NSW · Northern Rivers · Local council, made simple
Ballina Shire Council
A coastal Northern Rivers shire on the Richmond River — around 48,000 people across Ballina, Lennox Head, Alstonville, Wollongbar and Wardell, about 30 km south of Byron Bay and home to the council-owned Ballina Byron Gateway Airport. The council runs the local services you use every week — waste, roads, water, libraries, parks, development — and sets your rates. Here's the snapshot, then the stuff that affects your week.
Everyday essentials
The things people actually need from the council — fast.
Open for your feedback
See all →Things Ballina Shire Council wants your say on right now. Your view counts for more before the deadline.
- Open — see source for the closing date
Overland Flood Study
Have your say → - Open — see source for the closing date
Transport Depot, Ballina
Have your say → - Open — see source for the closing date
Proposed Lease of Community Land - Alstonville and District Football Club Incorporated
Have your say →
Get to know your council
The basics, in one tap — open any card for key facts and a link to the official source.
This year's rate rise, how it compares across NSW, and why bills differ.
2025–26 rate peg: 3.8%
Open →Budget & financesHow financially healthy the council is, measured against official benchmarks.
Meets 8 of 9 OLG financial benchmarks
Open →Crime & safetyBallina's recorded crime rates, side by side with the NSW average.
2 of 12 major offences below the NSW rate
Open →Mayor & councillorsWho represents you, by ward — and where to read their official profiles.
Mayor: Sharon Cadwallader (Independent)
Open →Elections & votingWhen the next council election is, and how voting works.
Next election: Sat 9 Sep 2028
Open →Contact & servicesHow to reach the council and report a problem.
Customer service: 1300 864 444
Open →Shire profileThe basics: how many people live here, how big the area is.
Population: ~47,900 (2023–24)
Open →What's happening
20 updatesAuto-collected from Ballina Shire Council's public channels and drafted in plain language (pending review).
- Policy
Major flood recovery reconstruction program to strengthen road network
Published on 11 September 2026 Ballina Shire Council is embarking on one of its largest road reconstruction programs in recent years, with permanent flood recovery works set to rebuild 11 roads and landslips across the shire.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Burns Point Ferry returning to service from Thursday 10 September
Published on 09 September 2026 Ballina Shire Council is pleased to advise that the Burns Point Ferry will return to service from 5. 30am Thursday 10 September, following its scheduled annual maintenance period.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Night works and temporary road closure – North Creek Road, Ballina
Published on 08 September 2026 Ballina Shire Council will be resurfacing a section of North Creek Road, between Tamarind Drive and Southern Cross Drive, from 5pm Sunday 13 September to 5am Monday 14 September 2026, weather permitting.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Development
DA Modification - Tourist Accommodation, Lennox Head
DA No: 2017/408. 5 PAN-594034 PROPERTY: 64 Ross Lane, Kinvara NSW 2478 Lot: 4 DP: 247535 PROPOSAL: Modification of Development Consent 4.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Your Say Ballina
- Waste
Ballina Salvage Shed’s Recycled Art Competition open for entries
Published on 07 September 2026 The Salvage Shed is once again running its Recycled Art Competition, offering a fun and inclusive way for community members to redesign and repurpose materials that may otherwise be sent to landfill or left hidden in a shed.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Temporary lane closure for tree works – Pine Avenue, East Ballina
Published on 02 September 2026 Ballina Shire Council has identified a Fig Tree to be removed from Pine Avenue, East Ballina due to disease. Removal works will be undertaken on Tuesday 8 September from 9.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Ballina Shire Council 2027 Australia Day Award nominations open
Published on 31 August 2026 Ballina Shire residents can put the spotlight on our incredible community volunteers, with nominations now open for the 2027 Ballina Shire Australia Day Awards.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Have your say
Strategy guiding economic development and tourism on public exhibition
Published on 09 September 2026 Ballina Shire Council is developing our shire’s blueprint for a diverse and vibrant economy with the Draft Economic Development and Visitor Economy Strategy 2026 – 2031.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
New CCTV network to strengthen community safety
Published on 04 September 2026 A new CCTV Community Safety Network is set to be rolled out across key locations in Ballina and Lennox Head, supporting safer public spaces and helping to deter crime and anti-social behaviour.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Better bridges, safer Ballina: major milestone for $85m duplication
