200 meetings on the record
Council waste, water and environment decisions
Highlights
- The decision secures waste services for Council facilities and commits Council to a substantial multi-year operational contract.
- Residents may review proposed flood mapping and provide feedback that could influence future flood-management measures and information available to property owners.
- The mapping may affect how flood risk and floodplain functions are understood in Ballina.
- The change is intended to maintain continuity of the committee’s work when designated councillors are unavailable.
- Six local schools will receive support for environmental projects during 2026/27.
- The project will undergo further design, environmental, flood and procurement work before construction proceeds.
Decisions
Waste collection contract awarded
Council awarded Eljo Pty Ltd and The Trustee for Rico Family Trust trading as Richmond Waste Services a five-year contract for waste collection and disposal at Council facilities worth $518,062.59 excluding GST. The General Manager was authorised to sign the contract.
The decision secures waste services for Council facilities and commits Council to a substantial multi-year operational contract.
Alstonville and Wardell flood studies released for public comment
Council endorsed public exhibition of draft overland flood studies and mapping for Alstonville and Wardell. The studies will return to Council after exhibition, with submissions summarised. Council also resolved to include flood-portal training and hold separate information sessions, including consultation with Jali LALC and Cabbage Tree Island residents.
Residents may review proposed flood mapping and provide feedback that could influence future flood-management measures and information available to property owners.
Ballina flood-study mapping addendum to be exhibited
Council approved public exhibition of a draft addendum to the Ballina Flood Study Update 2023 covering flood-function mapping. The document will return to Council after submissions are considered.
The mapping may affect how flood risk and floodplain functions are understood in Ballina.
Sustainability and Environment Advisory Committee rules amended
Council approved an amendment allowing the Mayor to make temporary appointments to the committee’s Chair, Delegate and Alternate roles when necessary.
The change is intended to maintain continuity of the committee’s work when designated councillors are unavailable.
Sustainable School Grants approved
Council approved $25,000 for six recommended school sustainability projects and noted the completion of seven previous projects valued at $24,100.
Six local schools will receive support for environmental projects during 2026/27.
NSW Public Works authorised to deliver the project
The General Manager was authorised to engage NSW Public Works to complete the design package, flood impact assessment, Review of Environmental Factors, approvals, procurement and project governance requirements.
The project will undergo further design, environmental, flood and procurement work before construction proceeds.
Refusal of eight-storey co-living development
Development Application DA.2026.24 for demolition of the existing dwelling and construction of an eight-storey, 27-room co-living development with basement parking at 64 Wentworth Road, Burwood, was refused. Reasons included major minimum-lot-size non-compliance, inadequate communal open space, unsatisfactory long-term waste collection, basement access concerns, insufficient design excellence and unacceptable impacts on residents, neighbouring properties and the public domain.
The proposal will not proceed in its current form, reducing the immediate risk of additional building scale, waste-collection activity and access impacts at the site.
Potential landfill site visit
Council officers will request that a landfill site visit be arranged, subject to approval from Verde Terra Pty Ltd.
A site visit could provide the Subcommittee with more direct information about the landfill and its environmental management.
2026–2027 carryover budget adopted
Council adopted a revised 2026–2027 budget incorporating projects carried over from 2025–2026, including updated comprehensive income, financial position, cash-flow and City Water and City Waste operating statements. Officers will continue monitoring the capital program and project delivery.
Carryover funding allows delayed capital works to continue, although the meeting extract does not identify the full project-by-project allocations.
August 2026 financial report noted
Council noted the financial position, results and sustainability ratios for the period ending 31 August 2026. Council reported an operating surplus of $35.9 million, cash and investments of $350.5 million, and $10.5 million in capital expenditure during the first two months of the financial year.
The report indicates Council is broadly tracking its adopted budget, while water-consumption revenue was below budget and the Asset Sustainability Ratio remained below target.
Audit and Risk Management Committee minutes adopted
Council adopted the minutes of the committee meeting held on 26 August 2026. The committee reported a manageable overall risk profile but highlighted supply-chain pressures, cyber security, confidential-information risks, water and wastewater asset information, and portfolio delivery pressures.
