Community preschool staff represented by the Independent Education Union rallied in Lismore calling on the NSW government to fund fair pay rises in the lead-up to its June budget.

There were some positive outcomes from Ballina Shire Council's latest meeting, with a new partnership endorsed with the Jali Aboriginal Land Council, majority approval of a motion to oppose the NSW government's environmental planning and assessment reforms, support for a new community preschool next to the fire station in Lennox Head, and new impetus towards phasing out 4WDs on Seven Mile Beach, with a 50 per cent increase in vehicles on the beach in the last three years.

Tamara Smith MP, Member for Ballina and NSW Greens Early Learning Spokesperson, has welcomed an announcement from the NSW government to build a new public preschool adjacent to Wollongbar public school.