Ballina Mayor Sharon Cadwallader will contest the state seat of Ballina as an independent, arguing that local ratepayers are carrying costs that should be met by the NSW government.
Announcing her candidacy outside Ballina District Hospital, Cr Cadwallader said the electorate needed a representative free to negotiate with whichever party formed government.
‘It’s time to change the game in Ballina and Byron shires. We’ve been sidelined for too long by the political parties, and we need an independent in Macquarie Street with one mission: securing our fair share of attention and funding,’ she said.
Her campaign will focus on health services, housing, roads, flood resilience, coastal protection, policing and restoring the Richmond River.
Cr Cadwallader singled out Ballina’s new $6.3 million SES headquarters as an example of governments shifting costs onto councils.
Ballina Shire Council contributed $4.2 million towards the facility, with the state government providing $2.1 million.
‘We were enormously proud to finally open our new, fit-for-purpose SES headquarters. But two-thirds of the cost was borne by Ballina ratepayers, while other new SES facilities received full State Government funding,’ she said.
‘That is unfair and unsustainable. Our communities should not continually have to pick up the bill for responsibilities that belong to the State Government.’
Cr Cadwallader said similar pressures were being felt in Byron Shire, where Council is consulting residents on a proposed compounded rate increase of approximately 35 per cent over three years.
She also called for an upgraded Ballina District Hospital, infrastructure supporting affordable housing and policing resources that reflected population growth and peak visitor numbers.
Her announcement included criticism of the Greens, who have held Ballina since 2015, and a pledge to assess legislation on its merits.
‘No single political party has a monopoly on good ideas. As an independent, I will assess every policy and piece of legislation on its merits and support what is best for our communities.’
Cr Cadwallader has served on Ballina Council since 2004 and became mayor in 2021.
The seat’s incumbent, Greens MP Tamara Smith, is not seeking re-election. Mandy Nolan will contest Ballina for the Greens, while Byron councillor Janet Swain is Labor’s candidate.
Cr Cadwallader said detailed policies would be released during the campaign.
The NSW election will be held on March 13, 2027.
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