatia WeekGoogle News · 17 Oct · AI development plan
AI for bad
Why Britain should reject the lure of cheap – and scary – Chinese AIThe Guardian · 17 Oct · fears from Chinese AI
Headlines from The Guardian and Google News, sorted into good and bad by AI, so check the full story. See every story we've logged.
Learn how AI can help in your everyday life, from your local experts at Maverick Digital →
Beer watch
The cheapest price for your beer at local bottle shops, posted by the shops themselves. No big chains, local only.
Own a local bottle shop? Post your price free
Prices posted by local shops, with the date they posted. Shown for 30 days. Please drink responsibly.
Wine watch
The cheapest price for your wine at local bottle shops, posted by the shops themselves. No big chains, local only.
Own a local bottle shop? Post your price free
Prices posted by local shops, with the date they posted. Shown for 30 days. Please drink responsibly.
Banks and the RBA
Home loan rates at the big four, and how quickly each passed on the Reserve Bank's (RBA) rate changes. Numbers only.
Cash rate: 4.60% since 29 Sept 2026
How fast they passed on RBA changes
| CommBank | Westpac | NAB | ANZ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average days to pass on a rise | 10.0 | 12.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 |
| Average days to pass on a cut | 10.0 | 14.0 | 11.0 | 10.0 |
| Rises passed on in full | 4 of 4 | 4 of 4 | 4 of 4 | 4 of 4 |
| Cuts passed on in full | 3 of 3 | 3 of 3 | 3 of 3 | 3 of 3 |
Days from the RBA's decision to the date the bank's new variable rate took effect, for the 7 RBA moves since February 2025.
Every RBA move and what each bank did
| RBA decision | CommBank | Westpac | NAB | ANZ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Sept 2026 ▲ +0.25 to 4.60% | +0.25 9 Oct 2026 · 10 days | +0.25 9 Oct 2026 · 10 days | +0.25 9 Oct 2026 · 10 days | +0.25 9 Oct 2026 · 10 days |
| 5 May 2026 ▲ +0.25 to 4.35% | +0.25 15 May 2026 · 10 days | +0.25 15 May 2026 · 10 days | +0.25 15 May 2026 · 10 days | +0.25 15 May 2026 · 10 days |
| 17 Mar 2026 ▲ +0.25 to 4.10% | +0.25 27 Mar 2026 · 10 days | +0.25 31 Mar 2026 · 14 days | +0.25 27 Mar 2026 · 10 days | +0.25 27 Mar 2026 · 10 days |
| 3 Feb 2026 ▲ +0.25 to 3.85% | +0.25 13 Feb 2026 · 10 days | +0.25 17 Feb 2026 · 14 days | +0.25 13 Feb 2026 · 10 days | +0.25 13 Feb 2026 · 10 days |
| 12 Aug 2025 ▼ -0.25 to 3.60% | -0.25 22 Aug 2025 · 10 days | -0.25 26 Aug 2025 · 14 days | -0.25 25 Aug 2025 · 13 days | -0.25 22 Aug 2025 · 10 days |
| 20 May 2025 ▼ -0.25 to 3.85% | -0.25 30 May 2025 · 10 days | -0.25 3 June 2025 · 14 days | -0.25 30 May 2025 · 10 days | -0.25 30 May 2025 · 10 days |
| 18 Feb 2025 ▼ -0.25 to 4.10% | -0.25 28 Feb 2025 · 10 days | -0.25 4 Mar 2025 · 14 days | -0.25 28 Feb 2025 · 10 days | -0.25 28 Feb 2025 · 10 days |
Integrated Finance Group · Mortgage Professional Australia · Savings.com.au · Canstar · Finder · Savings.com.au · The Motley Fool. Cash rate from the Reserve Bank of Australia.
Tides & fishing
Loading…
Tide times are modelled estimates. Not for navigation; check the Bureau of Meteorology before boating.
What's biting in October
- Snapper peak
- Pearl perch
- Tailor, whiting & flathead
Seasons: Source: NSW DPIRD GoFishing guide (Coffs Coast), the nearest official guide and Coffs Coast tourism.
Where to fish within 20 km
- Brunswick River rock walls Breakwall
Known for: mulloway (in season), bream, tailor
Rock fishing: watch the swell
Directions - Brunswick River Boat Harbour Estuary
Fishing allowed here (special purpose zone)
Directions - Tallow Beach Beach
Known for: tailor, mulloway
Directions - Tyagarah Beach (south end) Beach
Habitat protection zone: fishing allowed
Directions
No listed shore spots within 20 km of you.
