Ballina Information Blog

The swell has finally arrived after months of nothing much and the WAGs & HABs of local waxheads are happy to have happy partners again.

The surf drought is over!

Quoting a few locals…

“I can’t catch a fish but at least now I can catch a wave”.
“Finally, the steps from the road to the point are being used.”
“Luckily the swell came after the holiday makers departed because now there’s only 100 per wave instead of 200″.

Triggered from Cyclone Olga, plus recent king tides, the locals have waited for months for decent waves.

Images are of previous big waves at Lennox and Boulders.

If you have any recent photos you would like to share with our readers please contact us.

Coastalwatch – Lennox Surf Cam
Coastalwatch – Ballina Surf Cam
Coastalwatch – Swell Forecast

The Big Prawn has made it onto tv again, this time as a stop for comedian Ross Noble while filming ‘Ross Noble’s Australian Trip’. The series features Ross touring Australia on his motorbike and snippets of the gigs he does and towns he stops at.

He stops at Knockrow Castle and then Lismore (which looks like it has been filmed on a sunday afternoon when the shops are shut). You’ll probably chuckle at the map that shows the Castle at the Gold Coast and the Big Prawn in Lismore!

So check out the Northern Rivers part of the episode here. If you don’t want to watch the first few minutes (Ballina is in the first minute or so), skip to 3.25 – this is where he arrives at Knockrow.

Surf lifesavers have rescued at least seven people in extremely hazardous conditions on the Ballina bar after their outrigger vessel capsized.

At around 6.30 this morning, Surf Life Saving NSW received a call for assistance at the entrance to the Richmond River. The Ballina Jet Rescue Boat and surf rescue jet skis were immediately tasked, along with the Westpac Rescue helicopter.

When they arrived on the scene, the Jet Rescue Boat retrieved four people from the water and transported them back up the river to waiting ambulances, while the jet ski remained with another two people still in the water.

The boat returned to pick up the two and another person, who had managed to clamber up the breakwall at the rivermouth.

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Ballina MP and Shadow Minister for North Coast Don Page has welcomed the announcement today of planning approval and construction funding for the Tintenbar to Ewingsdale upgrade of the Pacific Highway.

He especially welcomed the announcement of construction money at the same time as planning approval was given, as quite often this is not the case.

“Usually planning approval is given and it can be years before construction money becomes available,” Mr Page said.

These delays occurred for both the Ballina bypass and Alstonville bypass projects.

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This is your last chance to see the exquisite The Hannah Cabinet at the Northern Rivers Community Gallery in Ballina.

The Hannah Cabinet soon departs the Northern Rivers Community Gallery and its creator Geoff Hannah will be giving two final talks this Sunday 31 January 2010 at 12 noon and 1.00pm.

The Northern Rivers Community Gallery is located at 44 Cherry Street Ballina.

For further enquiries phone the Gallery on 6681 6167.

Are you a Ballina Shire resident aged over 65 with a story to tell?

If so, Theresa Mason (pictured) wants to hear from you.

Theresa is a Southern Cross University researcher who is searching for older people living from Tweed Heads to Kyogle who can share their memories of the region’s early history.

She has embarked on her PhD research project – an oral history of the Northern Rivers – and already has many a fascinating tale to tell, thanks to locals sharing their stories for her earlier Honours project.

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As thousands of Ballina Shire school students returned to school this week, Page MP Janelle Saffin is reminding parents to keep their receipts for educational materials so they can claim the education tax refund at the end of financial year.

“In the next week or so school kids from Kindie to Year 12 will be coming home with a list of materials they will need for the school year,” Ms Saffin said.

“I know this can be a bit of a stretch for the family budget, which is why the Rudd Government introduced the Education Tax Refund (ETR).

“With the ETR, eligible families can claim 50 per cent of a range of education expenses, and can receive back up to $375 for each primary school child and $750 for each high school student.

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Ballina Shire Council has successfully applied for $12.65 million through the NSW Government’s Local Infrastructure Fund.

This fund is designed to provide interest-free loans that will assist in the delivery of roads, sewerage treatment and water reuse facilities.

In announcing the funding, Premier Kristina Keneally said: “This funding is designed to serve dual purposes: providing an economic stimulus, and providing infrastructure for NSW’s growing number of homes.

“We are directing the funding at areas that will grow in population, with a specific focus on fast-tracking projects that will stimulate urban development and local jobs. This is a practical and immediate step the State Government is taking to help councils respond to their changing communities.”

The projects approved for the council are:

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Police are appealing for public assistance following a fire at a school in Ballina overnight.

About 2.50am today (Tuesday 26 January 2010), officers attached to Richmond Local Area Command were attending a motor vehicle collision when they saw smoke and flames coming from buildings at a school in Horizon West Drive.

Police contacted Fire Brigade units and attempted to extinguish the blaze, which was located in the toilet and cleaning storage room block of the facility.

The area was extensively damaged by the fire, causing damage in excess of $100,000.

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Retiring Ballina High School principal Ros Mayberry is the Ballina Shire Citizen of the Year.

The award was announced during today’s Australia Day ceremony at Fawcett Park, Ballina.

Ms Mayberry taught at Ballina High for 28 years.

The Young Australian of the Year award went to Kylie Izzard, 17.

Trudie Nash was named Volunteer of the Year, while the Alstonville/Wollongbar branch of Quota International took out the Community Event of the Year
category for its annual arts and craft fair.

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