Community & places · Ballina Shire Council
Ballina pensioners can comment on amended rates concessions policy
Ballina Shire Council has adopted an amended policy covering pensioner concessions on rates and charges, but has not publicly detailed what will change in the arrangements.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
Ballina Shire pensioners will have an opportunity to comment on an amended policy covering rates and charges concessions after councillors adopted it unanimously on 22 October.
Resolution 221026/19 adopted the amended Pensioner Concessions - Rates and Charges Policy and directed that it be placed on public exhibition. Any submissions received are to be returned to Council. If there are no submissions, the resolution says no further action is required.
The public record does not specify whether the amendment changes eligibility, application requirements, the rates or charges covered, or the amount of assistance available. It also does not give exhibition dates or explain how submissions will be lodged.
That leaves pensioners unable to assess the practical effect of the amended policy from the resolution alone. The policy has been adopted, but the exhibition process provides an opportunity for feedback before any submissions are considered by Council.
Councillor Erin Karsten was absent and did not vote on the item. The remaining voting councillors supported the resolution unanimously, according to the council’s public record.
Pensioners, property owners and community organisations will need to review the exhibited policy against the previous version to identify any changes to concession arrangements. The available record does not state how many residents may be affected.
What deserves a closer look
The resolution confirms adoption and public exhibition but does not describe the policy's substantive amendments.
The record provides no exhibition dates, submission instructions or estimate of the number of affected residents.
Questions for follow-up reporting
What provisions in the amended policy differ from the previous version?
When will the policy be exhibited, and how can pensioners make submissions?
Does the amended policy alter eligibility, application requirements or the amount of assistance available?
What happens next
Place the amended policy on public exhibition for comment.
Return any submissions received to Council.
If no submissions are received, take no further action under the resolution.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
Council adopted the amended Pensioner Concessions – Rates and Charges Policy.
MAYOR 9.12 Policy (Review) - Pensioner Concessions - Rates and Charges 221026/19 RESOLVED (Cr Therese Crollick/Cr Michelle Bailey) 1. That Council adopts the amended Pensioner Concessions – Rates and Charges Policy, as per Attachment 1 to this report.
Resolution 221026/19
Open original minutes ↗The policy is to be placed on public exhibition, with submissions returned to Council and no further action required if none are received.
2. That Council place this policy on exhibition for public comment, with any submissions received to be resubmitted back to Council. If no submissions are received, then no further action is required.
Resolution 221026/19
Open original minutes ↗The vote was unanimous among voting councillors, with Councillor Erin Karsten absent and not voting.
FOR VOTE - All Councillors voted unanimously. ABSENT. DID NOT VOTE - Cr Erin Karsten Cr Erin Karsten returned to the meeting at 12:18 pm. 9.13 Delivery Program and Operational Plan - 30 September 2026 Review A Motion was moved by Cr Therese Crollick 1.
Resolution 221026/19
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Reporting from the public minutes of Ballina Shire Council’s 22 October 2026 meeting, specifically resolution 221026/19.
Key facts from the minutes
- Ballina Shire Council adopted an amended Pensioner Concessions - Rates and Charges Policy on 22 October 2026.
- The policy will be placed on public exhibition for comment.
- Submissions received are to be returned to Council; if none are received, the resolution says no further action is required.
- The vote was unanimous among voting councillors, with Councillor Erin Karsten absent and not voting.
- The supplied public record does not state the amended policy’s specific concession changes or the exhibition dates.
Why it matters
- Pensioners who rely on Council assistance with rates or charges will need to check the exhibited policy to determine whether their eligibility, application requirements or level of assistance could change. The resolution does not identify the substantive amendments.