Ballina Information Blog

The huge seas of mid-week have abated, but unfortunately the swell has dropped away to almost nothing.
Waves to a metre yesterday were chopped up by a northerly, although the forecast this weekend is for south to south-east winds.
North Wall and Ballina’s beaches look to be the pick of the spots this weekend.

Calmer seas this weekend should see a return to outside fishing after the cyclonic weather the past few weekends.
Meanwhile, estuary fishing is going well, with plenty of flathead and whiting in the Richmond River and North Creek.
School jew and tailor have been taken from the beaches and both walls.
Bream, tailor and whiting have been the [...]

Following four fatal accidents on North Coast roads in two days, Shadow Minister for North Coast Don Page has invited NSW Roads Minister Eric Roozendaal to visit the North Coast and see first-hand the many road issues that confront our community.
Mr Page has written to Mr Roozendaal highlighting the seriousness of the situation after one man lost [...]

An Auditor-General’s Performance Report on ‘Agencies Working Together to Improve Services’ has revealed that the NSW Labor Government’s Road Safety Strategy to save 820 lives between 2000 and 2005 has not been met, according to Member for Ballina Don Page.
“The report reveals that the estimated number of lives saved to 2005 is 234 when the [...]

Watching the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne on television was a nostalgic experience. I couldn’t help but think back to the last time Australia hosted the Games — 1982 in Brisbane. I was lucky enough to be there as a reporter for The Northern Star newspaper.
Security was tight in Melbourne — one Games reporter told [...]

Don’t forget to wind your clocks back an hour before retiring to bed on April 1.
That date marks the end of daylight saving in New South Wales.
Due to the Commonwealth Games, daylight saving was extended for a week.
However, daylight saving will revert to normal next summer, kicking back in on October 29.
Enjoy your extra hour’s sleep [...]

New South Wales clubs have gained a win in their fight against proposed changes to gaming tax rates, with the NSW Government and ClubsNSW formally agreeing to new gaming tax rates to apply to poker machine revenue in clubs between 2006-07 and 2011-12.
ClubsNSW announced that the NSW Premier, Morris Iemma, and chairman of ClubsNSW, Peter [...]

Tintenbar-East Ballina are the L J Hooker League cricket champions for 2005-06 after scoring an amazing win against the odds against Southern Districts at Oakes Oval, Lismore, on March 26.
Tintenbar-East Ballina had to score a last-round win against Lennox Head to make the semi-finals, then beat the previously undefeated Eastern Districts in the minor semi-final.
Because [...]

Cyclone Wati holds the key to any fishing and surfing activities this weekend. In fact, it holds the key to any outdoor activities.
The Bureau of Meterology yesterday issued a strong wind warning for the region, predicting south-east winds to 33 knots and seas to 3m with an easterly swell.
You can forget about outside fishing this [...]

A Ballina Shire Council Urban Garden Guide has been produced to assist the residents of Ballina, Lennox Head, Wardell, Alstonville and Wollongbar plan and plant their gardens.
Ballina Shire says that when planning a new garden or maintaining and established one, people are able to make choices that save water, energy, time and money whilst helping [...]