The agenda for Thursday’s meeting includes six notices of motion from four councillors, with issues including missing persons, volunteer recognition, and arts funding.
Cr Damian Loone will ask Ballina Council to install or adapt, a bench seat for the Green Seat Project. This project was started by Sally Leydon, whose mother disappeared from the Northern Rivers area nearly 28 years ago.
The seats carry the words ‘The Missing Matter’ and a QR code linking to information about local missing persons cases.
Clarence Valley, Port Stephens, Rockhampton, Enfield and Perth councils already back the Green Seat project.
The motion lists three long-term missing persons cases in Ballina Shire, and notes that the Rotary Club of Ballina-on-Richmond has already pledged $1,000 towards the cost.
Regarding the Northern Rivers Volunteer Awards, Cr Kiri Dicker’s motion seeks to recognise Joel Orchard as 2026 Northern Rivers Volunteer of the Year, and the Dementia Inclusive Ballina Alliance as Volunteer Team of the Year.
Another motion from Cr Dicker asks staff to report on the cost and constraints of installing turf at Pop Denison Park so the Ballina Croquet Club can use it informally, having lost their previous location to Cherry Street Sports Club. This is a request for a report, not a funding decision.
Arts Northern Rivers
Cr Dicker is also proposing that Ballina Council rejoin Arts Northern Rivers (which Ballina left in 2021), at an estimated cost of $20,000 a year. This would potentially come from small trims to nine budget lines, the largest being $6,000 from the Biodiversity Strategy and $5,000 from Cultural and Heritage Programs.
Cr Dicker’s case is that Ballina is now the only Northern Rivers council outside the organisation, and that local creatives have to pay to be listed in its regional directory.
She cites 741 creative-sector workers and 281 creative businesses in the shire, and points to state cuts to Create NSW and regional arts funding.
Tweed Council rejoined recently at $25,000 a year.
Ballina Council staff appear to be lukewarm on the idea. They point out that the 2021 exit followed a finding of ‘extremely limited’ return on $226,000 invested over ten years, and that ANR-led projects had favoured other areas, especially Lismore.
Since leaving, about $120,000 has been redirected into the Northern Rivers Community Gallery and Ignite Studios. Staff say the outcomes include more than 120 exhibitions and over 850 artists supported. They also warn the fee will probably exceed $20,000, and suggest getting a report on funding options before deciding.
A motion from Cr Therese Crollick asks Ballina Council to write to state and federal ministers backing the Local Community Services Association campaign for core operational funding for NSW neighbourhood centres.
Cr Crollick says NSW provides program money but nothing for basic staffing and running costs. It highlights Wardell CORE, formed after the 2022 floods and now the shire’s only neighbourhood centre.
The LCSA wants commitments before the March 2027 state election, including $19.9 million a year in core funding.
Finally, Cr Erin Karsten seeks in-principle support to explore a Council-sponsored Ballina Music Festival using a ‘distributed’ model. Instead of one big site, existing hotels, pubs, riverfront spaces and the Missingham Park amphitheatre could potentially host events.
Cr Karsten presents this as an opportunity for the region after the collapse of Bluesfest and Splendour in the Grass. She also asks that the December report on 2027/28 events funding look at applying to Sound NSW before its 9 November deadline (grants of up to $100,000), explore Council seed funding, and examine where that seed money could come from.
Ballina’s Thursday meeting begins at 9am, and will also be livestreamed.
More stories about Ballina Shire Council:
Ballina Shire Council says it now has three new overland flood studies on public exhibition for community feedback. The studies cover Alstonville, Wardell and Lennox Head. 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.
Overland flood studies open for community feedback
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
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