Council & accountability · Ballina Shire Council
Surf operators face 14 new Ballina public-land licences from May 2027
Ballina Shire Council has approved a three-year tender for five surf schools, six elite coaching operations and three stand-up paddle board coaching operations, with nature-based play groups still under consideration.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
Surf schools and coaching businesses will compete for 14 Ballina Shire public-land sub-licences from 1 May 2027, after councillors approved a revised licensing policy and tender plan.
The three-year tender covers five surf school sub-licences, six elite surf coaching sub-licences and three stand-up paddle board coaching sub-licences. Council also approved fixed prices and tender criteria and weightings referred to in the report, although those figures are not included in the minutes.
The amended Commercial Activities on Public Land Policy and Specifications will be exhibited for public comment. The final resolution invites feedback on nature-based play groups, with submissions to return to council and a further report to be prepared on whether those groups should become licensable commercial activities.
Swimming lessons were included in the original motion but were removed by an amendment moved by Councillor Phil Meehan and seconded by Councillor Therese Crollick. The amendment became the motion and was carried unanimously.
Meehan had declared a non-significant, non-pecuniary interest because he knew the operator of one of the licensees. The minutes record that he remained in the room and voted.
The resolution authorises a future tender rather than selecting operators. It also leaves the possible licensing of nature-based play groups unresolved, while the minutes do not specify the locations, exhibition dates or detailed tender criteria for the 14 sub-licences.
What deserves a closer look
The resolution authorises a future tender, so operators have not been selected in the recorded decision.
The final consultation is narrower than the original motion because swimming lessons were removed, while nature-based play groups remain subject to feedback and a further report.
The minutes do not provide the fixed prices, locations, exhibition dates or detailed criteria and weightings referred to in the report.
Questions for follow-up reporting
When and where will the amended policy and specifications be exhibited, and how long will submissions remain open?
What locations and operating conditions will apply to each of the 14 sub-licences?
What fixed prices and detailed criteria and weightings will be used in the tender?
When will council consider the further report on nature-based play groups?
What happens next
Exhibit the amended Commercial Activities on Public Land Policy and Specifications for public comment.
Return submissions to council and prepare the further report on nature-based play groups.
Conduct the public tender for the 14 sub-licences for three years commencing 1 May 2027.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
The amended policy and specifications were adopted, public exhibition was approved and a further report on nature-based play groups was required.
The Amendment was CARRIED FOR VOTE - All Councillors voted unanimously. The Amendment then became the Motion and was CARRIED 221026/18 RESOLVED (Cr Phil Meehan/Cr Therese Crollick) 1.
Item 9.11, resolution 221026/18
Open original minutes ↗The tender covers five surf school, six elite surf coaching and three stand-up paddle board coaching sub-licences for three years commencing 1 May 2027.
4. That Council proceeds with a public tender process for five surf school sub-licences, six elite surf coaching sub-licences and three stand up paddle board coaching sub-licences, for a sub-licence period of three years commencing 1 May 2027.
Item 9.11, resolution 221026/18, point 4
Open original minutes ↗The final exhibition resolution refers to nature-based play groups, with submissions to return to council.
3. That Council place the Policy and Specifications on exhibition for public comment, including an invitation for comment on nature-based play groups as potential licensable activities, with any submissions resubmitted back to Council.
Item 9.11, resolution 221026/18, point 3
Open original minutes ↗Swimming lessons appeared in the original motion but not in the carried amendment.
2. That Council adopts the amended Commercial Activities on Public Land Specifications, as per Attachment 2 to this report. 3. That Council place the Policy and Specifications on exhibition for public comment, including an invitation for comment on nature-based play groups and swimming lessons as potential licensable activities, with any submissions resubmitted back to Council.
Item 9.11, original motion, point 3
Open original minutes ↗The amendment became the motion and was carried unanimously.
7. That Council received a further report on including nature-based play groups as licensable commercial activities under the Commercial Activities on Public Land Policy. FOR VOTE - All Councillors voted unanimously.
Item 9.11, resolution 221026/18
Open original minutes ↗Councillor Phil Meehan declared a non-significant, non-pecuniary interest, said he knew the operator of one of the licensees, and remained in the room to vote.
Cr Meehan knows the operator of one of the licensees. Cr Meehan will remain in the room and vote on this item. • Cr Michelle Bailey - declared an interest in Item 11.6 Notice of Motion - Ballina Music Event (Nature of Interest: non-significant, non pecuniary).
Item 5, declarations of interest
Open original minutes ↗The resolution refers to fixed prices and tender criteria and weightings contained in report tables.
5. That the public tender includes a fixed price for the sub-licences as set out in Table 4 and the class specifications in Table 3 of this report. 6. That the public tender be based on the criteria and weightings set out in Table 6 of this report.
Item 9.11, resolution 221026/18, points 5 and 6
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Reporting from the public minutes of Ballina Shire Council’s ordinary meeting held on 22 October 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- Council adopted amended Commercial Activities on Public Land policies and specifications on 22 October 2026.
- Fourteen three-year sub-licences will be tendered from 1 May 2027: five surf school, six elite surf coaching and three stand-up paddle board coaching licences.
- The policy will be exhibited for public comment, including feedback on nature-based play groups.
- Swimming lessons were removed from the public consultation by amendment.
- The tender will use fixed prices and published criteria and weightings, but the supplied minutes do not state the prices.
Why it matters
- The tender will shape which commercial operators can seek access to Ballina Shire public land from May 2027. Nature-based play groups may also seek a future licensing pathway, but that question remains subject to public feedback and further council consideration.