Further than 20 km
Byron Bay, Broken Head and the creeks beside Brunswick Heads have sanctuary zones where you can't fish at all. Check the map before you cast.
Before you cast: licence, limits and no-fishing zones
- You need a NSW fishing licence (from $7 for 3 days). Get one
- Bag and size limits, or carry them in the free FishSmart app (it shows marine park zones too)
- Cape Byron Marine Park has sanctuary zones where all fishing is banned. Zoning map
- Rock fishing? A lifejacket is strongly recommended. NSW rock fishing safety
Know your 2481
The handy stuff, all in one place. Every item is sourced and shown as the source has it. We don’t edit it. We tell you where it’s from and how well the owner keeps it up to date.
Who runs the place
- Mayor: Cr Sarah Ndiaye · Deputy Mayor: Cr Jack Dods
- Councillors: Elia Hauge, Delta Kay, Michelle Lowe, Asren Pugh, Janet Swain, David Warth, Michael Lyon. Contact them
- Council meetings: see what's being decided
Source: Byron Shire Council, Leadership page. Council doesn’t say when they last updated it. We’ve watched it since 16 Oct 2026: last change spotted 17 Oct 2026.
Bins & rubbish
- Which bin this week? Get the free Recycle Coach app and search your address
- Yellow lid: recycling, fortnightly · Red lid: landfill, fortnightly · Green lid: food and garden, weekly (urban)
- Big clean-up? Each household gets an annual free drop-off at the Byron Resource Recovery Centre (2 × 150 kg household waste or 500 kg green waste)
- Missed bin? Report it within 24 hours on 1300 652 625
- Seen illegal dumping? Report it online
Source: Byron Shire Council, Waste guide for new residents. Council doesn’t say when they last updated it. We’ve watched it since 16 Oct 2026: last change spotted 17 Oct 2026.
Got a problem?
- Pothole, broken footpath, streetlight, overgrown block: Report it to council
- Not happy with how council handled it? NSW Ombudsman
Source: Byron Shire Council, Report requests and feedback. Council doesn’t say when they last updated it. We’ve watched it since 16 Oct 2026: last change spotted 17 Oct 2026.
Contact council
- 02 6626 7000 or toll free 1300 811 942
- After hours emergencies: 02 6622 7022
- council@byron.nsw.gov.au
- 70 Station Street, Mullumbimby
Source: Byron Shire Council, Contact us. Council doesn’t say when they last updated it. We’ve watched it since 16 Oct 2026: last change spotted 17 Oct 2026.
Byron in numbers
Figures for the whole Byron Shire Council area, from the ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics): population is the ABS estimate for 30 June 2025; ages, incomes, rent and households are from the 2021 Census. Shown as the ABS publishes them.
Spotted something out of date? Let us know.
Renting
Looking for a place in Byron Bay? Every rental site, already searched for you.
- Rentals in Byron Bay on realestate.com.au: Australia's biggest property site.
- Rentals in Byron Bay on Domain: The other big one. Includes Allhomes listings.
- Rentals in Byron Bay on Rent.com.au: Rentals only, with a free renter résumé to send agents.
- Rentals in Byron Bay on Homely: Rentals plus honest local reviews of each street.
Jobs
Looking for work in Byron Bay? Every job site, already searched for you.
- Jobs in Byron Bay on SEEK: Australia's biggest job site.
- Jobs in Byron Bay on Indeed: Pulls jobs from employers' own websites too.
- Jobs in Byron Bay on Jora: Searches lots of job sites at once.
- Jobs in Byron Bay on LinkedIn: Professional and office roles.
Local radio
Community radio from around the shire, run by locals, mostly volunteers. Tune in or listen live online.
- BayFM 99.9 FM, Byron Bay. Listen live
Tap ☆ to make a station yours: it sits at the top of your page, one tap to listen.
Source: Community Broadcasting Association of Australia list of community stations and each station's own website. Missed a local station? Tell us.
Council watch
Keeping an eye on Byron Shire Council, with every item linked to its source.
Meeting dates are on the council's meetings page.
Is council doing what it said?
Every three months Byron Shire Council reports on its own plan. We'll show its latest report here, in its own words. For now: council's progress reports.
Have your say or make a complaint
- Report a problem or make a request: Byron Shire Council on 02 6626 7000 or their website.
