The future of Ballina as a major centre on the North Coast is set out in the Ballina Major Regional Centre Strategy, known as Ballina 2035.
The result of two years of discussion with the community, Ballina 2035 is an aspirational blueprint to drive Ballina forward as a key economic centre built on a strong community, exceptional environmental features and recreational opportunities.
Mayor David Wright described Ballina as “a growing and prosperous regional centre with the right building blocks for success over the long term.
“The strategy provides Council with a framework to build on the best Ballina has to offer, lead progress into the future, tackle challenges and maximise opportunities.”
Underpinned by community involvement from the very beginning, the Council’s Civic Panel – comprised of 14 members of our community – played a central role in the preparation of Ballina 2035.
Mayor Wright praised the panel members for their commitment and participation over the two years saying that “the Civic Panel exemplifies the best qualities of the Ballina Shire community as locals who genuinely care about the place in which they live and work actively engage in planning for the future; freely giving ideas and time.”
Council has already commenced a variety of actions from the strategy, with more initiatives planned in the next twelve months.
With the support of grant funding, Council has committed over $20 million to initiatives supporting the continued development of Ballina as a major regional centre.
Ballina 2035 is part of a broader Council planning program based on community engagement. Council will soon reach out to residents of Alstonville to discuss the future of the village and prepare a strategic plan.
The Ballina 2035 strategy can be downloaded from Council’s website at ballina.nsw.gov.au, accessed at each of the libraries in the Shire, and viewed at Council’s Customer Service Centre.
The strategy has been prepared by Ballina Shire Council with funding support from the NSW Department of Planning and Environment.