The issues identified will continue to be monitored through Council’s governance and risk processes.
August financial performance received
Council received the Monthly Financial Performance Statement for the period ending 31 August 2026. The report recorded $282.6 million in unrestricted cash, $180.8 million in debt, a 13.75-month unrestricted cash expense cover ratio and a 1.37 leverage ratio. The 2026/27 budget includes a $236 million capital works program and a $5.4 million operating surplus.
The figures indicate strong short-term liquidity, but the report also warns that the asset sustainability ratio is below target and that spending is weighted towards new and upgrade works rather than renewals.
Greenmount Water Treatment Plant contract and fluoridation scope approved
Council approved awarding the Four Communities Project Greenmount Water Treatment Plant contract to the preferred tenderer and authorised the Chief Executive Officer to execute the contract. It also approved adding a fluoride dosing plant and fluoridating treated water supplied to Cambooya, Greenmount, Nobby and Clifton, with Queensland Health to be advised and the decision published as required by the Water Fluoridation Act 2008.
The project and decision will affect the treatment and composition of the reticulated water supply in four communities. The contract value and tenderer were contained in confidential material and were not provided in the extract.
Southern Water Treatment Plant procurement process approved
Council resolved that it is in the public interest to invite expressions of interest from shortlisted proponents before written tenders, enabling an Early Contractor Involvement process leading to a design and construction contract for the Southern Water Treatment Plant.
This is a procurement milestone for a major future water infrastructure project, but it is not yet an award of the construction contract.
Early Learning Services budget adjustment
The committee recommended reducing the 2026/27 Early Learning Services forecast operating result by $139,000, resulting in a revised forecast deficit of $122,000. The report also outlined revised operating models, grant and funding opportunities, and other sustainability measures.
The financial pressure may affect the way Council-funded early-learning services are operated and supported.
Solar-panel disposal requirements
The solar project contract is to require functional panels to be stored for possible community use or sale, with remaining panels sent to a commercial solar-panel recycling facility. The project tender had already been awarded at the August Council meeting.
Sets an environmental and reuse requirement for panels removed or replaced through the project.
Waste policy review to be refined
Councillors discussed the third workshop on the Waste and Circular Economy Transformation Policy Directive review, including draft principles, community engagement and costings. Officers will further refine the strategic policy position and provide an update on next steps.
Future waste services, charges, waste volumes and community consultation may be affected, but no policy change was adopted at this meeting.
Transitional Housing Model changes supported
The Committee received the report, noted reduced Homes NSW Community Leasehold Program funding and its impact on social-housing availability, and supported changes to the Transitional Housing Model’s commercial terms, including aligning Council rental income with social-housing rent settings and increasing the managing agency commission rate. The Committee noted the model’s financial sustainability and positive social and economic returns.
The changes are intended to retain social-housing capacity on the Central Coast while maintaining the model’s financial sustainability.
Ipswich Show Society resilience funding request noted
Councillors noted the Ipswich Show Society’s request for Council support to seek State Government funding through Ipswich’s Local Resilience Action Plan for Stage 4 emergency evacuation and refuge facilities. Consideration of the request will follow.
The proposal could improve emergency evacuation and refuge capacity at the Ipswich Showgrounds, subject to funding and future Council consideration.
Flood-recovery project update received
Councillors discussed updates on Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements projects following the March 2025 Tropical Cyclone Alfred event. Submissions to the Queensland Reconstruction Authority had progressed to approved status.
Recovery works, including riverbank stabilisation, may improve safety and resilience in affected areas.
Topics
Community Connections Expo recognised
Council recognised the success of the 2026 Ballina Shire Community Connections Expo at Lennox Head Cultural Centre and its value in supporting volunteering, resilience and links between Council and community organisations.
The recognition supports continuation of a community-development event for residents, volunteers and local organisations.
Local government financial ratios
Council noted a discussion paper and considered the effects of grant timing, disaster funding, cash reserves, depreciation and five-year modelling on assessments of rural councils’ financial performance.
