Ballina Shire Council is the next LGA to receive support for the Resilient Lands Program. $210,000 was received from the New South Wales government's $100 million resilient lands programme to help support the delivery of a range of housing options.

The urgent need for housing in Ballina was exacerbated by housing located in floodplain areas. Ballina Mayor, Sharon Cadwallader said, “This funding will help us address some of the housing needs that have existed in Ballina since before the floods.”

The grant will be used to accelerate the planning and design of the projects identified above.

 “The grant funding for Ballina Shire supports the overall housing supply pipeline beyond the immediate term, and importantly, the funding is directed towards diversity of housing.” Mayor Cadwallader said.

“The three projects funded are distinct, and all relate to Council’s recently adopted housing strategy, being:

• Progression of planning and design for medium-density style development on council-owned land at Lennox Head. That may include duplexes, terraces and manor houses, which can contain up to 4 dwellings in a single block.
• Enabling increased housing supply in the CBD area (including dwelling diversity and locating people in areas well-serviced with infrastructure and facilities),
• Supporting engagement between Council and Homes NSW to examine housing options on Homes NSW-owned land in Ballina.”

Mayor Cadwallader would like to encourage Homes NSW to deliver more social housing.

(Looking south east from the Hutley Drive site for development.)

Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery Janelle Saffin said, “Flood-affected communities across the Northern Rivers region have been waiting for safer Land and Housing options to be identified. I'm pleased to see another LGA added to the council's receiving support under the resilient lands program.”

Mayor Cadwallader is content that “Council can now get on with the important job of planning for this site on Hutley Drive at Lennox and explore options in the CBD for medium density housing.”

This is the fifth announcement under the New South Wales Reconstruction Authority Resilient Lands Program, which is wholly funded by the New South Wales Government. 

Acting CEO of the Reconstruction Authority, Mal Lanyon, indicated that there would be many more land releases all over the Northern Rivers in the not too distant future. Janelle Saffin fervently indicated that "Yes," that will include more land releases in Lismore, it is a matter of time.

Mr Lanyon confirmed, “The resilient land programme is about giving options to families to gain access to affordable land where they want to live. 

“It is a significant part of recovery, which builds on the resilient home program. The program is also helping councils to scope out what infrastructure it needs to support really significant housing developments.”

Other Resilient Lands Programs announced so far include; 

• East Lismore 
• Mount Pleasant Estate, Goonellabah
• Saddle Road, Brunswick heads and the
• Summerland estate in Casino. 

Member for Ballina Tamara Smith said, “It is my hope that any council that comes under the Resilient Lands Program has a significant portion dedicated to either social or affordable housing. We need genuine affordable housing for residents in our community, not expensive housing stock that is of more interest to property investors.”

The Resilient Land Program aims to accelerate the delivery of new Land and Housing Options, linking with the $700 million Resilient Homes Program to give flood impacted homeowners a pathway to move to a safer location. 

For more information, visit the New South Wales Reconstruction Authority.