Ballina Council’s October meeting opened with Mayor Sharon Cadwallader acknowledging the attack on Dr Helen Haynes and calling for respectful public service. She said, ‘Democracy depends on people being able to participate freely, respectfully, and without fear’.
There were emotional deputations from Sally Leydon and Monique Cordery, relatives of two missing people with Ballina connections, requesting local support for The Missing Matter: the Green Seat Project.
Ms Leydon’s mother was Marion Barter, who disappeared in 1997, while Ms Cordery’s sister is Stephanie Cordery, who was last seen on River Street Ballina in August 2026. Her car was later found near Mount Nardi.
As she said, ‘A Green Seat won’t bring Stephanie home or necessarily give us the answers we’re desperately searching for, but it will give us somewhere to sit, to remember, and to feel that our community hasn’t forgotten her.
‘I hope it can also offer comfort and connection to others in our community who are missing someone they love, because the missing matter.’
Councillors later voted unanimously to support the installation of a suitable bench seat for the Green Seat project, noting that the Rotary Club of Ballina-on-Richmond have also said they will contribute $1,000 towards the cost.
Cr Damian Loone described it as ‘a stepping stone to raise awareness’.
Child care at Wollongbar
Council debated whether the Learning Cottage’s 20-place preschool room in Wollongbar could continue operating permanently. Supporters pointed to the need for childcare places, the centre’s operating history without reported traffic incidents, and an independent traffic engineer’s view that the staff car park and driveway could meet the relevant standard.
Opponents focused on driveway safety, consistency in applying planning standards, and the risk of making a temporary arrangement permanent.
Ballina Council ultimately allow the centre to continue, subject to conditions, with Crs Ramsey and Meehan voting against.
Ballina Music Festival
Local Chamber of Commerce representative Andy Vidler urged council to help ‘restore Ballina’s reputation as a vibrant, musical town… With the recent collapse of major regional fixtures like Bluesfest and Splendour in the Grass in our region, a massive economic void has been left’.
In reaction to a motion from Cr Erin Karsten, Council unanimously supported the idea of a Ballina Music Festival and an accompanying grant application in early November, endorsing a business-led committee to develop the proposal.
Councillors discussed starting small, using multiple venues, and ensuring future council support or funding follows established processes.
Regarding commercial activities on public land, councillors debated whether nature-based playgroups and swimming lessons should be considered potentially licensable activities. Concerns about open-water safety led to an amendment removing swimming lessons.
Council then unanimously adopted the motion, including public consultation and a further report on nature-based playgroups.
A proposal for parallel parking near Alstonville Pool and the Edge Gym, plus additional parking on the pool’s eastern side, was amended to be considered for future delivery programs.
Fees for camping at Flat Rock were raised slightly, with the latest fees and charges (beginning February 2027) to go on public exhibition.
Following the ongoing fallout from Cherry Street’s decision to exclude some long term croquet players who were unwilling to join that club, Council also requested a report on options for improving the croquet area at Pop Denison Park. Discussion covered costs, turf and drainage, fencing, ongoing maintenance and the park’s master plan.
After going over Ballina’s Council’s investments and financial statements, auditors said they viewed Ballina favourably compared with peer councils.
Arts Northern Rivers
A major debate concerned Kiri Dicker’s motion for Ballina to rejoin Arts Northern Rivers, with the annual contribution estimated at $20,000–$25,000.
Supporters said membership could give local creatives access to a broader network, including professional development, mentoring, grant-writing help, exhibitions, collaborations and promotion beyond the shire.
Cr Simon Chate said Ballina’s current listing on the organisation’s creative directory showed ‘No results found’, giving an impression of a moribund local arts scene.
Cr Dicker argued that support for Arts Northern Rivers could complement – not replace – existing support for Ballina’s Northern Rivers Community Gallery and Ignite Studios. She said it was unreasonable to expect arts organisations to show a direct and immediate financial return, saying that standard is often applied to the arts in a way it isn’t to other regional collaborations.
Value for money?
