planning ยท Ballina Shire Council
Ballina committee rejects conditional pathway for Cumbalum rezoning
A proposed amendment that would have backed the CURA C rezoning reaching Gateway Determination if deficiencies were fixed was defeated 2-4, with the committee instead supporting a submission opposing the proposal progressing at this stage.
Ballina Shire Council's Environmental and Sustainability Committee has rejected a proposed conditional pathway for the Cumbalum Urban Release Area C rezoning, voting instead to support a submission opposing the proposal progressing to Gateway Determination at this stage.
Public minutes from the committee's 9 April meeting show councillors considered the CURA C rezoning review and backed a recommendation to send a submission to the Department of Planning, Housing and Industry and the Northern Regional Planning Panel setting out technical and merit issues identified with the planning proposal.
Before that vote, an amendment moved by Cr Michelle Bailey and seconded by Cr Simon Kinny sought to support the rezoning progressing to Gateway Determination only if identified deficiencies were addressed to Council's satisfaction and in line with Council policy and relevant NSW planning legislation. That amendment was lost, with Cr Bailey and Cr Kinny voting for it, and Cr Therese Crollick, Cr Simon Chate, Cr Eva Ramsey and Cr Phil Meehan voting against.
The committee then supported the original motion, which said Council does not support the proposed rezoning progressing to Gateway Determination, having regard to submitted information and identified deficiencies. The vote was 4-2, with Cr Crollick, Cr Chate, Cr Ramsey and Cr Meehan in favour, and Cr Bailey and Cr Kinny against.
For residents in Cumbalum and the wider Ballina area, the committee's position signals that the rezoning proposal remains under challenge on technical and merit grounds rather than being supported subject to later fixes. The matter concerns Cumbalum Urban Release Area C, a planning proposal with potential implications for future land use in the area.
The committee also supported advising DPHI that Council wishes to be nominated as Planning Proposal Authority if the Northern Regional Planning Panel decides the proposal should still proceed to Gateway Determination. If that happens, Council is seeking a formal role in handling the planning proposal process.
Two councillors, Cr Sharon Cadwallader and Cr Damian Loone, had declared interests before the meeting because they are Council representatives on the Northern Regional Planning Panel, which will consider the CURA C planning proposal, and did not attend. The minutes record no other declarations.
Reference minutes
Source: Ballina Shire Council Environmental and Sustainability Committee meeting minutes, 9 April 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- The Environmental and Sustainability Committee considered the Cumbalum Urban Release Area C rezoning review on 9 April 2026.
- An amendment to support the rezoning progressing to Gateway Determination only if deficiencies were addressed was lost 2 votes to 4.
- The committee supported a submission to the Department of Planning, Housing and Industry and the Northern Regional Planning Panel outlining technical and merit issues with the proposal.
- The carried recommendation said Council does not support the proposed rezoning progressing to Gateway Determination.
- The committee supported advising DPHI that Council wants to be nominated as Planning Proposal Authority if the proposal proceeds.
- Cr Sharon Cadwallader and Cr Damian Loone declared interests before the meeting because they are Council representatives on the Northern Regional Planning Panel and did not attend.
Why it matters
- The committee did not endorse a conditional route for the Cumbalum rezoning to move forward. Instead, it backed a clearer position opposing the proposal progressing to Gateway Determination while also seeking a formal role if the panel advances it anyway.