The discussion may influence how Cabonne’s financial capacity and sustainability are assessed by government bodies.
Waste servicing and commercial vehicle access
The Panel found that the 64 Wentworth Road co-living proposal did not demonstrate a satisfactory long-term waste servicing arrangement or adequately resolve commercial vehicle and basement access requirements.
Waste collection movements and vehicle access were treated as material issues affecting residents, neighbours and the public domain.
Mangrove Mountain landfill contamination status
The Subcommittee continued considering the classification of the Mangrove Mountain landfill site as contaminated land.
The classification may be relevant to environmental oversight, remediation discussions and community understanding of risks.
Financial sustainability
Council reported strong liquidity and debt within sustainability targets. The Asset Consumption Ratio was 59.95%, just below the 60% target, while the Asset Sustainability Ratio was below target after $4.3 million in infrastructure renewals compared with $13.4 million in depreciation year to date.
The figures indicate a need to monitor whether infrastructure renewal spending keeps pace with asset ageing and depreciation.
Financial sustainability and capital works
August results showed favourable operating income and expenditure variances, including additional disaster recovery revenue and lower-timed contract expenditure. Capital expenditure was $8.99 million below budget, while the capital works mix was reported as 18% renewals and 82% new or upgrade works against a 60% renewals target.
The cash position is strong, but the low renewal share may create longer-term asset maintenance and sustainability pressures.
Solar power and emergency resilience
The committee discussed solar panels over car parks at the Airport, Ballina Fair and Ballina Central as a possible renewable-energy opportunity. Malcolm Johnson also raised the need for reliable power for the Rural Fire Service during blackouts.
The proposal could increase renewable generation and improve emergency-service resilience, but no working group or project was formally established in the extracted text.
Waste and circular economy policy
Workshop 3 considered updated draft principles and a proposed approach to community and stakeholder engagement. Councillors raised questions about costings and the volume of waste received from other areas.
Residents may later be asked for input, and future policy settings could influence waste management services and costs.
Strategic priorities
September priorities included a regional sports facility and long-term waste disposal arrangements. Councillors discussed the associated strategic opportunities, risks and future direction.
Both matters could influence future community facilities, service capacity and long-term waste arrangements, but no funding or final project decision was recorded.
Wastewater plant solar panels
The Ballina Environment Society asked about Council’s plan for decommissioning solar panels at the Waste Water Management Plant when they reach the end of their operational life.
Decommissioning arrangements may affect environmental management and future infrastructure costs.
Ipswich Showgrounds emergency facilities
The Ipswich Show Society presented a Local Resilience Action Plan proposal for Stage 4 upgrades involving emergency evacuation and refuge facilities.
The facilities could support residents during future emergencies, but the request remains under consideration and no funding commitment was recorded.
Flood recovery and riverbank stabilisation
The briefing covered approved recovery funding submissions and project status after Tropical Cyclone Alfred, with particular discussion of Bremer River riverbank stabilisation at Riverlink and Riverheart parklands.
The projects relate to flood resilience, riverbank safety and the condition of important public areas.
Fuel resilience and waste services
Council did not accelerate adoption of emerging electric waste-collection trucks and found on-site fuel storage at Alexandria Integrated Facility infeasible.
The outcome affects the future resilience, procurement and environmental direction of waste services.
Community flood preparedness
Council received and noted the report on the Community-based Flood Emergency Action Plans project and Community Flood Awareness Guides.
The project is intended to improve household and community preparedness for flooding.
Waste policy and medical hardship
The revised waste policy introduces a free general-waste collection service and a CEO-administered medical exemption for qualifying residents.
Households managing home-based medical treatment may have lower waste-service costs.
Waste disposal and illegal dumping
Council raised concerns that rising State-set landfill disposal fees are increasing pressure on households, businesses and councils and may contribute to illegal dumping. It supported reducing the metropolitan waste levy and increasing State grants, and noted the NSW asbestos disposal trial commencing in 2027.
The issue concerns disposal costs, illegal dumping and future access to free asbestos-waste collection for eligible households.