Low and middle-income earners in Ballina will benefit from a $5 million grant that will create more affordable housing at Ballina Heights.
The grant has allowed Ballina Shire Council to fund $9 million infrastructure work for the new housing estate with this saving to council then passed on to home buyers through a $25,000 rebate.
“The grant will see eligible residents – such as single parents with an income under $88,000 – given a $25,000 rebate on 120 homes,” Mr Hogan said.
As of the end of December, 27 families had taken advantage of the offer.
The infrastructure project was undertaken to provide the gateway entry to the Ballina Heights Estate and the Cumbalum Urban Release Area A which are important to meeting population growth.
Ballina Shire Council Mayor David Wright said the partnership between the council, which has contributed over $3 million towards the construction cost of the road, along with eventually providing $3 million in rebates ($25,000 x 120 properties), the Australian Government, and the developer, who also contributed approximately $400,000 to the project, would allow for better traffic flow to the major growth centre at Cumbalum.
“Without this collaboration, the building of the new Ballina Heights Drive would have been extremely difficult for council to deliver the $9 million project,” he said.
“It has been a major win for present and future residents and will improve access for residents in times of flooding.”
Works undertaken include the construction of 1.8km of a two-lane collector road with a 20 metre bridge, along with associated stormwater drainage works, utility services including recycled water infrastructure, street lighting, cycle ways and footpaths, acoustic barriers, landscaping and environmental rehabilitation works.
