Rous County Council staff have officially moved into the organisation’s new $25 million headquarters at Gallans Road, consolidating operations from across the Northern Rivers into a single state-of-the-art site.

The move this week marks the completion of one of the region’s most significant local government infrastructure projects in recent years.

The former Thursday Plantation Tea Tree complex now houses offices, a works depot, fleet management centre and ultra-modern council chambers and conference facilities.

Ballina Mayor and Deputy Chair of Rous County Council Sharon Cadwallader described the move as a major milestone for both the organisation and the wider Northern Rivers.

“As Mayor of Ballina Shire and as a Board Member of Rous, I want to officially welcome you to your new home here in our Shire,” she said.

“We are genuinely delighted to see Rous establish its permanent base in Ballina after many years in Lismore.”

The interior of the main administration building

Cr Cadwallader said the relocation represented “investment, confidence and commitment to the future”.

“Moving from rented premises into a building you can now call your own is an important step, and one that reflects the strength and long-term vision of the organisation,” she said.

She said Ballina Shire was proud to welcome an organisation with such a strong regional focus.

“We know the work undertaken by Rous often happens quietly in the background, but the impact is felt every single day by our residents and businesses across the Northern Rivers.”

The development is expected to become the envy of councils across NSW, with the “all-in-one” capability designed to improve efficiency, collaboration and long-term financial sustainability.

For Ballina, the project also delivers a significant new community and civic asset.

The council chambers building — previously used as a flood relief distribution centre after the devastating 2022 floods and before that a visitor centre for the Tea Tree attraction — has been transformed into a high-tech conference and meeting venue that could potentially be used by community groups and organisations.

Jali elder Aunty Sandra with Rous alumni Lisa welcoming staff to their new workplace (photo: Facebook)

The scale of the fit-out was highlighted in Rous’ latest council report, which revealed the audio-visual system alone cost around half a million dollars.

The AV package includes integrated council chamber and lecture presentation modes, remote management capability, touch-panel controls and commercial-grade technology designed for non-technical users.

Rous said the consolidation followed the 2016 merger of Rous Water, Richmond River County Council and Far North Coast Weeds, which had left the organisation operating from several locations, some of them flood-prone.

“By consolidating our geographically dispersed — and in some cases flood-prone — sites into a single workspace, we are supporting a more efficient delivery of regional services,” the organisation said.

The former tea tree farm visitor centre and admin building has been retained, with a new interior fit out delivering Ballina an exciting new function and conference space.

The move also allows Rous to stop renting administrative office space, which it says will contribute to a more financially sustainable future.

In its Facebook announcement, Rous said staff were welcomed to the new site this week by Jali Local Aboriginal Land Council representative Aunty Sandra during the organisation’s first all-staff event at the facility.

A breakfast was provided by the Rotary Club of Ballina on Richmond.

A Rous spokesman told Ballina News Daily an official opening event would be held next month alongside the council’s first formal meeting in the new chambers.

The project remained within the approved $24.88 million budget, according to the April report to council.

The report showed more than $13.9 million had been spent during the current financial year, with additional costs associated with landscaping, signage, access improvements and technology integration.

One unresolved issue remains the future upgrade of the Gallans Road and Tamarind Drive intersection, with Rous agreeing to make a financial contribution to future works in partnership with Ballina Shire Council.  

The modern new headquarters is also likely to attract attention from neighbouring councils, particularly given ongoing concerns about ageing infrastructure elsewhere.

The Ballina on Richmond Rotary team joined in the welcome with a hot breakfast.

Rous County Council staff are now undergoing staged onboarding into the facility, with IT systems, security, fleet storage and operational systems continuing to be commissioned.