Good news for Ballina Shire residents! A development application (DA) is no longer required before you build!
Step 1: Build whatever you want, wherever you like on your land.
Step 2: Ignore any Council directives.
Step 3: Have a chat with the mayor.
Step 4: Tell Council you didn’t know you needed a DA, and put an ‘Amended DA’ in after your project is completed.
Step 5: When your ‘Amended DA’ goes to Council, just one councillor voting with the mayor’s squad enables the mayor’s casting vote to approve it!
If you think I sound cynical, spare a thought for the neighbours who live alongside your illegal development that is now – voila! – a legal development! It’s that easy, folks. Don’t believe me? Go along to a Ballina Council meeting and see for yourself how it works.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
