Ballina Shire

Coordinates: 28°50′S 153°32′E / 28.833°S 153.533°E / -28.833; 153.533
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Ballina Shire
New South Wales
Location in New South Wales
Coordinates28°50′S 153°32′E / 28.833°S 153.533°E / -28.833; 153.533
Population46,850 (2022)[1]
 • Density96.60/km2 (250.19/sq mi)
Established1 January 1977 (1977-01-01)[2]
Area485 km2 (187.3 sq mi)[1]
MayorSharon Cadwallader
Council seatBallina[3]
RegionNorthern Rivers
State electorate(s)Ballina
Federal division(s)
WebsiteBallina Shire
LGAs around Ballina Shire:
Lismore Byron Tasman Sea
Lismore Ballina Shire Tasman Sea
Richmond Valley Richmond Valley Tasman Sea

Ballina Shire is a local government area in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia. The Shire was formed on 1 January 1977 by the amalgamation of the Municipality of Ballina and Tintenbar Shire.[2] The Shire is located adjacent to the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Highway. The council seat is located in the town of Ballina. The population of the Ballina Shire area was 46,850[1] in 2022.

The mayor of Ballina Shire Council is Sharon Cadwallader.[4]

Towns and localities[edit]

Other localities[edit]

Heritage listings[edit]

The Ballina Shire has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

Demographics[edit]

At the 2016 census, there were 41,790 people in the Ballina local government area; of these 48.2 per cent were male and 51.8 per cent were female. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 3.3 per cent of the population, which was higher than the national (2.9%) and state averages (2.8%). The median age of people in the Ballina Shire area was 48 years, which was significantly higher than the national median of 38 years. Children aged 0–14 years made up 16.7 per cent of the population and people aged 65 years and over made up 25.0 per cent of the population. Of people in the area aged 15 years and over, 48.9 per cent were married and 14.4 per cent were either divorced or separated.[6]

Population growth in the Ballina Shire area between the 2001 census and the 2006 census was 3.89 per cent; and in the subsequent five years to the 2011 census, population growth was 2.11 per cent. When compared with total population growth of Australia for the same periods, being 5.78 per cent and 8.32 per cent respectively, population growth in the Ballina local government area was significantly lower than the national average.[7][8] Growth increased to a 9.2% increase between 2011 and 2016, compared to a national average of 8.8%. The median weekly income for residents within the Ballina Shire area was significantly lower than the national average.[6]

At the 2016 census, the proportion of residents in the Ballina local government area who stated their ancestry as Australian or English exceeded 60 per cent of all residents (national average was 48.3 per cent). Nearly 60% of all residents in the Ballina nominated a religious affiliation with Christianity at the 2011 census. Ballina Shire had a significantly higher proportion of households (89.1 per cent) where English only was spoken at home (national average was 72.7 per cent).[6]

Selected historical census data for the Ballina Shire local government area
Census year 2001[7] 2006[8] 2011[9] 2016[10]
Population Estimated residents on census night 37,017 Increase 38,461 Increase 39,274 Increase 41,790
LGA rank in terms of size within New South Wales 50th Steady 50th
% of New South Wales population 0.56%
% of Australian population 0.20% Steady 0.19% Steady 0.18%
Cultural and language diversity
Ancestry,
top responses
English 32.0% 31.5%
Australian 31.2% 28.8%
Irish 10.5% 10.5%
Scottish 8.1% 8.7%
German 3.1% 3.2%
Language,
top responses
(other than English)
Italian 0.3% Increase 0.4% Steady 0.4% Decrease 0.3%
German 0.3% Steady 0.3% Steady 0.3% Steady 0.3%
Dutch 0.2% Steady 0.2% Steady 0.2% Steady 0.2%
Spanish n/c n/c Increase 0.2% Steady 0.2%
Japanese n/c n/c Increase 0.2% n/c
French 0.2%
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation,
top responses
Catholic 25.1% Increase 25.5% Decrease 25.1% Decrease 21.9%
Anglican 28.4% Decrease 26.1% Decrease 24.2% Decrease 19.1%
No Religion 13.4% Increase 17.4% Increase 21.4% Increase 30.2%
Uniting Church 7.4% Decrease 6.3% Decrease 5.6% Decrease 4.3%
Presbyterian and Reformed 6.4% Decrease 5.6% Decrease 5.2%
Median weekly incomes
Personal income Median weekly personal income A$397 A$496 A$601
% of Australian median income 85.2% Increase 86.0% Increase 90.8%
Family income Median weekly family income A$1,017 A$1,153 A$1426
% of Australian median income 86.8% Decrease 77.9% Increase 82.2%
Household income Median weekly household income A$779 A$930 A$1156
% of Australian median income 75.9% Decrease 75.4% Increase 80.4%

