from the mayor's desk
From the Mayor
There is no doubt that the past month has been one of the most difficult periods in our community’s history. No-one expected that the Richmond River would ever break its banks, causing the biggest flood in living memory then to follow that with another flood event in late March.
Ballina Recovery Centre
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Distribution Hub
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Wardell Community Hub
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Flood Support Services
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Donations
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The Ballina SES unit, with support from Fire and Rescue NSW and Surf Life Saving NSW, rescued hundreds of residents throughout the peak of the flood. On behalf of our Ballina Shire community, I thank and applaud our emergency responders for their outstanding efforts.
Waste Collection and Asbestos
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Flood Data Collection
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It’s hard to fathom the enormity of the recovery task ahead. Yet I’ve been so impressed by how everyone has rolled up their sleeves to help each other. It’s not just family and friends banding together. It’s neighbours helping neighbours and strangers helping strangers. Everyone has contributed in some way. It’s incredible just how resilient our community is.
Assessing Flood Damaged Buildings
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Beach and River Water Quality
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Draft Community Strategic Plan
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This extends across local government areas too. Our hearts ache for our neighbouring shires where there has been tragic loss of life and a huge loss of property; for the communities that have endured flooding, landslips, long commutes and those who have been isolated for extended periods.
Library News
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Northern Rivers Community Gallery
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Meet your new Councillors
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So many people have experienced tremendous loss. But together, with compassion and grit, we will get through this. In Ballina Shire alone more than 600 businesses and homes were impacted. Community volunteers have banded together to help homeowners and businesses get flood waste to the kerbside for collection. Thank you to these wonderful volunteers who have given up their time to organise, mobilise, and action support for our flood affected residents – you are the backbone of our community. The Australian Defence Force has had boots on the ground for weeks helping residents with waste removal, and a raft of agencies have aided recovery efforts through clean-up assistance, delivery of essential supplies, and even temporary accommodation in the form of motor homes. An enormous thank you to the ADF, NSW Rural Fire Service, NSW Fire and Rescue, SES, and NSW Police for your amazing support. Ballina Shire Council’s crews have been working around the clock to clear flood waste from kerbsides. This has been a massive task and will go a long way towards helping our community to recover. While clearing flood waste is a very visible role, it’s the tip of the iceberg.
Community Spirit in Action
Council Project Updates
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Council support At Council's Ordinary Meeting on 24 March, a range of measures were adopted to help support our flood-affected community. Waiver of interest on overdue rates until 30 June 2022 Council will pause interest on overdue rates and charges for ratepayers (directly or indirectly) affected by the recent flooding from 1 March to 30 June 2022. Rebates for high consumption water Property owners who use higher than usual water as part of their flood recovery will be provided an account rebate based on their historical water usage patterns. Burns Point Ferry refunds
Please remember this is our home too. Council staff, and your councillors, are feeling the impact of this disaster. We have all been touched in some way by this event, but we will do everything we can to help our beautiful shire recover. Rest assured we are here for the long haul.
Application and eligibility
Please note: Information printed in this issue of Community Connect is correct at the time of printing Monday 4 April 2022. For up to date details, please refer | THE MAGAZINE OF THE BALLINA SHIRE COUNCIL communityconnect to relevant websites.
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ISSN: 2652-7243 (PRINT)
Behind the scenes Ballina Shire Council has a longer-term role in community recovery by connecting service providers with people in need of help. This includes Council working hand-in-hand with Resilience NSW and a range of other agencies, such as St Vincent de Paul Society, Services Australia and Red Cross, to operate the Ballina Recovery Centre.
Sharon Cadwallader Mayor
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contents
Refunds will be provided to Burns Point Ferry ticket holders, on a pro-rata basis, for the period the ferry was not operating and being repaired due to flood damage.
Support is provided to residents who are flood impacted or who have been financially impacted as a result of the recent floods. For more information and to apply telephone 1300 864 444 or complete the online application form on Council's website at floodhardship.paperform.co
