The epic June meeting of Ballina Shire Council opened with a deputation from Claudia Caliari from the Ballina Environment Society on the issue of single use plastics.
Regarding motion 11.5, Ms Caliari urged councillors to eliminate single use packaging and materials across all council operations in the short term, noting that Australia has the highest consumption of single use plastic waste per capita in the world, with Ballina no exception.
‘Each person, on average, will use 60 kilograms per year,’ she said. ‘Much of this ends up in the landfill, in our waterways, in our soil and in our food chains, micro-plastics are now in fish, drinking water and even breast milk. This is not just litter, it’s pollution and it’s dangerous.
‘Over half of the waste in our public bins in our region is single use packaging. We are literally teaching our children that disposability is normal if we don’t show another way.’
Ms Caliari said the returns from reversing the single use plastic trend would be not just environmental, but also financial and social. ‘Lets not wait for a mandate from somewhere else,’ she said.
She covered the table with plastic rubbish collected from Shelly Beach in a single day, and said that soon people would not remember beaches without plastic. ‘Every time we go to the beach, we collect plastic, and [my daughter] thinks that in her future, there will be no sand, it will just be a layer of plastic.’
The motion presented by Crs Therese Crollick and Kiri Dicker to rapidly phase out single use plastic across Council operations passed unanimously.
Other issues
Ballina Council adopted the 2025/26 to 2028/29 Delivery Plan and 2024/25 Operational Plan, including extra funding for the Ballina Naval and Maritime Museum, the Regional Watershed Initiative and the Ballina SES, as well as approving a 3 per cent rise in councillor and mayoral fees, as determined by the Local Government Renumeration Tribunal.
From October, Rural Domestic Waste Bin collections will now be fortnightly, instead of weekly. An amendment to give these residents free tip access failed.
Bicycle fees of $1 will be reinstated for the Burns Point Ferry (annual fee $57) following one month’s exhibition.
Council will seek to identify a home for a dedicated local youth centre, and develop a car park upgrade program.
Cr Simon Chate’s motion to fully enclose the playground at Geoff Watt Oval, Alstonville, was also successful.
After lunch, Ballina Council resolved to spend a maximum of $20,000 raised from rental income from the Wollongbar Pod Village on embellishing the PV Walsh Park in Wardell. The playground at Meldrum Park is also set to be renewed.
The amended Festival and Events Support Program Policy was adopted, pending successful exhibition.
Ballina Council’s banking and investments plan and code of meeting practice were spported unanimously, including a limitation on two speakers in the affirmative and two in opposition to each motion.
Regarding 26 Endeavour Close, which is currently leased by naval cadets, Council resolved to write to the Navy about the future of the site, including cost/benefit analysis and whether they intend to purchase the site.
Council agreed to seek advice from the Local Traffic Committee regarding limiting threats from vehicles to the remaining koala populations on Bagotville Road, Old Bagotville Road and Rous Road (Dalwood Road to Rous Public School).
The meeting moved into confidential session to discuss airline agreements at Ballina Byron Gateway Airport, leasing matters at Wigmore Arcade and contract management at Alstonville Aquatic Centre.
The meeting closed at 4.30pm.
More stories about Ballina Shire Council:
Ballina Shire Council says it now has three new overland flood studies on public exhibition for community feedback. The studies cover Alstonville, Wardell and Lennox Head. Ballina Council's October meeting opened with Mayor Sharon Cadwallader acknowledging the attack on Dr Helen Haynes and calling for respectful public service. She said, 'Democracy depends on people being able to participate freely, respectfully, and without fear'. The agenda for Thursday's meeting includes six notices of motion from four councillors, with issues including missing persons, volunteer recognition, and arts funding. Construction on a $4.35 million flood-resilience upgrade of Ross Lane at Lennox Head is due to begin today, ahead of a nine-week closure of the busy road later this month. With Ballina Shire Council General Manager Paul Hickey deciding to retire after almost twenty years in the role, and even longer as a staff member, the task of finding a replacement has begun. Cr Damien Loone was also returned as Deputy Mayor after Cr Simon Chate withdrew his nomination.
Overland flood studies open for community feedback
Ballina debates regional arts funding, missing people and live music
Big meeting for Ballina Council this week
Ross Lane flood-resilience works begin ahead of nine-week closure
Ballina Council will be getting a new general manager
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