Planned roomy apartments a stroll from Shelly Beach, East Ballina

A developer wants to build spacious beachside apartments in East Ballina - near an historic site of a massacre of Indigenous people. See what’s planned.

A developer wants to build modern four-bedroom units at coveted East Ballina site. Picture: Realestate.com

A developer wants to build beachside apartments in East Ballina, a stone’s throw from Shelly Beach and the historic site of a massacre of Indigenous people.

The $2.3 million project would see the houses on 3-5 Suvla St demolished to make way for four new units after the property was sold in 2021 for $1.5 million.

The project would see the build of two double-storey and a pair of three-storey apartments - which would be leased for at least $700 per week, with rents increasing in East Ballina over the past 12 months.

The site sits across the road from East Ballina Cemetery and is walking distance to Shelly Beach.

Each of the new units would be four-bedroom and have covered front and back decks and a double garage.

The site is not subject to flooding, but is within proximity to Aboriginal heritage sites.

The area is also associated with the 1853-54 massacre of Bundjalung People.

“This massacre involved the murder of between 30-40 Aboriginal men, women and children and the wounding of many others by the Native Police,” planning documents state.

“Complaints were made to the NSW government, but no action was taken against the perpetrators.”

The site is close to a number of shipwrecks at Shaws Bay, which would not be affected by the development.

Visit Ballina Shire Council website to have your say.