Ballina Shire Council’s epic June meeting began with 48 people in the public chamber. All councillors were in attendance, but there wasn’t much discussion of roads, rates or rubbish this time round.
First up was a rescission motion which led to a long discussion about the date of Ballina’s Australia Day celebrations, including passionate deputations from Ashley Moran, via Mim O’Grady, and Rotary’s Col Lee. Council ultimately voted to go back to 26 January, on the deciding vote of Mayor Sharon Cadwallader.
No doubt the issue will be revisited again in future.
Council were far more unified in their decision to support the expansion of the medical practice at 50 Main Street Alstonville, following a deputation from Dr Tony Lembke. That was a unanimous decision.
GemLife
It was back to the trenches for a discussion about the long-debated proposed GemLife housing development at Burns Point Ferry Road, which has been bitterly opposed by locals and environmentalists, along with most councillors, since previous Mayor David Wright left the door open for development on the flood-prone site.
The future of the development is currently in the hands of the Northern Regional Planning Panel, who will be determining the amended GemLife DA, following objections put up by the Land and Environment Court and Ballina Council.
The latest suggestion from staff was that a Conservation Zone be established over the land, but this was ultimately deferred, despite the support of Crs Kiri Dicker, Simon Chate and Phil Meehan, and with Crs McCarthy and Johnson unable to vote due to interests in the matter.
Councillors then voted unanimously to push forward with the long-delayed Ballina Heights shopping centre at Cumbalum, in its new proposed location down the hill.
Biodiversity
This was followed by an argument about whether the Ballina Shire Biodiversity Strategy should be finalised without adequate funding attached. After an acrimonious debate, the strategy was ultimately adopted, with Cr Kiri Dicker opposed.
After lunch, there was a discussion about sporting facilities at Ballina Heights, Lennox Head and Wardell, with outside basketball facilities moving ahead at all three locations.
Councillors voted unanimously to extend the Lennox Community Gardens licence for another four years, at the minimum fee, and reclassified some land for park purposes at Wollongbar District Park.
Council also supported the sale of some vacant land adjoining the library at Goonellabah.
Council voted unanimously to adopt the next Delivery Program and Operational Plan for Ballina Shire, after some slight re-prioritisation. There was a discussion about the future of the South Ballina Ferry, after it slipped further into deficit, but nothing concrete was decided, beyond a briefing to examine options.
Patchs Beach carpark is to be repaired as a matter of urgency.
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Ballina Council wrap
With local government meeting practice across the state returning to confusion following the NSW Legislative Council's recent decision, Ballina Shire Council's last meeting included a lot of unanimous decisions and an argument about the remnants of the Big Scrub, in which Mayor Cadwallader used her casting vote to squash Cr Simon Chate's motion.
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