A packed-to-overflowing gallery of WardellCORE supporters was not enough to sway Ballina Shire Council in its last meeting for this term to allow the group’s current range of functions to continue.
With 61 people inside the public gallery and many more unable to get in, the current group of Ballina councillors met to assess a DA for the continued use of the former National Bank building at 3 Sinclair Street by WardellCORE, a community organisation which has been highly active in the area since the devastating floods of 2022.
With Crs Nigel Buchanan and Kiri Dicker absenting themselves from the discussion due to conflicts of interest, Ballina Council staff sought to impose a number of conditions on the DA to formalise the ongoing operation of WardellCORE, including;
- Deletion of the proposed covered outdoor area and walkway from the
approved plans. - Removal of existing shipping container and all other unauthorised structures on the site including the front boundary fence.
- Standard operating hours.
- Submission of a Heritage Asset Action Plan.
- Provision of one car space onsite.
- Removal of unauthorised signage and hoardings on council land.
This comes after WardellCORE was earlier prevented from continuing to operate in the much larger venue Wardell Memorial Hall, following pressure from some members of the community.
More than an essential hub
Wardell resident and WardellCORE board member Tony Brown made a passionate personal deputation, saying, the organisation ‘has become more than an essential hub for our community. It is a second home, and a place of comfort and life saving support.
‘It provides much more than just flood recovery now, and it has been recognised for both its role and demonstration of best practice in community led recovery, both at the national and state level, including the Reconstruction Authority…
‘The closure of WardellCORE, even a reduction in services, would have a devastating impact, and it will leave a void deeply felt from Broadwater to Ballina and beyond,’ said Mr Brown.
‘Wardell CORE also provides a wide range of support services to the residents seeking emergency accommodation and people living in housing distress. We can only see this demand increasing into the future…
‘Since moving into the building in June 2022 there has been no negative impact on the heritage or amenity of the property or the local neighborhood. We try to be very good neighbors. We are committed to the preservation of the heritage assets of this building,’ he continued.
‘The change of use to a neighborhood center really respects the cultural significance of the building, and ensures that it actually remains accessible to the community,’ said Mr Brown.
‘This is not just about flood recovery anymore. We are still feeding families with fresh food every week. We are still having to clothe people. We are still providing bedding, furniture and appliances to families that are in distress. We are teaching people to grow their own food. We are teaching people to cook nutritious meals.
‘We are teaching people to fix and paint their homes, to plaster their homes, to do basic carpentry. We’ve run all those workshops, and we’ll continue to do that. We’re supporting them through financial, family and personal crises, and we’re pointing them where we can to other support organisations to get the help they need. We provide a way for dozens of people to contribute to our community.’
Amendments fail
In the ensuing debate, a series of amendments from Crs Phil Meehan, Simon Chate and Jeff Johnson sought to find a middle ground between staff suggestions and WardellCORE’s stated ongoing needs, but these were all blocked by other councillors.
A suggestion to delay the decision until the next council was elected was also opposed by majority vote.
In the end, Ballina Council’s original staff suggestions were adopted, meaning WardellCORE’s future activities will be constrained as a result, to the great disappointment of those present in the public gallery and those councillors who had fought for WardellCORE’s side of the argument.
Local government elections will be held on Saturday, September 14.
More stories about Ballina Shire Council:
Ballina Shire Council is encouraging motorists to drive safely over the coming days with king tides leading to minor flooding of some local roads. At its last meeting, as part of a long discussion about amendments to Ballina Council's delivery program and operational plan, there was a debate about whether Ballina Richmond Rotary Club should still be paid $8,000 to set up chairs for the RSL Lighthouse Day Club. Twelve Northern Rivers residents are celebrating the completion of a groundbreaking program designed to build essential skills and unlock employment pathways for women in civil construction. 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. Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has approved Ballina Shire Council's application to increase its general income through a permanent special variation (SV) of 26.25% [in rates] over four years, from 2026-27 to 2029-30.
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