Ballina Shire Council is pleased to advise that the Burns Point Ferry will return to service from Saturday 15 November, following its scheduled annual maintenance period.
The Burns Point Ferry is an essential connection between South Ballina and West Ballina, and Council's annual maintenance program ensures the service continues to operate safely and reliably all year round.
Council crews have completed a range of important works, including structural, mechanical and electrical repairs, major safety upgrades, and a full repaint of the vessel's hull.
The safety upgrades include new automated safety gates, which must be fully closed before the ferry can move. Council has also installed new raised safety humps on the deck, these will slow drivers down, but they also house the hydraulic and electrical systems used to operate the new gates.
Placing this infrastructure on the deck, rather than inside the hull, allows future inspections and repairs to be carried out more safely and efficiently.
The new systems may mean boarding and disembarking will take a little longer. Council asks drivers to take extra care, be patient and considerate of others as passengers and staff adjust to the updated process.
Passenger safety and delivering a reliable ferry service year-round is Council's key priority. These improvements will help keep our community safe and bring the Burns Point Ferry in line with the latest requirements from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA).
Council thanks the community for their understanding during the closure and looks forward to welcoming passengers back on board from Saturday morning.
The ferry service operates daily between 5.30am and 12.30am except on Christmas Day.
A reminder that the ferry will be closed for its routine monthly maintenance on Tuesday 9 December 2025.
For a schedule of monthly maintenance dates and ticketing information visit ballina.nsw.gov.au/burns-point-ferry.
For live updates and closures visit livetraffic.com or contact Council's Civil Services Team on 1300 864 444.
