Tomorrow’s meeting of Ballina Shire Council will debate issues including local strategic planning, biodiversity, CCTV, bridge duplication and single use plastic elimination.
With development drastically transforming sections of the shire, particularly the area around Lennox Head and Cumbalum, a series of planning proposals are up for discussion, with implications for koalas and other species.
Shire-wide, public consultation has recently been completed for the Ballina Shire Community Strategic Plan 2022-2032. Half of the respondents noted that the best thing about living in the area is the beautiful environment, the relaxed lifestyle and access to open spaces and recreation.
With biodiversity and habitat management being central to all this, a proposed new chapter of Ballina’s Development Control Plan with a focus on these issues is now being prepared, and will be discussed tomorrow. This is an area where national, state and local laws and responsibilities intersect, adding extra complexity.
Other issues
A ‘seagull’ (three way) roundabout intersection is proposed for Gallans Road and Tamarind Drive, near Richmond Christian College.
Ballina Council’s $132m of cash and investments will be discussed, including a slight improvement in fossil-free and green investments.
New Australia Day design concepts will be discussed, included proposed signs, flags and banners across Ballina, Lennox Day and Alstonville, with thousands of dollars likely to be spent to promote this event.
Dash Group Australia’s tender for CCTV installation across Ballina Shire is set to be approved, following a tender process which resulted in ten applications from various companies. The Commonwealth government has pledged $1m to install the infrastructure, with maintenance costs likely to be covered by Council.
With work progressing on duplication plans for the roads leading from Ballina Island, a new report seeks Council approval to change the shared path alignment for the Tamarind Drive/Canal Drive project, for what is claimed to be an improved drainage, aesethetic and environmental outcome.
It’s suggested that the new proposal will retain more existing trees, allow maintenance and improve pedestrian access.
Following Council’s earlier determination to eliminate single-use plastic packaging and materials, a motion from Council’s Resource Recovery division seeks to clarify how this will work in practice.
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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.
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