Cr Dicker described Ballina’s potential contribution to Arts Northern Rivers as amounting to about $1 per ratepayer per year, saying Council could participate in regional collaboration without reducing its own local arts support.
Cr Chate said circumstances may have changed since the decision to withdraw from the regional umbrella arts group, pointing to Arts Northern Rivers’ new CEO, recent research on the sector’s local contribution, and supportive messages from local creatives.
‘I’ve heard directly from a number of artists over the last few years and seen at least 60 signatures on the petition… the overwhelming call within our community of artists is for us to rejoin Arts Northern Rivers. We need to ask ourselves whether our decision to withdraw from the organisation has created unnecessary barriers for our own creative community.
‘We spend this sort of money every day in various other projects that benefit our community. Circumstances change, organisations evolve. Decisions made five years ago are worth revisiting in the light of new information. For me, the question is how we can strengthen the opportunities.’
Opponents to the Arts NR motion suggested direct local investment in the arts was more effective. Cr Phil Meehan argued that Council’s previous decision to withdraw was based on the limited visible benefit to Ballina, not a belief that the arts lacked value. He cited local investment in the Gallery and Ignite Studios, which he said had supported exhibitions, artists and programs.
Meehan and others objected to cutting existing community, seniors’, cultural or street-tree programs, and argued any new contribution should be considered through the normal budget process, with the exact cost and benefits of rejoining Arts Northern Rivers still uncertain.
Progress of the original motion was blocked by majority vote, with only Greens councillors in support.
After an amendment from Cr Sharon Cadwallader to request a copy of the Create NSW Service Agreement with Arts Northern Rivers was passed, Cr Dicker described it as an inappropriate and disrespectful attempt to scrutinise Arts Northern Rivers’ funding arrangements.
The mayor responded that the aim was to establish how local artists could be better supported, not to undermine Arts Northern Rivers. She said any future contribution to the umbrella organisation would be considered through Council’s regular budget process, rather than by cutting existing programs.
Congratulations, community funding and confidential matters
A motion from Crs Kiri Dicker and Erin Karsten to congratulate Ballina Shire residents and organisations for their achievements at the 2026 Northern Rivers Volunteer Awards passed unanimously.
Joel Orchard of Wardell CORE was recently named the 2026 Northern Rivers Volunteer of the Year, with the Dementia Inclusive Alliance being recognised as Volunteer Team of the Year.
Council unanimously supported writing to state and federal ministers in support of core operational funding for NSW neighborhood and community centers. Councillors highlighted the services these centers provide and the pressures they face.
In confidential session, Council approved an amendment to the mobile-vending policy for a fixed vending location at Lennox Point car park.
It also gave in-principle support to further negotiations about Tuckombil Quarry, requested a further report on lease terms and indicative sale value, and authorised an independent valuation. Council’s stated preference was not to sell the quarry.
More stories about Ballina Shire Council:
Ballina Council's October meeting opened with Mayor Sharon Cadwallader acknowledging the attack on Dr Helen Haynes and calling for respectful public service. She said, 'Democracy depends on people being able to participate freely, respectfully, and without fear'. The agenda for Thursday's meeting includes six notices of motion from four councillors, with issues including missing persons, volunteer recognition, and arts funding. Construction on a $4.35 million flood-resilience upgrade of Ross Lane at Lennox Head is due to begin today, ahead of a nine-week closure of the busy road later this month. With Ballina Shire Council General Manager Paul Hickey deciding to retire after almost twenty years in the role, and even longer as a staff member, the task of finding a replacement has begun. Cr Damien Loone was also returned as Deputy Mayor after Cr Simon Chate withdrew his nomination. September's meeting opened with a minute's silence for much-loved community member and Lennox Head restaurant owner Blake Rogers, who lost his life last week.Ballina debates regional arts funding, missing people and live music
Big meeting for Ballina Council this week
Ross Lane flood-resilience works begin ahead of nine-week closure
Ballina Council will be getting a new general manager
Ballina debates dog parks and net zero
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