With one last chance for councillors to justify their existence before being reshuffled, Ballina’s final meeting before next month’s local government elections is happening tomorrow. There’s a packed agenda, including a DA decision which will affect whether WardellCORE can continue at their current site of operations.
Ballina Council is currently considering whether the popular community organisation can continue to use the old bank building at 3 Sinclair Street, and formalise minor associated alterations and additions.
Following the 2022 floods, the Ballina Local Environmental Plan was amended to allow the temporary use of the structure, but a DA is required to continue this use beyond 1 September 2024.
The DA has received 95 submissions while on exhibition, with 74 noting the ongoing benefits which WardellCORE offers the community in terms of programs and services, and 21 opposed for various reasons.
Issues include traffic and parking, heritage conservation, and issues affecting the streetscape and neighbours.
Council staff are recommending that WardellCORE be allowed to continue, with some modifications to the DA.
Other issues
Cr Eva Ramsey is bringing a question with notice and two motions to the August meeting.
The question relates to opening two large blocks of flood-prone private land between the junction of Byron Bay Road and Ross Lane for possible industrial use.
Cr Ramsey’s first motion is about murals for the East Ballina and Lennox Head water reservoirs. The second motion is about bringing a police station to Lennox Head.
Cr Kiri Dicker also has a notice of motion relating to the proposed Telstra tower art Newrybar, seeking to co-locate it with the NBN tower to minimise disruption to residents.
The Martin Street Boat Harbour concept plan is also to be discussed.
Ballina Council’s final meeting before the elections can be attended in person from 9am at the chambers in Ballina, or via livestream here.
More stories about Ballina Shire Council:
Ballina Shire Council is encouraging motorists to drive safely over the coming days with king tides leading to minor flooding of some local roads. At its last meeting, as part of a long discussion about amendments to Ballina Council's delivery program and operational plan, there was a debate about whether Ballina Richmond Rotary Club should still be paid $8,000 to set up chairs for the RSL Lighthouse Day Club. Twelve Northern Rivers residents are celebrating the completion of a groundbreaking program designed to build essential skills and unlock employment pathways for women in civil construction. With local government meeting practice across the state returning to confusion following the NSW Legislative Council's recent decision, Ballina Shire Council's last meeting included a lot of unanimous decisions and an argument about the remnants of the Big Scrub, in which Mayor Cadwallader used her casting vote to squash Cr Simon Chate's motion. Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has approved Ballina Shire Council's application to increase its general income through a permanent special variation (SV) of 26.25% [in rates] over four years, from 2026-27 to 2029-30.
Ballina king tide alert for 13–16 July
Ballina Council finds savings in chairs
Tradie ladies graduate civil construction TAFE program
Ballina Council wrap
Ballina Shire Council’s special rate variation approved
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