Delivery Program 2026 to 2030 and Operational Plan 2026/27

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Consultation has concluded. Submissions closed 1 June 2026. The documents will be reported to the June 2026 Ordinary meeting.

The Draft Delivery Program and Operational Plan 2026/27–2029/30 and associated Integrated Planning and Reporting (IP&R) documents are now on public exhibition following the April Council meeting.

We invite the community to review the documents and provide feedback.

What’s on exhibition?

We’re continuing our commitment to major capital works in 2026/27, including:

  • $87.4m - Roads and Bridges
  • $14.5m - Wastewater
  • $2.9m - Water
  • $2.7m - Open Space and Sports Fields
  • $1.9m - Resource Recovery
  • $1.6m - Airport
  • $1.0m - Stormwater

Major projects include:

Proposed Special Rate Variation (SRV) from 2026/27

Council has applied to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) for a Special Rate Variation (SRV) to support long-term financial sustainability and investment in infrastructure and services.

IPART’s determination is expected in May 2026.

For further details, FAQs and updates, please visit the Special Rate Variation page

How to get involved

  • Review the draft documents
  • Ask a question below - responses will be published on this page
  • Submit your feedback using the online form below.

Submissions close: Monday 1 June 2026

The Draft Delivery Program and Operational Plan 2026/27–2029/30 and associated Integrated Planning and Reporting (IP&R) documents are now on public exhibition following the April Council meeting.

We invite the community to review the documents and provide feedback.

What’s on exhibition?

We’re continuing our commitment to major capital works in 2026/27, including:

  • $87.4m - Roads and Bridges
  • $14.5m - Wastewater
  • $2.9m - Water
  • $2.7m - Open Space and Sports Fields
  • $1.9m - Resource Recovery
  • $1.6m - Airport
  • $1.0m - Stormwater

Major projects include:

Proposed Special Rate Variation (SRV) from 2026/27

Council has applied to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) for a Special Rate Variation (SRV) to support long-term financial sustainability and investment in infrastructure and services.

IPART’s determination is expected in May 2026.

For further details, FAQs and updates, please visit the Special Rate Variation page

How to get involved

  • Review the draft documents
  • Ask a question below - responses will be published on this page
  • Submit your feedback using the online form below.

Submissions close: Monday 1 June 2026

Consultation has concluded. Submissions closed 1 June 2026. The documents will be reported to the June 2026 Ordinary meeting.

Do you have a question you would like answered by Council? 

A response to your question will be published here as part of an online community information session. 

Please note questions posted here will not be considered as a formal submission. To make a submission please use the feedback link.

