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4WD track through dunes. Photo David Lowe An attempt to enlarge the list of approved 4WD beach users allowed to access South Ballina Beach failed to get the numbers to progress at the last Ballina Shire Council meeting. The motion from Cr Keith Williams thanked the Minister for Crown Lands for closing the beach but asked that community consultation be undertaken to consider certain local beach users who have been excluded from 4WD access, such as members of fishing clubs, wildlife rescuers and the disabled. There were no deputations against the motion ( The Echo was contacted to say such req...

Premium Content Subscriber only A motion to extend the number of people that could access South Ballina beach has been rejected by Ballina Shire Council. Secured vehicle access points using lock and key will be maintained for emergency services, commercial fishers, Jali Local Aboriginal Land Council and Bandjalang Aboriginal Corporation at Richmond Nature Reserve (NPWS), Patchs Beach (Ballina Shire Council) and Boundary Creek (Richmond Valley Council). The original motion, raised by councillor Keith Williams, was hoping to thank the NSW Minister for Crown Land, Melinda Pavey, for acting to...

Premium Content Ballina Shire Council is not closing any beaches in the area on March 1. Councillor Keith Williams met with the South Ballina Residents Association on Sunday afternoon to deny any closures. "There was an erroneous report at the Richmond Valley Council (RVC) meeting last week that said Ballina Council was shutting the beach on March 1, but Ballina Council does not have the power to make that decision, and has made no decision about that," he said.     Cr Williams explained control of the beach is with Crown Land, and access to the beach depends on who owns the land that...

Premium Content Subscriber only Beach hoons are on notice to behave or the entire stretch of beach between Evans Head and Ballina could be closed to four-wheel drives. In what has been described as a "compromise" that will put the fate of the beach in the community's hands, Richmond Valley Council has voted to close only one of its access points at this stage. Ballina Shire Council closed the Patchs Beach access at South Ballina last year. It's understood work is continuing to close other access points which are managed by National Parks and Wildlife Service and Crown Lands. In the meant...