Resonating stories. Journalists from around the block, interstate and overseas.

With no corporate interests and no government bias, when it comes to news, we put community interests first.
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Anchor / Executive Producer: Mia Armitage

Contributors: Anny Reed; Rob Osborne; Dr John Jiggens; Kate Payne; Sean O’Shannessy (Environmental As Anything, RIver FM); Suzie Fawcet; Jim Beatson; Fernando de Freitas; Julie Beesley; Michelle Michels; Jodee Sydney; Dione Green;  Riddhi; Eve Sinton; Giles Parkinson; The Wire; National Radio News Service; Community Radio Network

Pic: student climate action strike in Byron, 2019 – Michelle Michels

 

 

22 Sep 2023, 11am

22 Sep 2023, 11am Community Newsroom

15 Sep 2023, 11am

15 Sep 2023, 11am Community Newsroom

8 Sep 2023, 11am

8 Sep 2023, 11am Community Newsroom

5 Sep 2023, 8pm

5 Sep 2023, 8pm Community Newsroom The Byron Shire Community Land Trust was set up in twenty-seventeen in an effort to acquire land for permanent and affordable rental housing. Little has been heard about the project since then, but now the trust has applied to the Byron Shire Council to build a one point seven million dollar group home for women and children near Brunswick Heads. Louise O’Connell is general manager of the Byron Community Centre and is also a member of the trust’s board and she explained the project to Bay FM Community Newsroom reporter Mia Armitage. PIC: Torakina at Brunswick Heads, popular with families with children (Mia Armitage)

5 Sep 2023, 5pm

5 Sep 2023, 5pm Community Newsroom The Byron Shire has the highest number of rough sleepers anywhere in New South Wales, even more than Sydney, yet there is still no permanent emergency housing available. Meanwhile, social housing waitlists continue to expand and the Fletcher Street Cottage, a charity providing essential services to those vulnerable to the housing crisis, is about to run out of money. Hear what the new Labor NSW Minister for Housing and Minister for Homelessness, Rose Jackson, says she's trying to do to address the urgency. P2 of 2 part IV – Mia Armitage

5 Sep 2023, 5pm

5 Sep 2023, 5pm Community Newsroom NSW Minister for Youth Rose Jackson says regional youth have spoken with her of concerns about social media, mental health and housing, among others. The minister also says she wants her government to implement recommendations from a Law Enforcement Conduct Commission inquiry into police strip-search powers over youth. Labor is to hold a drug summit in NSW next year and Ms Jackson wants pill-testing at festivals on the agenda.  Part 1 of 2 part IV – Mia Armitage

5 Sep 2023, 5pm

5 Sep 2023, 5pm Community Newsroom Rose Jackson is a woman with a lot of responsibilities: she’s the Minister for Housing; Homelessness; Youth; Mental Health; Water; and not to forget, Minister for the North Coast in the new Labor-led New South Wales government. So what does the youth minister think about the way police use their strip-search powers on youth? Or pill-testing at festivals? Will the homelessness and homelessness minister announce funding soon for permanent emergency housing in the Byron Shire, home to the state’s highest number of rough sleepers? How about funding for the Fletcher Street Cottage here in Byron Bay, where rough sleepers and other community members at risk can have a shower, eat a healthy meal and be connected to essential social support services? Planning isn't Ms Jackson's portfolio but what does she think of the Independent Planning Commission’s recommendations for a 60-day cap on unhosted holiday letting across the shire in order to help free up housing? In her first interview for Bay FM listeners, all these questions and more were put to the new minister… listen back to find out how Rose Jackson is dealing with just a few of her many portfolios. Speaking of housing, a new group home for women and children is proposed for Brunsick Heads in the Byron Shire in the first project of its kind from the Byron Shire Community Land Trust and we hear some details from trust board member Louise O’Connell. Know a woman working in law or wanting to become a lawyer in New South Wales? We hear from NSW Law Society President Cassandra Banks on the latest data on gender pay and promotion gaps in the state’s legal sector. 1.    NSW Minister for Youth says pill testing on the agenda for state drug summit in 2024 featuring NSW Minister for Youth Rose Jackson (Part 1 of 2 part IV) 2.    Funding hopes for social and emergency housing in Byron Shire in NSW Budget featuring NSW Minister for Housing; and Homelessness Rose Jackson (Part 2 of 2 part IV) 3.    Gender pay gaps still apparent in latest NSW Law Society data featuring NSW Law Society President Cassandra Banks 4.    Northern Rivers News with Anny Reed *producer: Mia Armitage. Reports produced by Mia Armitage unless otherwise indicated.Tune in to the Community Newsroom on Fridays from 11am-12 on Bay FM 99.9 or listen online at bayfm.org Facebook: Community Newsroom NRNPIC: Housing on the Northern Rivers (Mia Armitage)

1 Sep 2023, 11am

1 Sep 2023, 11am Community Newsroom

25 Aug 2023, 5pm

25 Aug 2023, 5pm Community Newsroom The weather has changed while we continue to recovery from floods and landslides eighteen months ago. Now, the Northern Rivers is on the cusp on bushfire season, with fire activity already having started in some areas. Far North Coast RFS Superintendent David Cook shares his expert up-to-date advice on how to prepare for bushfire season. Labor Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin has received a promotion this week and is now also Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery. But what does this mean? We hear from Ms Saffin about the new role and her priorities for the ongoing disaster recovery and what lies ahead. But the big local news this week is the latest development for residents of Byron Bay’s former Feros aged care village in Marvel Street. Nine residents have stuck it out at the village after others left under what has been described as pressure from the Feros board. The board told residents earlier this year it wanted to build an ‘intergenerational facility’. The council voted this week to put out expressions of interest for an aged care provider at the site, with Feros still able to apply. Maree Eddings is founder of Family and Friends of Feros Residents and she joins us straight from a meeting at the village. 1.    Time to clear the gutters, it’s bushfire season featuring RFS Far North Coast Superintendent David Cook 2.    Saffin focused on emergency services as part of new parliament secretary role featuring Labor Member for Lismore and Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery Janelle Saffin (Part 1 of 2 part IV) 3.    NSW Reconstruction Authority chief takes on top bureaucratic role featuring Labor Member for Lismore and Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery Janelle Saffin (Part 2 of 2 part IV) 4.    Federal government plan for housing and planning overhaul ‘full of flaws’ says academic featuring University of Technology Sydney Professor Alan Morris (Anthony Dockrill, The Wire) 5.    Housing Outside the Bubble with Anny Reed 6.    Expressions of interest in management of former Feros aged care village in Byron Bayfeaturing Friends and Family of Feros Residents founding member Maree Eddings 7.    Northern Rivers News with Anny Reed *producer: Mia Armitage. Reports produced by Mia Armitage unless otherwise indicated.Tune in to the Community Newsroom on Fridays from 11am-12 on Bay FM 99.9 or listen online at bayfm.org Facebook: Community Newsroom NRNPIC: Labor Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin at a disaster recovery media conference in early 2022 (Eve Jeffrey)