Ballina Bridge Duplications Review of Environmental Factors Consultation

Project Background

The Fishery Creek and Canal bridge duplications are part of a major infrastructure project to improve safety, flood resilience, and emergency access in and out of Ballina. The upgrades will also support future growth and strengthen the local road network.

As part of the project, Fishery Creek Bridge, including River Street approaches will be duplicated and Canal Bridge, including Tamarind Drive (between Kerr St and North Creek Road) and North Creek Road (between Southern Cross Drive and Tamarind Drive) will also be duplicated. Council has progressively been delivering works to achieve the conversion of River Street into a four-lane road. These works are necessary due to recorded and predicted future traffic volumes exceeding the capacity of a two-lane road resulting in significant congestion issues. These projects have been subject to several Council decisions endorsing the design and delivery of the project.

Planning and design works are progressing, with pre-construction activities continuing until mid-2025. Bridge construction is expected to begin in the second half of 2025.

Once complete, the duplicated bridges will provide dual lanes, improve traffic flow, and increase capacity to meet future transport needs.

This Council project will be completed across three years and has been funded with $40 million from the Australian Government through the Emergency Response Fund administered by NSW Reconstruction Authority’s Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program 2022-2023.

Further information relating to this project can be found at ballina.nsw.gov.au/BallinaBridgeDuplications

Previous Consultation

• Fishery Creek Bridge and River Street - public consultation was undertaken in 2020 on the concept plans and Council adopted the Concept plan in 2020, in response to community feedback.
• Canal Bridge and Tamarind Drive - public consultation was undertaken in 2022 on the concept plans for the duplication of Tamarind Drive. Council adopted the Concept plan in December 2022 in response to community feedback.

Feedback Review of Environmental Factors (REF)

Before construction of major projects can begin, Council must assess how the work could impact the environment and the community. This is done through a Review of Environmental Factors (REF), a detailed report that looks at things like air and water quality, local plants and animals, and cultural or community values.

Council now invites the public to review and comment on the REFs for both Fishery Creek and Canal bridges. This includes:

• The duplication of Fishery Creek Bridge with River Street roadworks.
• The duplication of Canal Bridge and Tamarind Drive upgrade, from Kerr St to 200m west of North Creek Road, including North Creek Road to Southern Cross Drive.

The two REF documents:

• outline the proposed bridge designs and construction methods
• assess potential environmental and community impacts
• explain how impacts will be minimised or managed

Before providing feedback please download and review the documents available on this page. Community feedback is important to ensure all relevant issues are identified and considered. Following the consultation period, the final approved REF will be published on Council’s website.

To have your say, please complete the survey below by Friday 13 June 2025.