Ballina Information Blog

NSW Fishing Monthly editor Tony Zann’s weekly fishing report for Ballina and Evans Head:
Bruce at Dave’s Bait Shop says there are a fair few whiting and flathead in the lower reaches and they seem to be improving daily.
North Creek and the main river up to about Keith Hall for the whiting and some decent flathead [...]

ABOVE: Jason and Rochelle Ferris, Mark Matthews and Marny Bonner at today’s commemoration service for Lance Ferris. 
The life of Australian Seabird Rescue (ASR) founder Lance Ferris was celebrated today in a public commemoration at the ASR headquarters in Ballina.
Lance died last weekend after suffering a stroke. He was aged 60.
Hundreds of people gathered at the [...]

The swell has cleaned up a little today after yesterday’s strong onshore winds, but it’s still a bit lumpy.
Unfortunately, east to north-east winds are forecast for the weekend, so it’s unlikely we’ll get a clean swell.
Try the beach breaks early before the wind gets too strong.
Marine Weather: E/NE 10/15 knots, freshening slightly during the afternoon. [...]

Information provided by the NSW Treasury obtained by Ballina MP Don Page under the Freedom of Information Act shows the number of motorists booked on a daily basis at the Ewingsdale speed camera rose from 13 per day in October 2006 to a maximum of 129 per day in April 2007.
“The figures provided by Treasury [...]

North Coast Lifeguard co-ordinator Stephen Leahy’s daily beach report:
Strong southerly winds made for very dangerous conditions along the coast and they certainly kept the crowds away. Here’s what happened on lifeguard patrolled beaches today:
Lennox Head: The cold blustery conditions saw few people venture to Lennox and Lifeguard Anthony reported a very quiet day with no [...]

Ballina MP and Shadow Minister for the North Coast, Don Page, says the expenditure of $10million on consultants to tell the NSW Government what Cityrail customers think of Cityrail services ’shows the utter contempt this Labor State Government has for North Coast rail services’.
“The NSW Labor Government is happy to spend $10 million on consultants [...]

 
The equine influenza outbreak has robbed Ballina man Vic Gwynne of the chance to see a horse he part-owns contest the ‘big three’ of the Melbourne spring racing carnival.
Vic, along with his brothers Errol, of Sydney, and Peter, of the Gold Coast, are members of a 14-person syndicate which races Empires Choice, winner of this [...]

The Australian Women’s Weekly and Commonwealth Bank On the Road with the Nine Network’s Today show road train will arrive in Ballina next Tuesday, October 23, providing free entertainment from 10am until 2pm in Moon Street.
On the Road is a 20 metre vehicle that transforms into a stage, offering free community events to over five [...]

Ballina athlete Chris Hendry has returned from the Special Olympics World Games in Shanghai, China, with two silver medals – and a burning ambition to do it all again when the next Games are held in Greece in 2011.
Chris’ silver in the 100m sprint and 4×100m relay helped the Australian team to its best-ever effort [...]

This email from Marny Bonner, partner of the late Lance Ferris, founder of the Australian Seabird Rescue service who died last weekend, gives details of Friday’s commemoration service for Lance …
Dear friends,
If I haven’t been able to thank you personally, on behalf of Jason, Rochelle and the ASR crew, please accept our gratitude for your [...]