Ballina Information Blog

A reduction in car parking time restrictions in the CBD is being considered by Ballina Shire Council following a review of parking patterns.
The review was carried out on Thursday, November 18, 2004, between 8am and 5pm. It covered the area from Kerr Street east to Martin Street and from Tamar Street to south of River [...]

How does Ballina Shire Council rate in comparison with other local government areas in NSW?
The State Government’s annual review for 2004-05 can be viewed in full at the Department of Local Government’s website.
Here’s just some of the satistics and comparisons with other councils (Ballina Shire is ranked in Group 4, with the ranking determined by [...]

After 12 years of Labor, NSW apprenticeship completion rates have dropped to the second worst of any Australian State or Territory, Member for Ballina and Shadow Minister for Skills Development and Training Don Page said today.
Mr Page said figures released by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research showed apprenticeship completion rates in NSW had [...]

Ballina Shire residents can park free for two hours at Ballina/Byron Gateway Airport provided they obtain the appropriate sticker.
Ballina Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s business and promotions manager, Nadia Elliott-Burgess, says that residents can obtain a sticker by presenting proof of residency via their registration papers at the council chambers front desk.
“Paid parking began at [...]

Recent changes to the unfair dismissal laws seem to have had minimal impact on creating new jobs in a selection of local businesses, Southern Cross University researcher Ashlee Bryson has discovered.
Ashlee, a Bachelor of Business graduate, has just completed her qualitative research into the effect of the implementation of the new unfair dismissal exemption provision [...]

Ballina Chamber of Commerce and Industry members can get a discount and help the Ballina Lighthouse-Lismore Surf Life Saving Club as part of a promotion with Gary Fox The Good Guys Ballina on Tuesday, December 5.
For one night only, members will be able to purchase from the Good Guys’ entire range of electrical appliances at [...]

It’s Christmas Party time again, and the Ballina Chamber of Commerce and Industry is getting ready to usher in the festive season.
The chamber will hold its Christmas Party on Friday, December 1, at Cafe 29, from 6.30pm.
Cost is $25 per person, and all in attendance will have the chance to win a big screen plasma [...]

The NSW Labor Government’s plan to entice public servants to regional areas with an annual $5000 bonus and home buying help does not go far enough to address falling regional staff numbers, Shadow Minister for Regional Development Don Page said today.
Mr Page said that while he supported the initiative, the NSW Government needed to be [...]

Independent News & Media (INM) is looking to increase its stake in Australia’s APN News Media, and has confirmed that it has made an offer to buy out minority shareholders.
APN publishes a host of Australian provincial newspapers, including this area’s local daily, The Northern Star, and associated local weeklies.
INM said it had approached the board [...]

Well-established local business Bennett Hire’s general equipment arm has been acquired by Coates Hire.
Coates Hire is Australia’s largest equipment hire business, with more than 115 years in the industry.
Bennett Hire has bases in Ballina and Lismore. The business hires a range of equipment suitable for small handyman jobs right through to equipment for large constructions.
Coates [...]