BES supports planning that connects communities while safeguarding our landscapes. We’ve advocated for joined-up cycleways, linking Ballina Shire’s villages as part of the National Coastal Cycle Way Project via the Lennox–Ballina–Burns Point Ferry commuter route, encouraging safe, low-emission transport options.

We have engaged with Council’s Local Environmental Plan and Biodiversity Compensatory Habitat and Offsets Policy, calling for stronger protection of natural habitats, and contributed to shaping the Ballina Shire Biodiversity Strategy and Climate Policy, urging Council to align its actions with community expectations and climate science.

We worked with other local groups to get council to restore and protect Lake Ainsworth, advocating for riparian buffers, improved parkland management, and strategies to improve water quality, biodiversity, and community amenity.

BES has taken a strong stance on developments that threaten community land and local ecosystems — such as the Hampton Park Master Plan, where we are opposed to the proposed conversion of public recreation land into private driveways and parking. Instead, we are calling for nature-based flood management, shade trees, and better public access for recreation.

BES has consistently lobbied against inappropriate or high-risk development, including the GemLife proposal at Burns Point Ferry Road — a flood-prone site adjacent to sensitive saltmarsh. We argued that new construction in these areas increases risks to existing households and local ecosystems, and we urged Council to apply Conservation Zones in line with its environmental strategy.

We’ve also been deeply involved in regional planning processes, challenging the inclusion of the Dunoon Dam in Rous County Council’s Future Water 2060 plan. BES submissions have called out failures in due process, lack of consultation with Traditional Owners, and disregard for scientific evidence showing the dam’s cultural and ecological unsuitability.

BES not only advocates — it educates and empowers. Members gain insights into local planning, biodiversity, and climate policy, learning how to research, write submissions, and participate in Council and community processes. Experienced members share their knowledge, mentoring others in environmental research, advocacy, and local government engagement.

BES participates in local government committees, public consultations, and policy reviews, and regularly collaborates with other organisations to strengthen advocacy across the Northern Rivers.

BES has successfully led a grass roots campaign urging Ballina Shire Council to eliminate unnecessary single-use items from Council operations, events, and facilities. Working with local councillors and community groups, BES helped shape a Notice of Motion for Council to phase out single-use packaging and materials, modelled on Byron Shire’s successful policy.

The proposed ban covers items such as disposable coffee cups, plastic cutlery, takeaway containers, and promotional merchandise — aiming to reduce waste at the source rather than relying solely on recycling. BES’s advocacy was supported by a community petition, open letter, and Plastic Free July campaign, all highlighting the health, environmental, and financial costs of plastic pollution

In detailed submissions to the NSW Government’s Plastics Plan, BES called for a faster transition away from disposable packaging toward reusable systems, citing concerns about “greenwashing” and the over-reliance on so-called compostable plastics. The Society urged for bans on items such as condiment sachets, balloon releases, and “biodegradable” plastics, and advocated for national strategies on cigarette butt and microfibre pollution.

BES also continues to promote reusable alternatives — encouraging local cafés, community events, and markets to adopt bring-your-own systems, and supporting the Ballina RSL’s SUC-free Ballina campaign.

At Council’s B Ward Committee meeting in September 2025, BES’s call for a phase-out plan for single-use plastics was formally noted, with Ballina Shire Council confirming that an implementation plan will be developed by Resource Recovery staff during 2025–26.

BES also continues to advocate for sustainable Council investments, including divesting from fossil fuels and supporting climate-aligned procurement and waste policies — so that Council’s financial and operational decisions reflect community values and environmental responsibility.

Through collaboration with residents, local businesses, and environmental partners such as SUP Free Ballina, BES is helping to build a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient community. The message is simple: by rethinking how we use materials, we can protect our rivers, reduce landfill, and leave a lighter footprint for future generations.