Published on 02 September 2026 Construction of the Ballina Bridges Duplication project has reached a major milestone, with test piling now underway for the new Fishery Creek and Canal bridges.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Have your say
Overland Flood Study
Ballina Shire Council has engaged engineering consultants Engeny to undertake the Ballina Island and West Ballina Local Stormwater Drainage Management Study and Stormwater Masterplan (the SWMP), along with Alstonville Overland Flood Study and Wardell Overland Flood Study. WMS Engineering has been engaged to undertake the Lennox Head Overland Flood Study.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Your Say Ballina
- Policy
Ballina Shire Homelessness Support Strategy
The Draft Ballina Shire Homelessness Support Strategy aims to provide a framework to guide consistent and informed decision making across Ballina Shire Council. It supports a coordinated response that balances community expectations with the needs, rights, and dignity of people experiencing homelessness.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Your Say Ballina
- Have your say
Transport Depot, Ballina
DA No: 2026/364 - PAN-669154 PROPERTY: 5 Racecourse Road, Ballina NSW 2478 - Lot 52 DP: 714110 PROPOSAL: Construction of a building for use as a transport depot and associated car parking and infrastructure APPLICANT: Ar
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Your Say Ballina
- Policy
Ballina Heights South Precinct Structure Plan - DCP Chapter 3 Amendment
Ballina Shire Council resolved at its August 2026 Ordinary meeting to put on public exhibition a draft Structure Plan and associated amendments to Chapter 3 of the Ballina Development Control Plan (DCP) relating to future residential development of the southern precinct of the Ballina Heights estate.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Your Say Ballina
- Development
Ballina Shire Economic Development and Visitor Economy Strategy
The Draft Ballina Shire Economic Development and Visitor Economy Strategy 2026 – 2031 is Council's blueprint for a diverse and vibrant economy. This practical framework provides a clear direction for how Council will work with industry, government and the community to support sustainable growth, create local jobs and strengthen our reputation as a destination to live, work, invest and visit.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Your Say Ballina
- Have your say
Proposed Lease of Community Land - Alstonville and District Football Club Incorporated
Ballina Shire Council is proposing to enter into a lease agreement for occupation of part of the land known as ‘Crawford Park' at 21 Alston Avenue, Alstonville which is on land classified as community land under the Local Government Act 1993 (‘the Act').
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Your Say Ballina
- Waste
Onsite Wastewater Management Strategy
At its August 2026 Ordinary meeting, Council resolved to adopt the updated Onsite Wastewater Management Strategy along with the Onsite Wastewater Management Guidelines . This strategy outlines Council's approach to the design, construction, installation, operation and maintenance of Onsite Wastewater Management within the Ballina Shire Council Local Government Area.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Your Say Ballina
- Policy
IPART approves Ballina's four-year special rate variation
In June 2026 IPART approved a permanent special rate variation for Ballina Shire Council, allowing general rates to rise by about 6% a year for four years (2026–27 to 2029–30, roughly 26.25% cumulative). The council said it is to address an asset-renewal shortfall.
What this means for you: General rates will rise faster than the standard rate peg for four years. The council estimated the average residential ratepayer would pay about $346 more per year by 2029–30 — roughly $166 more than under the rate peg alone; your own bill depends on your land value.
- Have your say
Council consulted on proposed rate rises before applying to IPART
In late 2025 the council invited feedback on a proposed special rate variation (about 6% a year for four years) before deciding whether to apply to IPART; community consultation closed on 14 November 2025.
What this means for you: This was the public's chance to comment on the proposed rate rises before they were lodged with IPART (which approved them in June 2026). The council's engagement page sets out the proposal and the feedback process.
- Waste
Rural landfill bins move from weekly to fortnightly
From 13 October 2025 the council changed rural domestic landfill (general-waste) bin collection from weekly to fortnightly, aligning rural with the urban service.
What this means for you: If you're on a rural collection round, your red landfill bin is now emptied every two weeks. Check your collection day and calendar on the council's waste pages.
Source: Ballina Shire Council — Rural Landfill Bin Collection Changes
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We haven't started sending email, so we're not taking addresses for now. New items from Ballina Shire Councilshow up under “What's happening” above as we find them, each linked to its official source.