Ballina’s existing Sharpes Beach carpark is to close from today owing to work on a new one.

Island and coastal communities, among others across the Northern Rivers, received evacuation directions over the weekend.

Police helicopters hovering over Simpsons Creek near Ocean Shores around 11.30am on Wednesday were not a search and rescue, they were searching for drugs, namely cannabis. 

At the eleventh hour, Ballina Shire Council has voted to press pause on the controversial Sharpes Beach car park redevelopment, and seek further options.

Public submissions recently closed for Ballina Council's proposed changes to Sharpes Beach. Prominent among these was a call for better accessibility options for people with disabilities, which is an issue right across the Northern Rivers. The Echo spoke to East Ballina resident Dr Mariann Lloyd-Smith to find out more.

Sharpes Beach is a key link between Ballina and Lennox Head on the Coastal Recreational Path and Ballina Shire Council has received $1.05million to help upgrade the coastal carpark.

This week Echonetdaily caught up with two enthusiastic members of Ballina Coastcare to find out more about their regeneration efforts along the coastal path at Sharpes Beach.

Pro surfer Matt Wilkinson had a close encounter with the shark kind at Sharpes Beach near Ballina yesterday.

The Northern Regional Planning Panel has ‘electronically’ approved a contentious 229-lot housing estate at Sharpes Beach, Skennars Head, after reserving a decision at its December meeting.

The JRPP has deferred a decision on a contentious development proposal for 229-lot housing estate at Sharpes Beach, Skennars Head, after developer Intrapac’s representatives pitched to have Ballina Shire Council’s four recommended ‘deferred commencement’ conditions withdrawn.