Ballina Shire Council has adopted a $130 million capital expenditure budget for the 2025/26 financial year, delivering investment in major infrastructure and community facilities while maintaining essential services across the shire.

The Council budget and works program was adopted at the 26 June Council meeting alongside a suite of key strategic documents forming the Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework. These include:

• Community Strategic Plan 2025-2035
• Delivery Program and Operational Plan 2025-2029
• Long Term Financial Plan and Budget
• Workforce Management Plan
• Asset Management Strategy
• Schedule of Fees and Charges.

Together, these documents provide a roadmap for how Council will deliver services, manage budgets, and prioritise major projects over the short, medium and long term.

Community Strategic Plan 2025-2035

The updated Community Strategic Plan (CSP) sets a long-term vision for the future of Ballina Shire. Developed through extensive community engagement from late 2024 to mid 2025, the plan reflects the aspirations, priorities and expectations of the people who live, work and visit the region. It is the foundation document guiding all Council decisions and investments over the next decade.

Delivery Program and Operational Plan 2025/26 highlights

This Delivery Program and Operational Plan outlines how this vision will be put into action. Following public exhibition in May 2025, Council received 45 submissions that helped shape the final plans.

For the 2025/2026 financial year, Council has allocated more than $113 million to capital works, including:

·           Over $60m for roads and bridges, including $3 million for Ross Lane flood resilience and $44 million for the start of the duplication of the Fishery Creek and Canal Bridges

·           Almost $4m for open spaces, including $1.3 million for the Sharpes Beach master plan works and $420,000 for Missingham Park upgrades.

·           $1.4m for sports facilities, including the new pump track at Kingsford Smith Reserve.

·           $2m for stormwater infrastructure improvements.

·           $3.5m for water infrastructure and $11 million for wastewater, including North Ballina trunk mains, upgrades to Alstonville Wastewater Treatment Plant, and increasing Ballina’s Wastewater Treatment Plants solar capacity.

·           Over $4m for footpath and shared path upgrades, including the Lennox Head to Cooper Close for the extension of the existing shared path network.

·           $2.7m to commence construction of the new SES headquarters for Ballina, which is estimated to cost almost $7m in total.

·           $4.5m in improvements to the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport.

·           $8m for community facilities, including the commencement of the upgrade to the Alstonville Cultural Centre

Planning for long-term financial sustainability

In response to rising costs and to maintain service delivery into the future, Council has proposed a Special Rate Variation (SRV) as part of the Delivery Program. Over four years (2026/27 to 2029/30), Council is proposing general rate increases of 6% annually comprising the estimated rate peg (3.25%) and an additional 2.75% through the SRV.

At the June 2025 meeting, Councillors endorsed a second phase of community engagement on the proposed SRV, to be held later in 2025. This will give residents the opportunity to better understand the proposal and provide further feedback before a final decision is made. Council will then review the feedback and determine whether to apply to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) for formal approval to proceed with the SRV.

Ballina Shire Mayor Sharon Cadwallader said the new financial year offers an important moment to look forward with purpose and confidence.

“At our June meeting, Council unanimously endorsed key strategic plans to guide our work over the coming years, including the Delivery Program and updated Community Strategic Plan, both shaped by the voices of our community.”

“The Delivery Program sets out the services and infrastructure our residents rely on, and the major projects we’re investing in, from water, waste and footpaths to the new SES headquarters, upgrades to the Alstonville Cultural Centre, improvements at Sharpes Beach, and planning for our key bridges.”

“Unfortunately, like many councils across NSW, the cost of delivering and maintaining these essential services is rising faster than our revenue. To address this growing challenge, we’re proposing a gradual rate increase that will help safeguard the services and projects that matter most.”

“We’ll be seeking further input from our community in the coming months, and I encourage everyone to learn more and have their say.”

“I thank everyone who shared their feedback throughout the earlier consultation period. Your input will help shape the future of Ballina Shire. While there are challenges ahead, I remain confident and optimistic about what we can achieve together.”

Working with the Government to deliver more

Many of the major projects included in Council’s budget will be delivered in partnership with State and Federal Governments. Recent announcements in the NSW Budget 2025/26, including funding for road safety upgrades at Bruxner Highway intersections and the continued investment in the new Lennox Head Public School, align strongly with Council’s priorities and the broader vision set out in the CSP.

Council will continue to work closely with all levels of government, local business and the community to ensure that Ballina Shire continues to thrive.

The documents will soon be made available on Council’s website at ballina.nsw.gov.au