A new push by the Greens to halt the Dunoon Dam project, citing unsubstantiated claims about native title and sacred sites, has been rejected. The latest attempt to block the crucial water supply dam was made at the February meeting of

Put yourself in the shoes of Brad and Ashley, a 30-something couple from Wollongbar.  Half their income goes towards paying taxes and council rates.  Every spring they look forward to the simple pleasure of escaping with the kids to the amazing Flat Rock tent park. They love the beach, the natural setting

Last week I attended a protest.  It’s a big deal for me because it’s only the third time I’ve fronted up to be part of a placard-waving public demonstration for what I believed to be a good cause. My inexperience relates to the fact that I spent my early career working

Last year both Ballina Shire and Lismore City councils voted to privatise their garbage collection services. In Ballina, the decision was implemented with very little pushback or fanfare, with ratepayers noticing no change to their weekly collection. The former council-employed garbage collectors were found other positions, possibly more meaningful jobs with a

A new push by the Greens to halt the Dunoon Dam project, citing unsubstantiated claims about native title and sacred sites, has been rejected. The latest attempt to block the crucial water supply dam was made at the February meeting of the Rous County Council by Byron Shire Greens Party delegates,

In what’s believed to be an Australian first, Ballina Shire Council is proposing to roll out the welcome mat to the homeless by providing a ratepayer-subsidised campground. Mayor Sharon Cadwallader was the only councillor to vote against the plan, seeking to find a more permanent home for the increasing number of

Ballina Shire Mayor Sharon Cadwallader says she will step up lobbying efforts for the NSW Government to fund public security cameras for  Ballina and Lennox Head, despite a $1m funding promise from the Prime Minister. Anthony Albanese’s RAAF Airbus flew into Ballina late Friday afternoon, with the PM joining the ALP

Ballina Shire Council has adopted new planning laws put forward by the NSW Government to fix the housing crisis by allowing more granny flats and duplexes. The changes hope to increase urban density by permitting detached secondary dwellings on blocks with a minimum size of 600 square metres and attached buildings

A surprise push to set aside valuable council-owned land in the Southern Cross industrial estate to build a shed for indoor pickleball and squash courts has been rejected. The proposal was moved from the floor of the final council meeting for 2024 by C Ward Councillor Therese Crollick, who was elected

An urgent motion to Ballina Shire Council for discount pool entry fees for the summer holiday period has been defeated amid claims of blatant politicking by the Greens for the upcoming Federal election.The motion by the Greens was defeated after the meeting heard the proposal for a flat $2 entry

Mayor Sharon Cadwallader was forced to use her casting vote to break a deadlock on a proposal for an extra public holiday during Christmas week to celebrate local indigenous culture. The proposal was to declare December 19  “Widjabul Wia-bul Day” under the NSW Public Holiday Act.  The day is already marked