Council[edit]

Current composition and election method[edit]

Ballina Shire Council is composed of ten councillors, including the mayor, for a fixed four-year term of office. The mayor is directly elected while the nine other councillors are elected proportionally as three separate wards, each electing three councillors. The most recent election was held on 4 December 2021, and the makeup of the council, including the mayor, is as follows:[11][12][13][14]

Party Councillors
  Sharon Cadwallader Team 4
  Independents 3
  Greens 2
  Nationals 1
Total 10

The current Council, elected in 2021, in order of election by ward, is:

Ward Councillor Party Notes
Mayor   Sharon Cadwallader Sharon Cadwallader Team[15] [11]
Ward A   Phil Meehan Independent [12]
  Rod Bruem Sharon Cadwallader Team[15]
  Stephen McCarthy Nationals[16]
Ward B   Jeff Johnson Independent [13]
  Eva Ramsey Sharon Cadwallader Team[15]
  Kiri Dicker Greens
Ward C   Eoin Johnston Independent [14]
  Simon Chate Greens
  Nigel Buchanan Sharon Cadwallader Team[15]

2021 election results[edit]

2021 New South Wales local elections: Ballina[17][18]
Party Votes % Swing Seats Change
  Independent 1,0195 40.4 4 Increase 1
  Sharon Cadwallader Team 7,227 28.6 3
  Greens 4,173 16.5 +16.5 2 Increase 2
  Labor 3,676 14.5 +14.5 0 Steady
 Formal votes 25,271 90.94
 Informal votes 2,517 9.06
 Total 27,788 100.00 9
 Registered voters / turnout 32,830 84.64

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia 2021-2022: Population Estimates by Local Government Area (ASGS 2023), 2021 to 2022". Australian Bureau of Statistics. April 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2024. Estimated resident population, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Local Government Act 1919. Proclamation (138)". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 22 October 1976. p. 4526. Retrieved 15 January 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "Ballina Shire Council". New South Wales Division of Local Government. Retrieved 22 November 2006.
  4. ^ "Ballina Shire election results". ABC News. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  5. ^ "High Conservation Value Old Growth forest". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Department of Planning & Environment. H01487. Retrieved 18 May 2018. Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC-BY 4.0 licence.
  6. ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Ballina (A)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 22 November 2021. Edit this at Wikidata
  7. ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (9 March 2006). "Ballina (A)". 2001 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 22 May 2016. Edit this at Wikidata
  8. ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Ballina (A)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  9. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Ballina (A)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 22 May 2016. Edit this at Wikidata
  10. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Ballina (A)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 7 July 2017. Edit this at Wikidata
  11. ^ a b "Ballina – Mayoral Election results". NSW Electoral Commission. 22 December 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  12. ^ a b "Ballina A Ward – Councillor Election results". NSW Electoral Commission. 23 December 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  13. ^ a b "Ballina B Ward – Councillor Election results". NSW Electoral Commission. 23 December 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  14. ^ a b "Ballina C Ward – Councillor Election results". NSW Electoral Commission. 23 December 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  15. ^ a b c d "Eva Ramsey says she will be her own woman on Ballina Council".
  16. ^ "Platforms or objectives of registered candidates".
  17. ^ "Ballina". ABC News.
  18. ^ "Ballina's new mayor 'humbled and honoured'". echo.net.au.

External links[edit]