Engineering challenges, rising costs and complex construction issues surrounding the proposed duplication of Ballina's bridges will again come before council at next week's meeting

Ballina Shire councillors will decide next week which route should be adopted for the proposed shared path linking Alstonville and West Ballina, with five options on the table and estimated project costs ranging from $27 million to more than $36 million.

An assistant nurse has been charged after allegedly sexually assaulting an elderly patient at a care facility in Maclean

Ballina Shire residents are being urged to take extra care during this week's king tides which could inundate several low-lying roads

Local residents are being encouraged to recognise inspiring women and girls in their communities by nominating them for the 2027 NSW Women of the Year awards

Pizza Hut is set to return to Ballina after more than 20 years, with signage appearing at Ballina Central Shopping Centre announcing the fast food chain is "coming soon"

Residents have raised concerns over alleged vegetation clearing at a Lennox Head property, with the NSW Environment Department issuing a 40-day stop work order while it investigates claims the clearing has impacted important native wildlife habitat.

A man in his 30s has been airlifted to Lismore Base Hospital after suffering multiple injuries in a tree lopping accident near Grafton.

Ballina Shire's property market continues to show strength, with million-dollar sales across coastal and hinterland suburbs highlighting ongoing demand for quality homes despite higher borrowing costs and economic uncertainty.

Rous resident and ShelterBox Australia CEO Mike Greenslade is supporting a global humanitarian response after earthquakes in Venezuela left thousands of people without shelter, drawing on more than 20 international disaster deployments.

Ballina's Julie Beavis has risen from being told she wasn't good enough to becoming Australia's top-ranked women's over-35 pickleball players after winning state titles across the country

ENV Solutions claimed six awards, including Ballina Shire Business of the Year, as innovation, leadership and outstanding employees were recognised at the 2026 Ballina Business Excellence Awards.

Missing Ballina man Caine Tierney has been found safe and is being treated in hospital. His family has thanked the community for its support.

Lennox Head's Ocea Curtis reflects on her quarter-final finish at the Soundboks Oz Grom Open as Australia's top junior surfers compete at Seven Mile Beach

A 29-year-old Ballina man has been granted bail after allegedly smashing windows at the Ballina courthouse and a nearby law firm before approaching police with a bat.

A 20-year-old Northern Rivers man has been refused bail after being charged over alleged violent extremist material linked to online posts.

Seven Ballina students have turned months of designing, building and programming into a place at an international robotics championship in Sydney.

One accused was refused bail after a judge cited “total ruthlessness and inability to obey the law”, while his co-accused faces a separate string of charges.

A major weed control project at Lake Ainsworth is helping restore native vegetation and improve biodiversity after the successful removal of one of Australia's most aggressive coastal weeds.

A man in his 60s has been airlifted to Gold Coast University Hospital after a tractor rolled and pinned him against a fence near Tenterfield.

A proposed outdoor education hub at Skennars Head for up to 200 students has won in-principle support from Ballina Shire Council.

Registrations are open for the 2026 NAB Darrel Chapman Fun Run in Lismore, with organisers hoping to attract more than 1,500 participants.

A 50-year-old East Coraki man and a 52-year-old Ballina woman have both been refused bail after being charged following a Child Abuse Squad investigation in the Northern Rivers.

Australian Seabird and Turtle Rescue is urging people to stay alert after New South Wales recorded its first case of H5 bird flu in a migratory seabird.