A long-contaminated parcel of land near Fripp Oval is set to be remediated, unlocking a major residential development and opening the way for the revitalisation of the former Ballina RSL Bowling Club site.

The NSW Government has announced funding of almost $1 million to clean up the site on Canal Road, which was historically used for cattle tick dipping — a practice that left the land contaminated.  Ballina Shire Council is contributing $100,000 toward the remediation.

Minister for Land and Property Steve Kamper said the move is part of a broader strategy to boost housing supply across the state.

“Restoring this idle land not only protects our natural surroundings but helps unlock land for new homes,” Mr Kamper said.

“Housing affordability and availability is one of the biggest pressures facing families, particularly in the Northern Rivers, where repeated natural disasters have made the situation even harder.”

The clean-up will cover nearly four hectares at 31 and 33 Canal Road. 

Once completed, it will allow the adjacent former RSL Bowling Club site to be redeveloped for a mix of medium-density housing.

The former bowling club building has sat idle since it was vacated and closed in 2019.  More recently it has been a major target of vandals, becoming a sore point for locals concerned about the housing crisis as well as a shortage of indoor recreational spaces.

Setting The RSL Up For The Future

Sources close to the Ballina RSL have confirmed to Ballina News Daily that unlocking the Canal Road site could potentially provide the club with a sizable future capital base.  The funding could allow for significant expansion and renewal at the landmark riverside club precinct.

The goal, insiders say, is to cement the club’s role well in the decades ahead as the cultural, entertainment and community heart of Ballina.

Upgraded facilities could potentially include new performance and event spaces, as well as sport and recreation facilities.

The redevelopment of the disused bowling club would not only help fund these long-term upgrades, but could also respond to the growing demand for housing in the region — particularly among older residents looking to downsize or live closer to town amenities.

The land being remediated dates back to an era when regulations for hazardous chemicals were far less stringent.

Arsenic was commonly used in cattle dip solutions until 1955, followed by the organochlorine pesticide DDT until its ban in 1962. 

Soil from the site will now be safely removed and replaced with clean fill, in accordance with the latest environmental regulations that weren’t in place when the Bowling Club was built in the 1980s.

Minister for the North Coast Janelle Saffin said once cleaned up, the former Bowling Club site showed great potential for housing given its central location.

“This land is ideally located near Fripp Oval and will encourage community connectedness, recreational activity, and support for our local sporting clubs like the Ballina Bears Cricket Club and Ballina Bombers AFL Club,” she said.

The size and scope of the project could see it designated as a “state-significant” housing project – meaning it would be assessed and approved directly by NSW Government, avoiding council delays.

Minister Kamper said this initiative follows the Minns Government’s recent pledge to build more than 355 public and community homes across the Northern Rivers within the next two years, including 48 in Ballina Shire. 

“In the past 12 months alone, the Minns Government had delivered more than 1,700 new social and affordable homes across NSW — the largest increase in over a decade,” he said.