  • Share After the recent Ballina Maritime tragedy, I have read through the proposed bridge plan and share concerns with a number of residents about the fact there seems to be no plans to dredge the river around the man made structures being proposed. I will post previous measures undertaken and dismissed by the Governemnt in the past and suggest that we need to revisit this or at this have a strategy in place if more development in the Northern Rivers is undertaken: The Ballina bar has not been dredged since the mid-1970s. Although a feasibility study was completed in 2012 and a report in 2013 recommended dredging to a depth of four meters, plans for a one-off dredge were abandoned by the State Government in December 2017. While the NSW Government has conducted periodic bed level surveys and spent $3 million on dredging other parts of the Richmond River system, the bar itself remains undredged. Following on: The risks of not dredging Ballina Bar include: Navigation hazards and vessel accidents: The bar is described as one of the most challenging on the NSW coast, with shifting sandbanks, shallow depths, and dangerous breaking waves—especially during ebb tides or easterly swells. This has led to multiple rollovers and vessel groundings. Maritime tragedies: In May 2026, three people died—including two Marine Rescue NSW volunteers—during a rescue attempt when a vessel foundered on the bar, highlighting the extreme danger during emergencies. Economic impact: Commercial fishers, like trawler operator Mr. Puglisi, have relocated operations to safer ports such as Coffs Harbour, citing unsafe conditions. The lack of dredging is seen as a barrier to the viability of the $170 million Ballina marina masterplan. "Graveyard" of wrecks: The bar is known to have at least six sunken wrecks, earning it the reputation of a maritime "graveyard." Short-term benefit, long-term challenge: While dredging is considered a possible solution, experts note it would only offer temporary relief due to rapid sand re-accumulation. The ecosystem is also under threat further up from the river into the creeks and estuaries, coinciding with proposals such as the Ross Lane flooding. Whilst we continue to develop and land size for housing is smaller, the threat of urban warming is real and there is no realmplan to support the Northern Rivers from this threat. Thank you, Gabriel Wisemantel on Facebook Share After the recent Ballina Maritime tragedy, I have read through the proposed bridge plan and share concerns with a number of residents about the fact there seems to be no plans to dredge the river around the man made structures being proposed. I will post previous measures undertaken and dismissed by the Governemnt in the past and suggest that we need to revisit this or at this have a strategy in place if more development in the Northern Rivers is undertaken: The Ballina bar has not been dredged since the mid-1970s. Although a feasibility study was completed in 2012 and a report in 2013 recommended dredging to a depth of four meters, plans for a one-off dredge were abandoned by the State Government in December 2017. While the NSW Government has conducted periodic bed level surveys and spent $3 million on dredging other parts of the Richmond River system, the bar itself remains undredged. Following on: The risks of not dredging Ballina Bar include: Navigation hazards and vessel accidents: The bar is described as one of the most challenging on the NSW coast, with shifting sandbanks, shallow depths, and dangerous breaking waves—especially during ebb tides or easterly swells. This has led to multiple rollovers and vessel groundings. Maritime tragedies: In May 2026, three people died—including two Marine Rescue NSW volunteers—during a rescue attempt when a vessel foundered on the bar, highlighting the extreme danger during emergencies. Economic impact: Commercial fishers, like trawler operator Mr. Puglisi, have relocated operations to safer ports such as Coffs Harbour, citing unsafe conditions. The lack of dredging is seen as a barrier to the viability of the $170 million Ballina marina masterplan. "Graveyard" of wrecks: The bar is known to have at least six sunken wrecks, earning it the reputation of a maritime "graveyard." Short-term benefit, long-term challenge: While dredging is considered a possible solution, experts note it would only offer temporary relief due to rapid sand re-accumulation. The ecosystem is also under threat further up from the river into the creeks and estuaries, coinciding with proposals such as the Ross Lane flooding. Whilst we continue to develop and land size for housing is smaller, the threat of urban warming is real and there is no realmplan to support the Northern Rivers from this threat. Thank you, Gabriel Wisemantel on Twitter Share After the recent Ballina Maritime tragedy, I have read through the proposed bridge plan and share concerns with a number of residents about the fact there seems to be no plans to dredge the river around the man made structures being proposed. I will post previous measures undertaken and dismissed by the Governemnt in the past and suggest that we need to revisit this or at this have a strategy in place if more development in the Northern Rivers is undertaken: The Ballina bar has not been dredged since the mid-1970s. Although a feasibility study was completed in 2012 and a report in 2013 recommended dredging to a depth of four meters, plans for a one-off dredge were abandoned by the State Government in December 2017. While the NSW Government has conducted periodic bed level surveys and spent $3 million on dredging other parts of the Richmond River system, the bar itself remains undredged. Following on: The risks of not dredging Ballina Bar include: Navigation hazards and vessel accidents: The bar is described as one of the most challenging on the NSW coast, with shifting sandbanks, shallow depths, and dangerous breaking waves—especially during ebb tides or easterly swells. This has led to multiple rollovers and vessel groundings. Maritime tragedies: In May 2026, three people died—including two Marine Rescue NSW volunteers—during a rescue attempt when a vessel foundered on the bar, highlighting the extreme danger during emergencies. Economic impact: Commercial fishers, like trawler operator Mr. Puglisi, have relocated operations to safer ports such as Coffs Harbour, citing unsafe conditions. The lack of dredging is seen as a barrier to the viability of the $170 million Ballina marina masterplan. "Graveyard" of wrecks: The bar is known to have at least six sunken wrecks, earning it the reputation of a maritime "graveyard." Short-term benefit, long-term challenge: While dredging is considered a possible solution, experts note it would only offer temporary relief due to rapid sand re-accumulation. The ecosystem is also under threat further up from the river into the creeks and estuaries, coinciding with proposals such as the Ross Lane flooding. Whilst we continue to develop and land size for housing is smaller, the threat of urban warming is real and there is no realmplan to support the Northern Rivers from this threat. Thank you, Gabriel Wisemantel on Linkedin Email After the recent Ballina Maritime tragedy, I have read through the proposed bridge plan and share concerns with a number of residents about the fact there seems to be no plans to dredge the river around the man made structures being proposed. I will post previous measures undertaken and dismissed by the Governemnt in the past and suggest that we need to revisit this or at this have a strategy in place if more development in the Northern Rivers is undertaken: The Ballina bar has not been dredged since the mid-1970s. Although a feasibility study was completed in 2012 and a report in 2013 recommended dredging to a depth of four meters, plans for a one-off dredge were abandoned by the State Government in December 2017. While the NSW Government has conducted periodic bed level surveys and spent $3 million on dredging other parts of the Richmond River system, the bar itself remains undredged. Following on: The risks of not dredging Ballina Bar include: Navigation hazards and vessel accidents: The bar is described as one of the most challenging on the NSW coast, with shifting sandbanks, shallow depths, and dangerous breaking waves—especially during ebb tides or easterly swells. This has led to multiple rollovers and vessel groundings. Maritime tragedies: In May 2026, three people died—including two Marine Rescue NSW volunteers—during a rescue attempt when a vessel foundered on the bar, highlighting the extreme danger during emergencies. Economic impact: Commercial fishers, like trawler operator Mr. Puglisi, have relocated operations to safer ports such as Coffs Harbour, citing unsafe conditions. The lack of dredging is seen as a barrier to the viability of the $170 million Ballina marina masterplan. "Graveyard" of wrecks: The bar is known to have at least six sunken wrecks, earning it the reputation of a maritime "graveyard." Short-term benefit, long-term challenge: While dredging is considered a possible solution, experts note it would only offer temporary relief due to rapid sand re-accumulation. The ecosystem is also under threat further up from the river into the creeks and estuaries, coinciding with proposals such as the Ross Lane flooding. Whilst we continue to develop and land size for housing is smaller, the threat of urban warming is real and there is no realmplan to support the Northern Rivers from this threat. Thank you, Gabriel Wisemantel link

