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.
Cr Kiri Dicker said, ‘We never review this. It happens extraneous to any Council policy. It’s not discussed in a working party of any kind, because it’s not considered. It doesn’t happen through the community donations process. It just sort of sits separately…
‘When that Day Club started, there used to be a stage that had to be set up, with quite a lot of work involved. That stage is no longer set up,’ she said.
‘The Ballina RSL sub-branch is also applying for $5,000 of in-kind fees to use the Richmond Room, so it costs us $5,000 plus another $8,000 extraneous to any sort of policy.
‘It’s worth noting that the RSL sub-branch has a considerable amount of investments. I just checked on their charitable status, and they make every year $450,000 in interest for their investments…
‘Almost no community groups get a cash donation from Council, it’s almost always in-kind fees, and the fact that it’s never reviewed, I can’t continue to support that, for reasons of good governance,’ said Cr Dicker.
Handshake deal
‘It is literally a handshake deal,’ she said, before suggesting that the arrangement should be wrapped up after 2026.
Cr Phil Meehan spoke in support of Cr Dicker’s amendment, saying he had tried previously to implement a similar change.
‘I’ve been unhappy for a number of years with this concept of a donation that’s outside, with no policy around it. No other group has access to it…
‘Inherently, it’s not a good process, and I would say it’s not equitable process… if there’s a need to pay for chairs to be set up and somebody else doesn’t want to do that, then the group can quite simply or easily move to a suitable space in Ballina RSL club, which should be provided for free,’ he said.
‘In the past, there’s been an argument from representatives of that group. “Oh no, the poor older folk, they’ll get into the RSL Club and lose control and go and play the poker machines. We can’t allow them to be exposed.” That argument is a furphy, quite clearly,’ said Cr Meehan.
‘I believe Cr Dicker is actually being very kind here by saying this is the last year. If I was to move something, I would say we’re not doing it anymore, because we have to have a better process.’
In the end, the amendment narrowly passed.
Cr Simon Chate was not present for the June meeting.
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