- Not happy with how council handled it? NSW Ombudsman.
- Concerns about a councillor's conduct: Office of Local Government.
- Suspect corruption: NSW ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption).
- Have your say at a meeting: ask the council about speaking at public forum before the next meeting.
Mini Maverick Encouragement Award
Every month one local kid gets the Mini Maverick Encouragement Award: $50 to spend wherever they like at a local Byron Bay business. Bookshop, surf shop, bakery, the footy club canteen. Anywhere local, except fast food.
The award must be spent at a local Byron Bay business. No multinationals, no chains, no fast food.
Kindness, courage, trying hard, helping out. Anything worth encouraging. Grown-ups nominate; kids don’t sign up themselves.
🌳 Get outside this weekend
Things for kids and families to do outdoors, free or under $50 a kid. This weekend: Sat, 17 Oct and Sun, 18 Oct.
No kids' events listed for this weekend yet. Running one? Add it free and tick "Good for kids".
Always-good local favourites
- Cape Byron walking track Free
Loop up to the lighthouse and the most easterly point of mainland Australia. Whale-spotting in season. - Arakwal National Park & Tallow Beach Free
Bush tracks and a long, quieter beach. - Railway Park Free
Playground and shade right in the middle of town. - The Pass & Clarkes Beach Free
Sheltered end of the bay. Swim between the flags.
Outdoor and affordable, picked by locals. Check times and prices before you go · Suggest one
Sport & field closures
Team Smarketing is on it.
Field closures and local sport. Clubs can post games and closures free via Add an event.
We're building it right, not fast.
Flights at Ballina Byron Gateway Airport
See everything coming and going at Ballina Byron Gateway Airport (live board on FlightAware).
Holidays
Next NSW public holidays
- Fri, 25 Dec: Christmas Day in 68 days
- Mon, 28 Dec: Boxing Day in 71 days
- Fri, 1 Jan: New Year's Day in 75 days
- Tue, 26 Jan: Australia Day in 100 days
Source: Nager.Date public holidays. Updated Sat, 17 Oct, 5:00 pm.
In the sky, next 14 days
- Wed, 21 Oct: Orionid meteor shower peaks (look north-east after midnight) in 3 days
Dates are the usual peaks; meteor showers are best away from town lights. Source: timeanddate.com.
Asteroids passing by
- Sun, 18 Oct: 2026 TS, about the size of a jumbo jet (roughly 41 to 92 m), passes 2.4 times as far away as the Moon at 10.3 km a second today
- Thu, 22 Oct: 2026 TV8, about the size of a bus (roughly 19 to 43 m), passes 4.8 times as far away as the Moon at 9.2 km a second in 4 days
- Tue, 27 Oct: 2026 TB94, about the size of a bus (roughly 20 to 45 m), passes 5.1 times as far away as the Moon at 11.6 km a second in 9 days
- Sun, 25 Oct: 2026 UE, about the size of a bus (roughly 18 to 40 m), passes 5.3 times as far away as the Moon at 15.8 km a second in 7 days
Source: NASA JPL Center for Near-Earth Object Studies. Updated Sun, 18 Oct, 3:30 am. None of these will hit Earth. Most are too faint to see without a big telescope
Next school holidays
- Summer school holidays: Fri, 18 Dec to Wed, 27 Jan in 61 days
- Autumn school holidays: Mon, 12 Apr to Fri, 23 Apr in 176 days
Public schools in the Byron Shire. Source: NSW Department of Education · Private schools may differ
🧩 Crossword
Today’s Byron crossword in three levels: 🟢 Easy, 🟡 Medium and 🔴 Hard. Sign in free to keep your streak and best times. Play today’s →
✨ Horoscopes
Your stars for Sunday 18 October. The first-quarter moon says take action. This is the Year of the Fire Horse 🐎.
🎂 Add your birthday and we'll set your Western and Vedic signs:
Beach, surf & surf cams
Surf cams
Coastalwatch charges for its live surf cam feed, so we can’t show it here. Nobody pays to be on this site, and we don’t pay to show other people’s paid content either. Have a look on their site: Coastalwatch.
Swim between the red and yellow flags. Patrol times and beach-by-beach info: Beachsafe.
Source: Open-Meteo (modelled, updated hourly). Not for navigation. Which swell and wind suit each beach: surf-forecast.com break guides; patrols from council.
Help a brother out
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Founding Members
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