Understanding the impacts of overland flooding and stormwater in Ballina Shire

By Robert Heyward

To enhance community resilience, Ballina Shire Council is committed to better preparing the community to withstand the challenges and impacts of future flood events.

“This work involves conducting detailed flood mapping and modelling projects to better understand flooding, identify ways to minimise its impact, and incorporate effective mitigation strategies into the

region’s future plans,” said Paul Crozier, Manager Engineering Works at Ballina Shire Council.

“To enhance the accuracy of flood modelling across Ballina Shire, we are inviting the community to share descriptions and photos of observed overland flooding.”

“This includes detailed accounts from the March 2022 flood event to help refine and calibrate the models. Information from other significant rainfall events is also valuable and welcomed.”

Current public consultations are underway for several key studies in Ballina Shire, including the Ballina Island and West Ballina Local Stormwater Drainage Management Study and Stormwater Masterplan (SWMP), as well as the Alstonville, Wardell, and Lennox Head Overland Flood Studies.

These studies focus on overland flooding, which occurs when heavy rainfall exceeds the capacity of the drainage system, causing water to flow over land. This type of flooding commonly affects streets, yards, and low-lying areas where water accumulates and cannot drain quickly enough.

The SWMP and flood studies aim to:

• Assess the current capacity of the stormwater drainage system.
• Model and map overland flooding during various storm scenarios, including the significant March 2022 storm.
• Pinpoint areas prone to flooding due to stormwater limitations.
• Propose potential stormwater system upgrades to reduce future flooding risks.

Community members are invited to participate in an online survey from 20 November to 20 December 2024.

Details about the studies, along with the survey link, are available on the Council’s YourSay page.

Findings from the studies will be showcased in a public exhibition in 2025. The insights gathered will play a vital role in enhancing town planning, guiding future development, and improving emergency responses to future storm events.

These initiatives are funded by Ballina Shire Council in partnership with the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).

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Ballina Community Clothes Swap: A Bargain That’s Kind to the Planet

By Jeff Gibbs

This December, ditch the Black Friday frenzy and join the Ballina Community Clothes Swap for a refreshing and sustainable approach to fashion. Hosted by the Northern Rivers Community Gallery (NRCG), this free event is your chance to breathe new life into your wardrobe while reducing textile waste.

Event Details

• What: Clothes Swap & Creative Mending Workshop
• When: Wednesday, 11 December 2024, 12pm–2pm
• Where: Northern Rivers Community Gallery, 44 Cherry Street, Ballina
• Cost: Free
• Ages: Open to all

Why Join the Clothes Swap?

Every year, Australians buy an average of 56 new clothing items, but shockingly, 6,000 kilos of clothing are sent to landfill every 10 minutes. In Ballina Shire alone, textiles make up 8% of kerbside landfill bins, making textile waste a significant environmental issue.

The community clothes swap tackles these challenges by:

• Encouraging a circular economy where pre-loved clothing gets a new home.
• Offering a cost-free way to refresh your wardrobe.
• Creating an opportunity to connect with like-minded locals who care about sustainability.

How It Works

To participate, bring your clean, quality clothing items to swap for tokens:

• Drop-off times:
  • Tuesday, 10 December, 2pm–4pm
  • Wednesday, 11 December, 10am–11am

Tokens can then be exchanged for new-to-you items at the event. Clothing for all genders, sizes, and adaptive needs is welcome, and availability will depend on the contributions of participants.

Creative Mending Workshop

Alongside the clothes swap, join a free hands-on mending workshop with multi-disciplinary artist Pippin Nicholson. Learn simple, practical sewing techniques to repair and rejuvenate your garments using recycled materials.

• What to bring: A clothing item to mend (optional). No prior sewing experience required.
• What’s provided: Tools, materials, and expert guidance.

“Mending and patching are not just cost-effective, they’re a creative way to fight fast fashion and reduce environmental impact,” said Pippin Nicholson.

A Step Towards Sustainability

“This event is a fun and practical way to address the challenges of fast fashion and textile waste,” said Justine Rowe, Council’s Resource Recovery Education Officer.

Gallery Coordinator Imbi Davidson added, “By swapping clothes and embracing creativity, we’re not only reducing landfill but also building community connections. Together, we can foster a more sustainable future.”

For more information or to get involved, visit www.nrcgballina.com.au or call 02 6681 0530.

Let’s make fashion sustainable—one swap and stitch at a time!

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End the Year Creatively at the Northern Rivers Community Gallery’s Pop-Up Art Market – Saturday, 14 December!

By Liam Jennings

Celebrate creativity and community at the Northern Rivers Community Gallery (NRCG) with a free Pop-Up Art Market on Saturday, 14 December. This exciting one-day event will feature 20 artist-run stalls, set against the backdrop of the beautiful heritage-listed gallery in the heart of Ballina.

Explore a wide variety of art forms, including painting, ceramics, printmaking, textiles, mixed media, photography, and sculptural installations. With an incredible array of works from local and regional artists available at various price points, it’s the perfect opportunity to find unique, thoughtful gifts for the festive season while supporting the local creative economy.

L-R: Val Smith, Ballina Contemporary Art Market 2023 Stallholder, photographer Kate Holmes – Laila Page, Ballina Contemporary Art Market 2023 Stallholder, photographer Kate Holmes – Penelope Sienna, Ballina Contemporary Art Market 2023 Stallholder, photographer Kate Holmes – Claudio Kirac in the Studio,
photographer Elana Mullaly – Jemima Patch-Taylor in the Studio, image supplied – Sofie Neuendorf in the Studio, image supplied

Featured Artists Include:

• Widjubal-Wiabul artist Val Smith
• Printmakers Rachel Dun and Penelope Sienna
• Oil painters Claudio Kirac and Jemima Patch-Taylor
• Multi-disciplinary Yaegl artist Vickki King
• Ceramicists Sofie Neuendorf and Kubek & Collaborators
• Textile artist and weaver Sue Connor
• The Outpost Studio (Claudie Frock, Kate Stroud, Mia Zapata, Kylie Gartside, Beki Davies)
• Landscape watercolour artist Dave Sparkes
• Wildlife photographer Sam McPherson
• Sculptural textile artist Holly Ahern
• and many more talented creators!

The Pop-Up Art Market will run from 10 AM to 3 PM on Saturday, 14 December, with plenty of free parking available in nearby streets. Visitors can also enjoy the Gallery Café, which will be open all day serving its signature menu.

Unlike NRCG’s larger Ballina Contemporary Art Market in 2023, this event is a more intimate, scaled-down version. Limited to the Gallery’s interior, there will be no additional programming or entertainment—this market is all about showcasing and celebrating the art itself!

Please note that Wi-Fi and phone reception inside the Gallery can be unreliable, which may affect EFTPOS transactions. Attendees are encouraged to bring cash for purchases, but ATMs are conveniently located a short walk away in Ballina’s CBD if needed.

For queries about the event, visit www.nrcgballina.com.au, or contact the Gallery via email at nrcg@ballina.nsw.gov.au or phone 02 6681 0530.

NRCG is a wheelchair accessible venue.

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