Like many of our coastal areas, the Shire of Ballina is experiencing rapid growth. Located on the pristine north coast of New South Wales, the area’s beautiful coastal reserves, fertile hinterland, attractive towns and villages are a huge drawcard for retirees and those opting for a sea change. A quiet fishing village just a decade ago, Ballina township is now a thriving centre with 20,000 people or half the Shire’s population residing here. An annual growth rate of almost two per cent means Council faces a number of challenges meeting current and future community needs.
“With the population expected to reach 70,000 by 2030, Council needed a change of style and emphasis,” said General Manager, Stuart McPherson. “To some extent, we had started to lag behind community expectations but in the last four or five years we have become more responsive and proactive.”
To achieve this, Council has become much more strategically focused.
“Separating strategic planning from our regulatory areas has seen the appointment of a number of specialist staff whose sole focus is forward planning,” Stuart McPherson said.
They have developed of a number of planning tools that not only meet existing challenges but put in place action plans to maximise opportunities from continuing growth.
At the same time, Council must ensure that growth is sustainable, and it is able to keep up with infrastructure requirements. Both Council and the State Government recognise that around 800 new residents are expected to settle in the Shire each year.
Careful management of the natural environments is also crucial. Any undermining of the attributes that draw residents and visitors to this pristine area is certainly not on the agenda.
Like most areas, Ballina has provisions in place to deal with an ageing population. With over 30 per cent of its residents aged over 55 years, like other sea change areas, Ballina Council already has a job cut out for itself. However, unlike many regional centres, the Shire’s main shopping precincts and village centres have few empty shops.
Council’s forward thinking with strategic land acquisitions has resulted in the establishment of two vibrant industrial estates. Over the past 15 years, these have attracted a range of small to medium sized enterprises to the Shire, creating new jobs and a return for Council through the sale of over 200 allotments.
Residential land releases have also contributed to Council’s finances as well as assisting a very healthy building sector.
