Roads & transport · Ballina Shire Council
Bruxner Highway projects stay on Ballina Council’s advocacy list, with no construction date
Council resolved to revise its draft roads contributions plan and continue pressing for a Wollongbar - Goonellabah deviation, highway duplication, shared paths and Cumbalum ramps.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
Ballina Shire Council will continue advocating for four State-road priorities while preparing an amended draft roads contributions plan, but its 24 September resolution does not commit construction funding or set a delivery date.
The draft plan is to be revised to reflect changes to the works schedule and associated cost estimates. The resolution also calls for continued advocacy to the NSW Government for completion of planning, approvals, design and construction of a Wollongbar - Goonellabah deviation configured with dual lanes each way, a pedestrian and bicycle shared path, and a full interchange at Sneaths Road.
Council also backed continued advocacy for duplication of the Bruxner Highway from Sneaths Road to the Pacific Highway Teven interchange, shared paths on future duplication projects, and south-facing ramps at the Pacific Highway Cumbalum Interchange. The resolution identifies the ramps’ potential value for community resilience, emergency access, evacuation, network redundancy and local access.
The road resolution was carried unanimously. Cr Michelle Bailey had declared a non-significant, non-pecuniary interest because she is a Hutley Drive resident; her declaration stated that she would remain in the room and vote. Cr Therese Crollick was absent and did not vote.
The resolution directs the amended draft contributions plan to include changes to the works schedule and associated cost estimates detailed in Tables 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the report. Those tables are not included in the supplied minutes. The resolution provides for advocacy and contributions planning rather than approving construction works.
What deserves a closer look
The resolution combines preparation of a revised draft contributions plan with advocacy for State-road projects. It does not itself approve construction.
The resolution refers to works-schedule changes and associated cost estimates detailed in Tables 2–5 of the report, but those tables are not included in the supplied minutes.
The road resolution provides no construction funding commitment or delivery date.
Questions for follow-up reporting
What works schedule and cost estimates are detailed in Tables 2–5 for inclusion in the amended draft Roads Contributions Plan?
When will the amended draft plan be completed and considered by Council?
Which funding arrangements and delivery timeframes would apply to each proposed State-road project?
What happens next
Prepare an amended draft Ballina Shire Roads Contributions Plan incorporating the changes to the works schedule and associated cost estimates detailed in Tables 2–5 of the report.
Continue advocacy to the NSW Government for the identified State-road upgrades.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
Council resolved to prepare an amended draft Ballina Shire Roads Contributions Plan incorporating changes to the works schedule and associated cost estimates detailed in Tables 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the report.
MAYOR 10. Civil Services Division Reports 10.1 Ballina Shire Strategic Road Network - Traffic Modelling to 2046 240926/18 RESOLVED (Cr Phil Meehan/Cr Erin Karsten) 1. That an amended draft Ballina Shire Roads Contributions Plan be prepared to include changes to the works schedule and associated cost estimates detailed in Tables 2, 3, 4 and 5 of this report.
Item 10.1, resolution 240926/18, point 1
Open original minutes ↗The quoted clause calls for continued advocacy to the NSW Government for completion of planning, approvals, design and construction of the Wollongbar to Goonellabah Bruxner Highway deviation with dual lanes each way, an adjacent pedestrian/bicycle shared path and a full Sneaths Road interchange.
2. That Council continue to advocate to the NSW Government for State road upgrades identified through the modelling and broader strategic assessment, including: a. completion of planning, approvals, design and construction of the Wollongbar to Goonellabah deviation of the Bruxner Highway, configured with dual lanes each way, an adjacent pedestrian/bicycle shared path and a full interchange at Sneaths Road;
Resolution 240926/18, point 2(a)
Open original minutes ↗The listed upgrades include duplication of the Bruxner Highway from Sneaths Road to the Pacific Highway Teven interchange, shared pedestrian/bicycle paths on future Bruxner Highway duplication projects and continued advocacy for south-facing ramps at the Pacific Highway Cumbalum Interchange, recognising their strategic value for community resilience, emergency access, evacuation, network redundancy and local access.
b. commencement of planning, approvals, design and construction for duplication of the Bruxner Highway from Sneaths Road to the Pacific Highway Teven interchange; c. provision of a shared pedestrian/bicycle path as part of future Bruxner Highway duplication projects; and d. continued advocacy for south-facing ramps at the Pacific Highway Cumbalum Interchange, recognising their strategic value for community resilience, emergency access, evacuation, network redundancy and local access.
