Ross Lane, airport parking and Wardell improvements head a busy Council agenda — with the fate of Alstonville’s movie studio proposal also in the spotlight

One of Ballina Shire’s busiest roads could be completely closed for about nine weeks under a plan to save up to $800,000 on the long-awaited flood-proofing of Ross Lane.

Ballina Shire councillors will on Thursday be asked to award a $3.19 million contract to finally tackle the notorious Deadmans Creek crossing, where flooding regularly cuts the important link between Lennox Head, the hinterland and the Pacific Highway.

It is the biggest of several major infrastructure tenders before Council at its August meeting, including the next stage of a $7.5 million expansion of airport parking, a new airport baggage security system and the Wardell foreshore redevelopment.

More than 8,400 vehicles a day were using Ross Lane when Council settled on the design late last year, with traffic forecast to grow to about 11,000 vehicles a day by 2036.

The upgrade will raise the road to about 1.45 metres and construct a new bridge across Deadmans Creek.

It won’t make Ross Lane flood-proof, but modelling indicates it should remain open during substantially more flood events and reduce both the frequency and duration of closures.

Nine weeks without Ross Lane

Council secured $3.9 million from Transport for NSW for the project and asked contractors to price three different ways of building it.

One involved constructing a temporary sidetrack so traffic could continue to pass the worksite while the bridge was built.

But that comes at a considerable price.

The sidetrack alone would cost almost $500,000 and presents other problems, including waterlogged ground, an existing Rous water main and the need to use private property for which agreement has not yet been secured.

Council staff instead recommend closing Ross Lane completely during the critical bridge construction.

The preferred contractor estimates the full closure can be limited to about nine weeks, with the rest of the work undertaken under single-lane traffic controls.

Council says it will work with the contractor to see whether the closure can be shortened and will undertake a major communication campaign on closure dates and detour routes.

Dropping the temporary sidetrack is expected to save at least $500,000 and potentially $800,000 or more, depending on weather and construction conditions.

Hazell Bros is the preferred contractor with a tender of $3,191,291 excluding GST.

However, once other costs and contingency are included, the overall project is expected to cost about $4.35 million — $451,447 more than the available $3.9 million funding.

Council has sought additional government funding, although its report says preliminary discussions indicate that request is unlikely to succeed.

If no more government money is forthcoming, the shortfall would be met from developer contributions and Council’s Tintenbar to Ewingsdale Highway Bypass Reserve.

$7.5m airport parking expansion

Another major tender before Thursday’s meeting concerns one of the most persistent complaints about Ballina Byron Gateway Airport — parking.

Council has allocated $500,000 this financial year for preliminary design, planning and approvals, followed by another $7 million in 2027/28, when most of the construction is planned.

The longer-term plan includes more than 500 additional parking spaces, increased drop-off capacity and better separation of private cars, taxis, buses and rideshare vehicles.

There has been no shortage of interest in designing it.

Some 131 companies downloaded the tender documents and 19 lodged bids for the consultancy work.

But rather than choose one on Thursday, staff recommend Council reject all 19 tenders and negotiate with several interested firms.

The bids contained a wide range of prices and different ideas for the carpark design, and staff believe further negotiations could refine the project and deliver better value.

Council is also being asked to approve a new checked-baggage X-ray system at the airport after manufacturer support and replacement parts for the existing equipment end after December.

The replacement equipment costs $463,100 — $113,100 above budget. With preventative maintenance included, the proposed contract is worth $670,580 excluding GST.

Future of key Council properties

Councillors will also consider expressions of interest for the future of three significant Council-owned properties, although the details will be discussed behind closed doors.

They include Tuckombil Quarry at Alstonville, the former Family and Community Services office block at 89–91 Tamar Street, Ballina, which has been vacant since last year, and a hangar site at Ballina Byron Gateway Airport.

The future of Tuckombil Quarry has attracted particular interest, with the disused site previously proposed as the home of a major film and creative industries precinct.

Foundation Studios (formerly Byron Studios) developed plans to transform the quarry into a regional production hub incorporating film and television studios, live performance, post-production, education and temporary accommodation. The company previously co-funded a $100,000 feasibility study with support from the NSW Government and Ballina Shire Council. 

Council had been expected to seek expressions of interest in the quarry as it considered its future, meaning Thursday’s confidential discussion could provide the first indication of what proposals have emerged for the site. 

The results of the EOI process for all three properties will be considered during Thursday’s confidential session.

Wardell heads back to the river

Thursday could also mark another step in the continuing transformation of Wardell following the devastating 2022 floods.

Councillors are being asked to award a $685,350 contract to Hunter Wharf & Barge for construction of a new boardwalk and open space as part of the Wardell Village Centre Revitalisation Master Plan.

Council has about $1 million available for the “To the River” stage, including $400,000 from the NSW Government’s Resilient Business Activation Program.

The preferred tender is comfortably within budget.

Other major tenders include an $897,294 solar upgrade at Ballina Wastewater Treatment Plant, expected to increase the amount of the plant’s electricity supplied by solar from 17 to 43 per cent and save an estimated $1.2 million over 25 years.

Council will also consider an $844,923 contract to repair landslips on Tamarind Drive and Marom Creek Road caused by the 2022 floods, fully funded through disaster recovery funding.

The tenders are among a packed agenda for Thursday’s meeting, which will also consider homelessness initiatives, future development at Ballina Heights, preschool and childcare rents and Council’s commercial property portfolio.

Related: ‘Byron’ name dropped as filmmaker cements bid for regional creative powerhouse at Alstonville