Tamara Smith MP, Member for Ballina, is thrilled with the $899,000 Ballina Shire Council will receive to remediate contaminated land earmarked for future housing, and the $13.9 million investment to convert 58 pods in Brunswick Heads into key worker housing.

The NSW Government announced the funding yesterday. The land’s former industrial use for cattle tick dipping left the soil contaminated by chemicals such as arsenic. Remediation of the sites will involve the safe removal of contaminated soil to a licensed waste facility and its replacement with imported clean soil.

Remediation Action Plans have been developed to clean up 3.9 hectares for future use.

Crown Lands in the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure will fund the remediation of a former cattle dip site and yards at 31 and 33 Canal Road, with Council contributing $100,000. 

Remediation of this land is critical as it will enable a planned adjoining residential development to proceed.

Member for Ballina, Tamara Smith MP, said, “The housing crisis is glaringly evident here in the Ballina electorate. The 2020 pandemic saw an influx of people moving to the area. The 2022 floods saw an increase in homelessness. It seems a drop in the bucket but affordable, social and worker housing is so desperately needed.”

“I am thrilled that 58 pods will be converted to key worker housing. This is needed, and frankly, it is a relief to see infrastructure that has already cost taxpayers so much continue to be utilised for the good of our communities.

“The clean-up of 3.9 hectares of land that is currently contaminated is not only an environmental imperative, but also unlocks potential housing in a shire hard-pressed to accommodate our current population. It’s a big win for our region.”

“I hope that this land in Ballina will lead to appropriately flood resilient housing that contains a mix of affordable, social and worker housing to support the needs of our community.”

“The next two years will see the delivery 48 public and community homes in Ballina. This is another step to meeting the housing demands we have here. Key to a successful delivery will be to ensure that our infrastructure is able to support this new housing, especially in an area so prone to climate-related disasters.”

Minister for Land and Property Steve Kamper said, “This is a great outcome for the North Coast and the local environment. Restoring this idle land not only protects our natural surroundings but helps unlock land for new homes.

Housing affordability and availability are one of the biggest pressures facing families, particularly in the Northern Rivers, where repeated natural disasters have made the situation even harder.

Reactivating land like this allows us to ease some of that pressure by creating opportunities for more homes and stronger, more resilient communities.”

Minister for the North Coast Janelle Saffin said, “There is a shortage of housing on the North Coast, so it is vital that we take measures like this to activate unused land that can support more new homes for our growing community in Ballina.

“This land is also ideally located near the popular Fripp Oval, and will encourage community connectedness, recreational activity and support for our local sporting clubs like the Ballina Bears Cricket Club and Ballina Bombers AFL Club.”