Resolution 240926/18, points 2(b)–(d)
Open original minutes ↗Cr Michelle Bailey declared a non-significant, non-pecuniary interest in Item 10.1 because she is a Hutley Drive resident, and her declaration stated that she would remain in the room and vote.
Cr Karsten is friends with a member of the Ballina Shire Concert Band. Cr Karsten will remain in the room and vote on this item. • Cr Michelle Bailey - declared an interest in Item 10.1 Ballina Shire Strategic Road Network - Traffic Modelling to 2046 (Nature of Interest: non- significant, non pecuniary). Cr Bailey is a resident of Hutley Drive. Cr Bailey will remain in the room and vote on this item. • Cr Simon Chate - declared an interest in Item 9.3 Use of Council Seal (Nature of Interest: non-significant, non pecuniary).
Item 5, declarations of interest concerning Item 10.1
Open original minutes ↗The vote was unanimous, with Cr Therese Crollick recorded as absent and not voting.
FOR VOTE - All Councillors voted unanimously. ABSENT. DID NOT VOTE - Cr Therese Crollick Cr Simon Chate left the meeting at 12:11 pm. 10.2 Alstonville and Wardell Overland Flood Studies 240926/19 RESOLVED (Cr Erin Karsten/Cr Michelle Bailey) 1.
Resolution 240926/18 vote record, before Item 10.2
Open original minutes ↗Resolution 240926/18 directs preparation of an amended draft contributions plan and continued advocacy for State-road upgrades; it does not approve construction, commit construction funding or set a delivery date.
MAYOR 10. Civil Services Division Reports 10.1 Ballina Shire Strategic Road Network - Traffic Modelling to 2046 240926/18 RESOLVED (Cr Phil Meehan/Cr Erin Karsten) 1. That an amended draft Ballina Shire Roads Contributions Plan be prepared to include changes to the works schedule and associated cost estimates detailed in Tables 2, 3, 4 and 5 of this report. 2. That Council continue to advocate to the NSW Government for State road upgrades identified through the modelling and broader strategic assessment, including: a. completion of planning, approvals, design and construction of the Wollongbar to Goonellabah deviation of the Bruxner Highway, configured with dual lanes each way, an adjacent pedestrian/bicycle shared path and a full interchange at Sneaths Road; b. commencement of planning, approvals, design and construction for duplication of the Bruxner Highway from Sneaths Road to the Pacific Highway Teven interchange; c. provision of a shared pedestrian/bicycle path as part of future Bruxner Highway duplication projects; and d. continued advocacy for south-facing ramps at the Pacific Highway Cumbalum Interchange, recognising their strategic value for community resilience, emergency access, evacuation, network redundancy and local access.
Resolution 240926/18, points 1–2
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Reporting from the public minutes of Ballina Shire Council’s ordinary meeting held on 24 September 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- Council resolved to prepare an amended draft Ballina Shire Roads Contributions Plan incorporating changes to the works schedule and associated cost estimates detailed in Tables 2 - 5 of the report.
- The resolution supports continued advocacy for the Wollongbar - Goonellabah Bruxner Highway deviation with dual lanes each way, a shared path and a full Sneaths Road interchange.
- Council renewed advocacy for duplication from Sneaths Road to the Pacific Highway Teven interchange and for shared paths on future duplication projects.
- Council also renewed advocacy for south-facing ramps at the Pacific Highway Cumbalum Interchange.
- The resolution passed unanimously; Cr Therese Crollick was absent and Cr Michelle Bailey declared an interest and stated that she would remain and vote.
- The road resolution makes no construction funding commitment and sets no delivery date for these projects.
Why it matters
- People travelling through Ballina Shire may see the proposed road projects retained in Council’s transport advocacy and contributions-planning work. The resolution does not establish when construction would occur or how it would be funded.