transport · Ballina Shire Council
Bruxner Highway upgrades remain on Ballina Council advocacy list
Council will keep pressing for the Wollongbar to Goonellabah deviation, duplication towards the Pacific Highway, shared paths and south-facing Cumbalum interchange ramps.
Ballina Shire Council will continue pressing the NSW Government for four Bruxner Highway priorities, including a dual-lane deviation between Wollongbar and Goonellabah and south-facing ramps at the Pacific Highway’s Cumbalum interchange.
Councillors unanimously endorsed the advocacy program on 24 September and directed staff to prepare an amended Ballina Shire Roads Contributions Plan. The plan will reflect changes to the works schedule and associated cost estimates.
The proposed Wollongbar to Goonellabah deviation would have two lanes in each direction, an adjacent pedestrian and bicycle shared path and a full interchange at Sneaths Road.
Council also wants planning, approvals, design and construction to begin for duplication of the Bruxner Highway from Sneaths Road to the Pacific Highway Teven interchange. Shared pedestrian and bicycle paths are to be included in future Bruxner Highway duplication projects.
The council renewed its call for south-facing ramps at the Cumbalum interchange, citing their strategic value for community resilience, emergency access, evacuation, network redundancy and local access.
The resolution keeps the projects on Ballina Shire’s advocacy agenda. It does not approve construction or specify a delivery date for the upgrades. The amended contributions plan will cover Council’s road-works schedule and cost estimates, while the projects named in the resolution are State road upgrades.
The road resolution was made alongside approval to exhibit draft overland flood studies for Alstonville and Wardell and a flood-function mapping addendum for Ballina. The flood studies will include a community flood-portal training plan, separate information sessions and consultation with Jali LALC and Cabbage Tree Island residents.
Council’s next steps are to prepare the amended roads plan and continue advocacy to the NSW Government for the Bruxner Highway and Cumbalum projects. No specific deadline was stated.
Reference minutes
Ballina Shire Council, Council meeting held on 24 September 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- Ballina Shire Council unanimously backed continued advocacy for four State-road priorities.
- The proposed Wollongbar to Goonellabah deviation includes dual lanes each way, a shared path and a full Sneaths Road interchange.
- Council wants the Bruxner Highway duplicated from Sneaths Road to the Pacific Highway Teven interchange.
- Council renewed its call for south-facing ramps at the Pacific Highway Cumbalum Interchange.
- An amended Ballina Shire Roads Contributions Plan will be prepared with revised works schedules and cost estimates.
- No construction funding or delivery date was approved for the projects.
Why it matters
- The projects are linked by Council to congestion, active transport, emergency access, evacuation and network resilience. The advocacy also keeps proposed road upgrades in view as the amended contributions plan is prepared.