Ballina Shire Council will be back around their big circular table tomorrow for the final meeting of 2025.
There is a rescission motion from Cr Therese Crollick to reverse last month’s decision to rescind the minimum rent offered to Social Futures Limited for the property at 30-32 Swift Street Ballina, following concerns that have been raised regarding Council-owned premises being leased to an organisation that has access to significant government funding streams.
The new proposal is for Social Futures to be offered 50 per cent market rate instead, noting the organisation’s stated capacity to pay more than the statutory minimum.
A rare motion from Cr Simon Kinny sees a request for two park bench seats to be installed at either end of Missingham Bridge, to allow people to sit and watch the sunset over North Creek, and the sun/moon rise in the other direction.
Cr Kinny says, ‘Such simple facilities would increase the ambience and amenity of the local area where North Creek meets the Richmond River.’
Will Cumbalum ever get its promised shops?
Cr Erin Karsten is moving that Council:
- Write to the developers of the Ballina Heights Estate, expressing the urgent need for the provision of a commercial facility for the residents of the Ballina Heights Estate and emphasising the extensive time and resources dedicated by Council over a significant period to facilitate this outcome.
- Enforce the terms of the related Planning Agreement to the greatest extent required to achieve this outcome.
Cr Karsten says this motion is ‘intended to support Council in respect to the ongoing discussions with the developers of the Ballina Heights Estate to deliver the long-awaited commercial precinct’.
Rate rise on agenda
The contentious Special Rate Variation (rate rise) proposal will also be up for discussion and decision, with Ballina Council announcing it has received 93 written submissions, including 86 in opposition to the idea, along with a petition including 1,291 signatures opposing the SRV.
Various councillors, including Mayor Sharon Cadwallader, have argued that the rate rise may be unpopular, but is necessary, as Ballina (and local government generally across NSW) faces a growing funding shortfall from the state level, while there is also a growing burden on Council-provided services.
More information about the SRV proposal is available here.
Ballina Council will also be considering public responses to the North Creek Road and Bridge concept design at tomorrow’s meeting.
The reopened bridge is expected to see thousands of vehicle movements a day along what is currently a quiet rural road, allowing quick access from Lennox Head to Ballina Airport, the nearby industrial area, and West Ballina, but will relieve some pressure on the coast road.
More stories about Ballina Shire Council:
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. Byron Greens members could expect to be asked to take the future of the Richmond River further south into account when choosing a candidate for next year’s state election. Local business owners in the Alstonville and Wollongbar townships are being encouraged to take the time to read through Ballina Shire Council’s draft plans, which are currently on exhibition.
Tradie ladies graduate civil construction TAFE program
Ballina Council wrap
Ballina Shire Council’s special rate variation approved
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Alstonville-Wollongbar biz encouraged to be informed on Council’s plans
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