    After the recent Ballina Maritime tragedy, I have read through the proposed bridge plan and share concerns with a number of residents about the fact there seems to be no plans to dredge the river around the man made structures being proposed. I will post previous measures undertaken and dismissed by the Governemnt in the past and suggest that we need to revisit this or at this have a strategy in place if more development in the Northern Rivers is undertaken: The Ballina bar has not been dredged since the mid-1970s. Although a feasibility study was completed in 2012 and a report in 2013 recommended dredging to a depth of four meters, plans for a one-off dredge were abandoned by the State Government in December 2017. While the NSW Government has conducted periodic bed level surveys and spent $3 million on dredging other parts of the Richmond River system, the bar itself remains undredged. Following on: The risks of not dredging Ballina Bar include: Navigation hazards and vessel accidents: The bar is described as one of the most challenging on the NSW coast, with shifting sandbanks, shallow depths, and dangerous breaking waves—especially during ebb tides or easterly swells. This has led to multiple rollovers and vessel groundings. Maritime tragedies: In May 2026, three people died—including two Marine Rescue NSW volunteers—during a rescue attempt when a vessel foundered on the bar, highlighting the extreme danger during emergencies. Economic impact: Commercial fishers, like trawler operator Mr. Puglisi, have relocated operations to safer ports such as Coffs Harbour, citing unsafe conditions. The lack of dredging is seen as a barrier to the viability of the $170 million Ballina marina masterplan. "Graveyard" of wrecks: The bar is known to have at least six sunken wrecks, earning it the reputation of a maritime "graveyard." Short-term benefit, long-term challenge: While dredging is considered a possible solution, experts note it would only offer temporary relief due to rapid sand re-accumulation. The ecosystem is also under threat further up from the river into the creeks and estuaries, coinciding with proposals such as the Ross Lane flooding. Whilst we continue to develop and land size for housing is smaller, the threat of urban warming is real and there is no realmplan to support the Northern Rivers from this threat. Thank you, Gabriel Wisemantel

