bellab20

Ballina is ruined. It used to be a great place to live but since the pandemic everyone from Sydney moved here and along with that has brought more traffic, pushed rentals through the roof and increased crime. Car thefts and home invasions and the drug problem is out of control. We don’t want the northern rivers to become another Gold Coast so what’s with the new thousand sets of lights coming into Ballina now??!!! Fix the bridge coming into Ballina- build another lane and fix the drainage problem with high tides. All in all we moved away from Ballina and shop online for big w etc rather than driving into this hole of a place. Only nice thing of course are the beautiful beaches. That’s it!

The whole side of goonellabah that is on the side of Woolworths and coles and right past and down from Rous rd is like living in the worst neighbourhoods in the US. Teens will walk right into your house day and night looking for something to steal. They aren’t afraid of anyone because police can’t touch them- they are Too young. They will break fences, steal your mail. They will try and kick your door down and open windows. Not safe for elderly people living on their own or for any family. Goonellabah is undoubtedly the hell hole of the northern rivers now. They need a 24 hour cop station and street programs to help these kids, they are undisciplined and simply don’t care. Such a Lack of Govt. council and community programs for the alcohol, drug, abusive & mentally unwell parents of these kids which is the underlying issue - that and not enough money for basic necessities like food!

Pros:Good Take away. Lovely maintained river side and popular caravan park with footpaths. No traffic- Small town- friendly people. There’s a Few amenities- bakery, butcher, hairdressers, excellent post office. etc. Fairly quiet. 20 mins to beach. Dog park. Fishing in river. Local primary schools. CONS- Very ordinary disappointing supermarket. The pub in town plays loud awful music Friday and sat night but nice staff and good food. Few dodgy areas not to live in - break ins and many car thefts. Lots of people own dogs. Too many pet cats out at night. Occasionally an outside street domestic. WAY TOO MANY IDIOTS LETTING OFF FIRECRACKERS. The occasional smell from local cane burning. Local police is just there for looks. Too many noisey bikers coming through. FLOODING IN TOWN- so buy on the hill! We moved away due to work but not bad little place to live.