Ballina Information Blog

Preparations are under way for one of Ballina’s major arts events, the Southern Cross Arts Festival.
Now in its 34th year, the festival categories include painting (oil and acrylic, water colour), works on paper, sculpture/craft item, photography and a section for young artists.
And for those on the lookout for an early Christmas gift, there will be [...]

It’s a big weekend for the Scouting movement this weekend, with 1st Ballina Scout Group celebrating 85 years of Scouting in Ballina this year.
The group will be holding celebrations at the hall in Canal Road, Ballina, on Sunday, July 22, from 10am until 2pm.
All current Leaders, Joeys, Cubs and Scouts will be attending on the [...]

Ballina sports and community clubs have only days left to apply for a share in $1.5 million in funding for vital equipment and materials under the 2007 Telstra Assistance Fund.
For the first time in the program’s history, local AFL clubs will also be able to register for the initiative, which has seen funding increase by [...]

Ballina Under-15 rugby player Chris Binge (pictured) is well on the way to being snapped up by an NRL club following his selection in the Australian Under-15 Merit side.
Chris, the son of Ballina Seagulls first-grade coach Chris snr, represented Combined Catholic Colleges Under-15s in the national championships in Adelaide last week.
Playing in the centres, the [...]

An alcohol-free zone in the Ballina CBD is a step closer.
“As a result of incidents of malicious damage to property, littering, offensive behaviour and other crimes, Ballina Police have made application to Ballina Council for the establishment of an Alcohol-Free Zone (AFZ) in the Ballina CBD,” the council said.
“Under sections 644 to 644c and 646 [...]

Ballina Shire Council is considering changes to Wards A and B.
“The Local Government Act allows a maximum 10% variance between the number of electors in each Council ward. Currently the number of electors in B Ward is beyond the 10% limit,” the council said.
“To amend this variation, for the 2008 local government elections, Council is [...]

Level One water restrictions have been introduced in the Rous Water area, including Ballina Shire.
Rous Water said restrictions were necessary because Rocky Creek Dam had dropped to 60 per cent capacity.
“The restrictions are part of our overall strategy to make sure that there is enough water for everyone until the dam fills up again,” Rous [...]

Ballina Seagulls maintained top spot on the Retravision Northern Rugby League pointscore with a 38-16 win over Murwillumbah Mustangs at Kingsford Smith Park, Ballina, today.
Despite the apparent ease of the win, it wasn’t all one-way traffic for Ballina.
The Seagulls made a bright start and skipped away to a 24-6 lead, but a try just before [...]

Around 100 Indigenous and non-indigenous people attended the official opening of the National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS) Northern Rivers Region Aboriginal Art Award at the Grafton Regional Gallery. The opening featured an Indigenous dance performance by the Bundjalung Dance Troupe.
“The sunny winter’s day was the perfect accompaniment to some excellent dancing and the announcement [...]

NSW Fishing Monthly editor Tony Zann’s weekly fishing report for Ballina, Evans Head …
Bruce at Dave’s Bait Shop in Ballina says there have been some good bream along the Town Reach, mostly late afternoons and early in the evening. Gut and flesh baits have been working very well.
Still a few whiting and flathead in the [...]