    Gab Wisemantel asked about 1 month ago

    Council has continued to lobby the State Government for many years, if not decades to dredge the Ballina Bar. 

    There was a feasibility report commissioned by the State Government, dated 2012, titled “Restoration of Navigable Entrance to Richmond River – Feasibility Study”. The study was completed by BMT WBM Pty. Ltd.

    A copy of this document is available on Council’s website here. Refer to the Council Documents page under Coastal Management Plans and Related Documents.

    The last paragraph of the final recommendations in that study stated as follows:

    Therefore, in summary, it is likely that maintenance of a safe entrance as indicated would require the entrance to be dredged 4-6 times per year at a cost of $2-5M per year with the sand relocated to the nearshore zone to the north of the entrance. 

    This cost is well beyond Council’s resources and requires an ongoing commitment from the State Government. 

    As also mentioned in the question, Council has also written to the State Government seeking a one-off dredge to allow an assessment to be made as to whether there would be a need to dredge four to six times per annum, as stated in the feasibility study. There has been no commitment to this work from the relevant State Government agencies.

    In respect to dredging, one project Council is currently undertaking is referred to as Stage 2 of the Ballina Coast and Estuary Coastal Management Program, which includes a shoaling assessment of the lower Richmond River and lower North Creek estuaries. 

    This assessment will inform further discussions and decision making to inform if dredging is appropriate and required in the lower estuary. Dredging programs must be well informed by an understanding of sediment dynamics, a clear objective and purpose, and adequately funded to ensure that the objective and purpose can be sustained going forward.  

    There is generally two different reasons to establish a dredging program – the first being for navigational purposes and the second being for flood mitigation.  

    Transport for NSW – Maritime is responsible for dredging waterways for navigational purposes (i.e. boating safety) and councils are generally responsible for dredging for flood mitigation.  

    With regards to the impact of sediment pollution on the ecosystem health of the lower estuary, a recent study prepared as part of the Richmond River Coastal Management Program found that sediment in the Richmond River estuary primarily comes from the upstream channel networks beyond the estuary. The full Sediment Pollution Sources to the Richmond River report can be found here.  The report makes a suite of management recommendations to reduce erosion across the catchment.  

    Furthermore, Ballina Shire Council’s Healthy Waterways program is delivering a range of riparian restoration projects to establish healthy native vegetation adjacent to the Shire’s waterways and to provide bank stability. 

    For further information contact Council’s Health and Environment Section.

