Ballina Information Blog

The Ballina Byron Gateway Airport has reached another milestone with the opening of its new check-in facility.
The spacious extension is the first stage in the terminal expansion project, which features eight check-in desks, air-conditioning to the check-in area, improved baggage handling systems and greater space to accommodate for the increasing number of passengers passing through [...]

Ballina artist Kim Toft has invited soul singer Lisa Hunt to put to music the words of her popular illustrated childrens book, The 12 Underwater Days of  Christmas.
The result is a 3 track CD which is being launched on Saturday November 1st at Kim’s Sea Silks Gallery at 2 Moon Street from 2pm -5pm where [...]

Ballina’s Australian Seabird Rescue is about to embark on an ambitious project to monitor sea turtle nesting and hatching.
The ‘Make Turtles Count’ project will be launched on Friday, October 31, with the release of two young turtles at Byron Bay’s The Pass at 8.15am.
‘Sassy’ and ‘Rasputin’ have been in treatment at Australian Seabird Rescue’s WildlifeLink [...]

Two threatened Pied Oystercatcher chicks, discovered dead on South Ballina Beach last weekend, appeared to have been trampled by a dog.
National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Pest Management Officer, Lisa Wellman, said that the two day-old chicks were found a few kilometres north of Patches Beach with dog prints around and on top of them.
“It [...]

Finally there is some good news for primary producers on the Far North Coast with Natural Disaster Relief Assistance available to those affected by a hailstorm last week, and the announcement by the New South Wales Primary Industries Minister, Ian Macdonald, has been welcomed by the Member for Ballina, Don Page.
“The hailstorm caused millions of [...]

It’s a big weekend for cancer fundraising in Ballina this weekend, with the annual Relay For Life being held at Kingsford Smith Park, Ballina, from 4pm on Saturday.
Teams will walk around the football field overnight until Sunday morning in a bid to raise as much money as possible for the fight against cancer.
Meanwhile, The Cancer [...]

Students from Alstonville High School, Ballina High School, Emmanuel Anglican College West Ballina, Southern Cross School Ballina and Xavier Catholic College Skennars Head are among a record 1899 New South Wales students who will soon be receiving 2008 Australian Defence Force (ADF) Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork Awards.
The students were nominated by their schools for [...]

Extra evening bus services will be available to residents of Lennox Head, Wardell, Wollongbar and surrounding areas over the Christmas break.
NSW Minister for Transport David Campbell has announced a grant of $13,000 to establish evening bus services in January.
“This initiative will deliver greater independence and flexibility for many residents,” he said.
“These buses will provide families [...]

Treudie Kaehler of Flowers in Paradise in River Street with her North Coast Local Business Award presented to her recently for the ‘The Most Outstanding Florist’ in the region.
As well as capturing the judge’s votes, Ballina residents have known for over 37 years of Treudie’s floristry expertise and downtown shoppers have always admired Treudie’s shop [...]

Ballina Shire residents are generally satisfied with their council and the services it provides.
The finding was revealed in a new report released this week, with 73 per cent of respondents saying they are happy with the council services.
Earlier this year Ballina Shire Council engaged the Micromex Group to conduct the community attitudes and satisfaction survey [...]