Fundraiser launched for KFC hit and run victim
Jodie Saunders remains bedridden three weeks after being hit and left unconscious outside KFC in a Ballina Fair shopping centre carpark.
Byron Police Hunt Flag Thieves
Police are asking the community to identify the males shown in released images after the Australian flag was removed from outside Byron Bay Police Station.
Bluesfest scandal deepens as former editors turn on Peter Noble
Calls are growing for Bluesfest impresario Peter Noble to be stripped of a prestigious music industry honour following the festival’s dramatic collapse and damning allegations
Ballina man jailed after drug driving and police chase
Court documents revealed the Ballina man was suffering from an acquired brain injury and mental health issues when he was sentenced over a police pursuit, drug driving and repeated licence breaches.
Police seek witnesses to Woolworths bottle attack
Police are appealing for witnesses after a Woolworths staff member was seriously injured in a bottle attack in Goonellabah.
Nationals to fire starting gun in race for Ballina
The Nationals are preparing to endorse Ballina Deputy Mayor Damian Loone for the 2027 NSW election as the race to replace Tamara Smith intensifies.
COMMENT: Ballina can’t afford another “invisible” MP
Tamara Smith’s departure has exposed growing frustration over visibility and local representation — and raised serious questions about who should lead Ballina next.
‘Surely he’s not going out there’: The tragic final journey of sailor Matthew Clayton
Exclusive photos taken at Yamba reveal sailor Matthew Clayton’s final known hours before the tragedy that claimed two Ballina Marine Rescue volunteers.
How close I came to giving thousands to a fake bank scammer
A convincing fake ANZ security caller nearly tricked Ballina News Daily editor Rod Bruem into transferring thousands of dollars before one small detail exposed the scam.
Mayors blast Albanese Government over Rail Trail snub
Northern Rivers leaders have slammed the Albanese Government after funding for the Rail Trail’s missing link was rejected, sparking accusations Labor has abandoned the region.
Minister rejects ‘bombshell’ tag as flood recovery fallout deepens
Recovery Minister Janelle Saffin says the state’s damning flood recovery audit is “not a bombshell”, arguing governments have learned major lessons from the troubled rollout.
Ballina’s historic mullet run hit by tough conditions
Dirty river water, poor weather and fuel prices are making life difficult for Ballina’s mullet fishermen during the annual Richmond River catch.
$980m flood recovery mess exposed by Auditor-General
A damning Auditor-General’s report has blasted the NSW Government’s flood recovery response, revealing one flagship housing scheme has failed to deliver a single lot four years after the floods.
Woman ‘left for dead’ in KFC hit and run issues own plea for help
A Ballina woman remains bedridden with multiple fractures after a dark-coloured ute allegedly struck her and drove away without stopping.
Higher density, higher tensions: Residents battle building boom
Ballina Island residents say higher-density development is eroding privacy, blocking views and leaving homeowners feeling powerless against rapid urban infill.
Classic car convoy honours fallen rescuers
A special convoy of classic cars brought moments of joy and reflection to Ballina as the community honoured its fallen Marine Rescue volunteers.
Five Ballina Women Alleged Victims in Sexual Massage Case
A Ballina Central massage business owner has pleaded not guilty to alleged sexual touching offences involving five local women.
Wanted fugitive fighter spotted in Ballina
A highly trained martial arts fighter wanted over an alleged sexual assault has been spotted camping in carparks at Northern Rivers beaches.
Minns cops an earful as Cadwallader comes to town
Ballina Mayor Sharon Cadwallader used a long-awaited meeting with Premier Chris Minns to press for action on hospital redevelopment, river dredging and housing projects.
Honouring the lives and legacies of loved ones from Ballina and the Northern Rivers.
Parliamentary tributes for Ballina’s Marine Rescue heroes
Moving tributes to Ballina Marine Rescue volunteers Bill Ewen and Frank Petsch have been delivered in both the Federal and NSW parliaments.
Tamara Smith’s statement in full
Tamara Smith has confirmed she will not contest the 2027 NSW election, ending a 12-year run as Ballina’s Greens MP.
COMMENT: The moral case for action on the Richmond River
A call for a single authority to manage the Richmond River, as new research highlights upstream sediment as a major driver of its declining health.
Jali jets off to New York: If they can make it there — can they fix it here?
COMMENT: Eight Jali leaders head to New York for a two-week United Nations forum — but how will that sit with locals still sleeping rough?
COMMENT: Top Tourist Town? For Ballina right now, it’s probably just a dream
Visitors do not come to a coastal town expecting to feel like they have wandered into some sort of bad episode of the The Benny Hill Show.
Alstonville markets suspended as tough times hit community events
The Alstonville Community Market has been suspended after falling stallholder numbers and weaker public support hit the once-booming monthly event.
Last chance to be among Ballina’s best businesses for 2026
Ballina businesses have been given an extra week to enter the 2026 Ballina Shire Business Excellence Awards, with past winner Sistability urging operators not to miss out.
COST-OF-LIVING CRUNCH: RSL cuts prices to coax people out
Ballina RSL has launched cheaper meals, drinks and family deals as venues respond to tighter household budgets and cautious consumer spending.
Ballina welcomes Rous as staff move into new $25m offices
The massive Gallans Road complex brings together offices, depot operations and ultra-modern council chambers on one site — facilities likely to be the envy of councils across NSW.
Hope amid horrifying domestic violence figures as Purple Friday spreads
Six years after Purple Friday began in Ballina, confronting domestic violence figures show the crisis remains severe — but the movement born here is now spreading hope and change across NSW.
Breaking barriers: First regional disability health workshops launch in Ballina
New Ballina workshops aim to give people with disability the tools to manage their own health, with a strong focus on self-advocacy and women’s wellbeing.
Young courage at heart of Ballina’s Our Kids Day Out
A big crowd marked 21 years of Our Kids Day Out in Ballina, with a powerful bravery award reminding families why the charity the annual event celebrates matters so much.
Ballina hosts next generation of Olympic climbers
Hundreds of climbers have arrived for the National Junior Championships - an event that organisers says could us on the map ahead of Brisbane 2032.
Ballina mum to represent Australia on world basketball stage
Ballina basketballer Kellie Coates will represent Australia in Greece this year, earning her first green and gold selection just months before turning 50.
