Council - 26 Mar 2026

Key decisions

• Local Strategic Planning Statement adopted
  Council adopted the Ballina Shire Local Strategic Planning Statement 2025-2046 and addendum, with amendments including more employment land investigation, changes affecting Alstonville, Newrybar and rural planning actions, and a further report in April 2026 on North Kinvara, Cumbalum and West Lennox Palms.
  This sets long-term land use and growth planning across the shire and may affect future housing, employment land, village planning and rural protections.
• Tintenbar planning proposal endorsed
  Council endorsed Planning Proposal BSCPP 25/004 to amend the minimum lot size map for 86 Foresters Way and 38 Old Tintenbar Road, Tintenbar, and will finalise it under delegated authority.
  This advances a site-specific planning change in Tintenbar that may affect future subdivision or development potential.
• Biodiversity and habitat DCP sent to exhibition
  Council endorsed draft Development Control Plan Chapter 2C Biodiversity and Habitat Management for public exhibition for at least 28 days.
  Residents, landowners and developers will be able to review and comment on proposed biodiversity and habitat management controls before they are finalised.
• Urban Vegetation on Public Land policy adopted
  Council adopted an updated Urban Vegetation on Public Land Policy.
  This may affect how trees and vegetation on council-managed public land are maintained, protected or removed.
• Australia Day flag and banner concept supported
  Council supported Option 2 for Australia Day themed flags in River Street, Ballina and additional community event banner signage, subject to a further report to the 13 April 2026 Finance and Facilities Committee and funding in the 2026/27 budget.
  This could change the appearance and event signage in central Ballina around Australia Day, but funding is not yet confirmed.
• CCTV contract awarded with more sites to be reviewed
  Council awarded the CCTV infrastructure supply and installation contract to Dash Group Australia for $493,946.85 excluding GST, and requested a further report after liaison with NSW Police on extra priority sites including Lennox Head, Shaws Bay, Burns Point Ferry Road, Alstonville and Wollongbar.
  This funds CCTV rollout now and may lead to expanded surveillance and crime prevention measures in additional locations.
• Major service tenders awarded
  Council awarded contracts for quarry product supply to Holcim, Mororo Quarry and Boral, and for water meter reading services to Skilltech Consulting Services Pty Ltd for $392,436.24 excluding GST.
  These contracts support road and civil works supply chains and ongoing water billing and meter reading services.
• North East Waste coordinator tender rejected and negotiations authorised
  Council declined the sole tender for the North East Waste coordinator role and authorised negotiations with Jeanie McKillop instead of calling fresh tenders.
  This affects how the regional waste coordination role will be filled and may influence future waste program delivery.

Important topics

• Gallans Road and Tamarind Drive intersection
  Council noted a report on options for improvements to the Gallans Road and Tamarind Drive intersection.
  Residents near the site may see future traffic or safety upgrades, but no construction decision was made at this meeting.
• Community land leases and hall use agreements
  Council approved sealing and progression of leases, licences and hire agreements for community facilities including Ballina Equestrian Grounds, CWA Hall, Newrybar Hall, Quays Reserve Clubhouse, Wollongbar Sports Fields and Wollongbar Community Hall, with required public notification where applicable.
  These decisions support continued use of local halls, sports grounds and community facilities by local organisations.
• Ward committee membership
  Council approved Wollongbar Community Preschool as a member of C Ward Committee, invited St Vincent de Paul to join, and asked for a report on other rejected applications.
  This affects local representation and participation in ward-level community consultation.
• Tamarind Drive / Canal Bridge shared path design change
  Council approved Option 2 for an amendment to the Tamarind Drive open drain design as part of the Ballina Bridges Duplication project.
  This may affect the design and local outcomes of the shared path and drainage works in the bridge duplication area.
• Single-use plastics elimination
  Council confirmed support for a phased reduction of single-use packaging and materials across council operations and will receive a further report about implementation for council-sponsored events and activities on council land.
  This signals future operational and event-related changes aimed at reducing waste, with some details still to come.

Resident impacts

• Long-term planning rules and growth priorities across Ballina Shire were updated through the new Local Strategic Planning Statement.
• Residents will have a chance to comment on proposed biodiversity and habitat development controls during public exhibition.
• New CCTV infrastructure will be installed, with possible expansion to more locations after further review.
• Several community facilities and sporting venues will continue under updated leases, licences or hire agreements.
• Council is moving toward reducing single-use packaging in its own operations, with broader event rules still under review.
• Design changes were approved for part of the Ballina Bridges Duplication project affecting Tamarind Drive.

Places affected

• Ballina Shire (shire)
  Affected by updated long-term strategic planning, biodiversity controls and waste and plastics policy directions.
• Tintenbar (locality)
  Planning proposal endorsed for Foresters Way and Old Tintenbar Road sites.
• River Street, Ballina (street)
  Proposed location for Australia Day themed flags and banner signage.
• Lennox Head (town)
  Named for possible additional CCTV sites including Byron Bay Road and Byron Street, and LSPS follow-up on West Lennox Palms.
• Shaws Bay (locality)
  Named as a potential priority area for additional CCTV review.
• Burns Point Ferry Road (road)
  Named as a potential priority area for additional CCTV review.
• Alstonville (town)
  LSPS amendments include employment land review and possible crime prevention initiatives; Wollongbar-Alstonville Rugby Club lease also noted.
• Wollongbar (town)
  Affected by ward committee membership, possible crime prevention initiatives, sports field lease and community hall hire agreement.

Next steps

• Seek Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure endorsement for the LSPS addendum and submit the endorsed LSPS documents
  After adoption
• Bring a further report to the April 2026 ordinary meeting on SUGAs for North Kinvara, Cumbalum and West Lennox Palms
  April 2026
• Publicly exhibit draft DCP Chapter 2C Biodiversity and Habitat Management
  Minimum 28 days
• Report to the 13 April 2026 Finance and Facilities Committee on Australia Day signage proposal and budget funding request
  13 April 2026
• Prepare a further report after liaison with NSW Police on additional CCTV priority sites and crime prevention initiatives
  Future meeting
• Undertake statutory public notification for proposed community land leases and report back if substantive objections are received
  Before leases are finalised
• Prepare a further report on implementing single-use packaging reductions for council-sponsored events and activities on council land
  Future meeting / 2026-27 planning

Extracted minutes text

MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING OF BALLINA SHIRE COUNCIL HELD IN THE BALLINA SHIRE COUNCIL CHAMBERS 40 CHERRY STREET BALLINA ON 26/03/26 AT 9:30AM of 19 of the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Ballina Shire Council – 26/03/26 ................................................. MAYOR Attendance Crs Sharon Cadwallader (Mayor - in the chair), Michelle Bailey, Simon Kinny, Damian Loone, Therese Crollick, Simon Chate, Eva Ramsey, Kiri Dicker and Phil Meehan (Online). Paul Hickey (General Manager), Troy Anderson (Director - Civil Services Division), Matthew Wood (Director - Planning and Environmental Health Division), Caroline Klose (Director - Corporate and Community Division) and Nikki Glassop...