Ballina Cr Kiri Dicker is bringing a number of motions to the next meeting of Ballina Council intended to address some of the effects of the cost of living crisis, particularly the growing number of rough sleepers.
Cr Dicker says the emergency housing shortage across the region has been exacerbated by the closure of the Wollongbar Pod Village and several crisis accommodation providers, leading to over 30 tent camps appearing around Ballina.
As she has noted, ‘Council is bound by the NSW State Government Protocol for homeless people in public places, which dictates how we are to interact with people who are sleeping rough in public places, including tents and cars.
‘In short, the protocol upholds the human rights of rough sleepers and prevents Council from destroying their belongings or “moving them on”.’
One of her motions is to offer an affordable, weekly off-peak rate for an unpowered site at Ballina Council’s Flat Rock Caravan Park.
‘Currently the Flat Rock Caravan Park charges a nightly rate of $45. Which amounts to about 80 per cent of an unemployment benefit each week.
‘By making accommodation at our Caravan Park more affordable, we can hopefully move some rough sleepers into a safe location with access to toilets and showers,’ she said.
‘Under legislation, people can only reside at a Tent Park for 150 days, which should be enough time for them to find more appropriate accommodation.’
Orange Sky
An additional motion from Cr Dicker seeks to provide a location for charity Orange Sky to offer a weekly laundry and hot shower service for rough sleepers.
‘I had the privilege of meeting this wonderful charity at the recent Community Connections Expo in Lennox Head,’ she said.
‘They have since contacted me to say that they are able to come to Ballina with a weekly service providing laundry and hot showers for people experiencing homelessness.
‘This motion directs staff to find them a suitable location with access to water and electricity and to promote to service to people sleeping in tents and cars.’
An additional motion seeks to establish a second disability accessible bathroom facility for Ballina Shire, with the federal government currently offering grants of 50 per cent to help cover the cost.
Cr Dicker’s Greens colleague on Ballina Council, Simon Chate, has also submitted a notice of motion asking staff to explore how swimming pools can be made accessible for large families, with current costs making it prohibitively expensive.
Ballina Shire Council’s first meeting of the year will be held tomorrow, and can be visited in person or watched online.
More stories about Ballina Shire Council:
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. Byron Greens members could expect to be asked to take the future of the Richmond River further south into account when choosing a candidate for next year’s state election. Local business owners in the Alstonville and Wollongbar townships are being encouraged to take the time to read through Ballina Shire Council’s draft plans, which are currently on exhibition.
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