Ballina Information Blog

Bruce at Dave’s Bait Shop says quite a few quality whiting have been caught on the big tides on bloodworms around Pimlico, in North Creek and in the lower reaches around the town as well. Flathead along the town reach have been going quite well on soft plastics with plenty of school fish and some [...]

Today there’s a swell of about a metre, from the north-east. The wind is forecast to be east to north-east right through until Monday. Some desperates were taking advantage of beach breaks this morning, but there’s nothing to be excited about.

Australia’s leading boutique brewery, Redoak, has come a long way since a 14-year-old Tintenbar boy brewed up his first batch of ginger beer. Brother and sister David and Helen Hollyoak, who grew up in Tintenbar, had success at the 2007 European Beer Star Awards, at which Redoak won 2 medals (1 Silver and 1 Bronze) against [...]

By increasing the number of women having a Pap smear every two years, the Northern Rivers General Practice Network hopes to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer in the region. “In up to 90% of cases, two-yearly Pap smears can prevent the most common form of cervical cancer,” said Dr Dan Ewald, spokesman for the [...]

The NSW Business Chamber has congratulated the Australian Labor Party, new Member for Page Janelle Saffin and Prime Minister-Elect Kevin Rudd on their victory in the 2007 Federal Election. “We are looking forward for the opportunity to work constructively with our Northern Rivers members of parliament in continuing to help local businesses grow and develop, [...]

Two Ballina Shire residents are in the running for the inaugural NSW Volunteer of the Year Award after being announced Northern Rivers Regional winners. Marie Jane Taylor, of Wardell, was named as Northern Rivers Volunteer of the Year. Marie Jane has for more than 30 years been supporting people with a stoma. Also honoured was [...]

Southern Cross University researcher Gillian Marchant may have found a natural solution to the cane toad crisis — she has found that birds are learning how to eat cane toads. Gillian began a study into cane toads on the Northern Rivers to assess community awareness of the noxious creatures and to investigate the most humane [...]

Bruce at Dave’s Bait Shop says the big tides are cleaning up the dirty water fairly quickly. Some flathead and whiting in the lower reaches and up to Pimlico Island with bloodworms vital for good whiting catches on these big tides. Mud crabs have been OK around Pimlico and a little upstream and still a [...]

The summer pattern continues: Northerly winds and small swell. This morning the swell was two to three feet and there were a few beach breaks on the high tide. The forecast for the weekend is more of the same.

The bookies are predicting wins for Labor in the Page and Richmond electorates when Australia goes to the polls on Saturday. In Page, Labor’s Janelle Saffin is a $1.53 favourite as of today. The Nationals’ Chris Gulaptis is at $2.35. In Richmond, which takes in the Ballina Shire areas of Skennars Head and Lennox Head, [...]