Ballina council adopts new planning blueprint and sends CURA B proposal to Gateway

Ballina Shire Council adopted its Ballina Shire Local Strategic Planning Statement 2025-2046 at the Environmental and Sustainability Committee meeting on 11 March 2026, after amending the strategy to reshape employment land, rural policy and precinct planning across the shire. The same meeting endorsed Planning Proposal BSCPP 24/005 for CURA B and sent it to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure for Gateway determination.

The LSPS changes expand the Alstonville potential employment area, change the wording for Newrybar from “commercial land use” to “commercial activities”, and rewrite Action 4.1 to prepare a precinct plan for land near Ballina Hospital. The plan also changes the Tamarind Drive growth area to identify about 4ha for residential development potential, while the rest of the land is identified as potential employment land but described as significantly constrained and likely to have no to very little yield.

Councillors also adopted the Russellton Estate Expansion Area addendum with the LSPS. The committee resolved to seek endorsement from the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, then submit the endorsed statement and addendum to the department.

Five rural land use principles were added to the strategy. They cover agricultural production, protection of productive farmland, on-farm diversification, sustainability and rural tourism, minimising land-use conflict, maintaining the character and settlement pattern of rural villages and hamlets, and protecting rural vistas. A new Action 10.3 will consolidate rural land use policy into a single reference document.

Once the revised LSPS is published on the NSW Planning Portal, the Ballina Shire Growth Management Strategy 2012 and West Ballina Planning Study and Structure Plan 2010 are to be repealed. Council also agreed to include a review of the Alstonville Strategic Plan in the 2026/27 to 2029/30 Delivery Program and Operational Plan, with the review identified for 2027/28.

The CURA B proposal, titled the CURA B E1 Zone Relocation and Height of Building Increase, will now go to DPHI for Gateway determination. If Gateway is granted, it is to be publicly exhibited for at least 28 days.

The committee also affirmed earlier support for BSCPP 25/009 and asked the department to finalise an amendment allowing detached dual occupancy in the 7(c) Environmental Protection (Water Catchment) zone.

The planning changes affect where housing, jobs and rural development can proceed across Ballina Shire. They also replace older strategic planning documents with the revised framework once state processes are completed.