  • Share Please be so kind as to clarify the situation with North Creek Road Bridge Reinstatement (Direction 4 LP1.3d). I note that the current plan (not the Draft new one) includes activities 2025-2029 and also allocation in the Capital Expenditure under Bridges. The Draft Plan still includes actions against 2026-2030 but there is no Capital Expenditure allocation. I am aware that at a recent Council meeting a determination was to examine other options after a new traffic study was complete and am curious why a Capital Expenditure allocation is not included for the future Plan. Regards Robyn Hargrave on Facebook Share Please be so kind as to clarify the situation with North Creek Road Bridge Reinstatement (Direction 4 LP1.3d). I note that the current plan (not the Draft new one) includes activities 2025-2029 and also allocation in the Capital Expenditure under Bridges. The Draft Plan still includes actions against 2026-2030 but there is no Capital Expenditure allocation. I am aware that at a recent Council meeting a determination was to examine other options after a new traffic study was complete and am curious why a Capital Expenditure allocation is not included for the future Plan. Regards Robyn Hargrave on Twitter Share Please be so kind as to clarify the situation with North Creek Road Bridge Reinstatement (Direction 4 LP1.3d). I note that the current plan (not the Draft new one) includes activities 2025-2029 and also allocation in the Capital Expenditure under Bridges. The Draft Plan still includes actions against 2026-2030 but there is no Capital Expenditure allocation. I am aware that at a recent Council meeting a determination was to examine other options after a new traffic study was complete and am curious why a Capital Expenditure allocation is not included for the future Plan. Regards Robyn Hargrave on Linkedin Email Please be so kind as to clarify the situation with North Creek Road Bridge Reinstatement (Direction 4 LP1.3d). I note that the current plan (not the Draft new one) includes activities 2025-2029 and also allocation in the Capital Expenditure under Bridges. The Draft Plan still includes actions against 2026-2030 but there is no Capital Expenditure allocation. I am aware that at a recent Council meeting a determination was to examine other options after a new traffic study was complete and am curious why a Capital Expenditure allocation is not included for the future Plan. Regards Robyn Hargrave link

    Please be so kind as to clarify the situation with North Creek Road Bridge Reinstatement (Direction 4 LP1.3d). I note that the current plan (not the Draft new one) includes activities 2025-2029 and also allocation in the Capital Expenditure under Bridges. The Draft Plan still includes actions against 2026-2030 but there is no Capital Expenditure allocation. I am aware that at a recent Council meeting a determination was to examine other options after a new traffic study was complete and am curious why a Capital Expenditure allocation is not included for the future Plan. Regards Robyn Hargrave

    Robyn asked about 1 month ago

    The North Creek Road Bridge Reinstatement remains in Council’s Delivery Program, with current work focused on updated traffic modelling, option assessment, and progressing design and approvals.

    Following a recent Council resolution to further investigate alternative options before committing to a final construction solution, construction funding has not been included in the draft 2026/27 Capital Expenditure Program at this stage. 

    Once a preferred option is confirmed, costs are refined, and funding opportunities explored, future construction funding will be considered through Council’s budget review and annual planning processes.

  • Share Wardell town centre revitalisation project - will there be a central toilet constructed ? A much needed inclusion in the plan. Sited near the town jetty would be ideal. Council land is available and the location is desirable as the nearest toilet is half a kilometre away and poorly signed. on Facebook Share Wardell town centre revitalisation project - will there be a central toilet constructed ? A much needed inclusion in the plan. Sited near the town jetty would be ideal. Council land is available and the location is desirable as the nearest toilet is half a kilometre away and poorly signed. on Twitter Share Wardell town centre revitalisation project - will there be a central toilet constructed ? A much needed inclusion in the plan. Sited near the town jetty would be ideal. Council land is available and the location is desirable as the nearest toilet is half a kilometre away and poorly signed. on Linkedin Email Wardell town centre revitalisation project - will there be a central toilet constructed ? A much needed inclusion in the plan. Sited near the town jetty would be ideal. Council land is available and the location is desirable as the nearest toilet is half a kilometre away and poorly signed. link

    Wardell town centre revitalisation project - will there be a central toilet constructed ? A much needed inclusion in the plan. Sited near the town jetty would be ideal. Council land is available and the location is desirable as the nearest toilet is half a kilometre away and poorly signed.

    JH asked about 1 month ago

    The adopted Wardell Village Centre Revitalisation Master Plan does not include provision of an additional public toilet in Wardell. There is an accessible toilet facility at Fitzroy Park which is about 380m from the village centre and the toilets at the Wardell District War Memorial Hall can be used when open. Unfortunately, the challenge in Wardell is finding Council owned or managed land which is suitable, as the riverfront area proposed above is not suitable for a number of environmental and planning reasons.