Ballina Shire Council is inviting community feedback on its Draft Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS) – a key planning document that will guide how the shire grows and develops over the next 20 years.
Ballina is one of the fastest-growing areas in regional New South Wales, with an estimated annual growth rate of 1.21 per cent. To meet that demand, around 275 new dwellings will need to be built each year for the next two decades.
The updated LSPS identifies the challenges of a changing community, including an ageing population – with 36 per cent of residents expected to be aged over 65 by 2046 – and the need for a broader mix of housing options.
Council says it wants to ensure that Ballina remains liveable while accommodating future needs. This will mean encouraging smaller and more diverse housing close to shops, services and existing amenities, while also creating opportunities for new employment.
Council’s Director of Planning and Environmental Health, Matthew Wood, said the draft LSPS aims to balance growth with community values. “As well as setting the framework for how and where development will occur over the next 20 years, the LSPS reflects community priorities to protect the environment, retain lifestyle qualities and deliver key infrastructure,” Mr Wood said.
“Since the LSPS was first adopted by Council in 2020 we’ve seen the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2022 floods and ongoing housing challenges. It’s time for a refresh of our principal strategic planning document and to check in with the community on a range of existing strategies that are reflected in the LSPS,” he said.
“We want to make sure we are heading in a direction aligned with the characteristics of our area and the community’s priorities for Ballina’s future.”
The LSPS, along with supporting material including maps, FAQs and a summary document, is available on Council’s YourSay Ballina website at yoursayballina.com.au/local-strategic-planning-statement.
Feedback can be provided through an online survey until Wednesday 5 November 2025.
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