If you live at or visit Ballina NSW this might be of interest.
I'm not against development at all, but this one reminds me of the Kirra terminal proposal. A marina development on the doorstep of the great little Missingham Bridge break.
It's on a smaller scale, but equally likely to stuff a good surf spot, be it from increased boat traffic, dredging the sand banks or just generally wrecking the scenery. Anyone who's seen the sand build up there in recent years will recognise that this will be one shallow little marina!
http://www.ballina.nsw.gov.au/cp_themes/default/res.asp?id=10062
I must say as a yachty who was once silly enough to actually go into Ballina that I think this idea is crazy!
The bar is that bad that no-one is really willing to go into Ballina in fear of being trapped for weeks.
These guys are as bad as the Port Macquarie council who also want to make their port a place for yachty stop overs
and won't recognize that their river bars are the worst in NSW north of Sydney.
PS. I went in on the top of the tide about 1700 hours and managed to get out at daybreak the next morning, but had to sail over one mile of the bar!
NEVER GOING BACK! 
i think the skaters will put a fight up on that they have a great skate park there.
The thing with dredging is that you can't just do it once and call it good. It's something that has to be done frequently. For the bar, that could be a couple of times a year. If dredging is not done frequently enough, sand will come in on the next storm and then the issue is that people think it's safe, but it isn't. Even if I thought building the marina in that location was a good idea - which I don't - I just don't think it is technically viable.
The little finger wharves look pretty close together too... I'd be lucky to dock my naish glide in one of those - I might need to go to a 26".
Hi bf, Yep,was touted as a great boon for Ballina,all the yatching tourists,boatshops,and all industry that went with it employment.Big flop,because the damn bar is to dangerous.
Didn't we vote 2 council elections ago for a candidate,who ran on the promise "to dredge the bar".all that was done was placing all those blocks on the wall,so now tourists can't sit there and watch dolphins and whales,because those bloody ugly "storm concrete eyesores" block the view.
These idiots keep going we are going to drive all tourists to byron,not a bad idea,but businesses would hate it.I think dredge the bar,sell the sand,drop our rates and let the tourist come here and enjoy Ballina as it is,with out the BS and hassle of Byron,face it we can't complete with byron.
BEING DISCUSSED THIS THURSDAY, 28 AUGUST AT BALLINA COUNCIL
I read with horror the concept the plan for the proposed Ballina "Marina". This development is so much more than a marina. I have heard fisher people saying that we need a marina because it is difficult to park their boat so far from the availability of fuel. I wonder do they realise that this proposal will not fix their problem, because it looks like the marina is exclusive to the residents of the condominium and/or will be cost-prohibitive to the average boating enthusiast? I wonder do they realise that the creation of 300 jobs is short-term, and short-sighted, compared to the irreversible environmental damage this will create.
Can you please tell me what happens to public access to the off leash area at the spit? What of the significant habitat loss of the migratory birds at the spit? What of the fish nursery in the little lagoon, where the model boat enthusiasts meet monthly? What of the public space at the Seagulls oval? What of the skate park, the large park to the west of Missingham bridge, and the amphitheatre to the east of the bridge? What environmental damage does regular dredging of the Bar cause? What an environmental rape and pillage, to change the flow of the Richmond River into Owen Street, just so rich people can have waterfront properties!
We don't want to become another Gold Coast, where public access to our beautiful riparian areas is closed off; where gated communities abound; where we drive/walk down streets and see only the back fences of man-made water front properties.
What can we do to stop this outrage?
OK, so the proposal went to the Council, who rejected it 5 to 4. I'm surprised it got that much support, most of the people around town thought it was a joke. The idea is to look at existing sites up river - which makes a lot more sense.
But not to fear... Misso's might get buggered up yet... the latest letter to the editor is calling for a wave break wall in the middle of the river to stop any swell getting in at all.
