Extraordinary Council - 13 Apr 2026

Key decisions

• No action endorsed on Ballina Croquet Club access issue
  Council considered a notice of motion to write to Cherry Street Sports Club expressing disappointment at the decision to terminate Ballina Croquet Club’s access to the Cherry Street croquet lawns and urging reconsideration and long-term shared access. The motion was lost on the Mayor’s casting vote after an even split.
  Residents concerned about local sports access and community facility use should note that council did not formally intervene or adopt a position.
• Alternative land investigation proposal rejected
  An amendment proposing that Council urgently identify an appropriate parcel of land to maintain community-based croquet on Ballina Island was lost.
  No council-backed process was started to find a replacement site for community croquet on Ballina Island.

Important topics

• Loss of croquet lawn access at Cherry Street
  The meeting focused on the reported termination of Ballina Croquet Club’s access to the Cherry Street croquet lawns by Cherry Street Sports Club.
  This may affect local sporting participation, club operations, and access to recreation facilities in Ballina.
• Declared interests on the croquet item
  Multiple councillors and senior staff declared non-significant, non-pecuniary interests because they are members of Cherry Street Sports Club. One councillor also declared a sponsorship-related interest through Business Lennox Head. Those councillors remained in the meeting and voted.
  Residents may view these declarations as relevant context for transparency around the debate and vote.

Resident impacts

• No formal council letter will be sent to Cherry Street Sports Club as proposed in the failed motion.
• No urgent council search for alternative land for croquet on Ballina Island was approved.
• The immediate future of Ballina Croquet Club’s access to the Cherry Street lawns remains unresolved in this meeting record.

Places affected

• Cherry Street, Ballina (facility/location)
  Site of the croquet lawns and Cherry Street Sports Club central to the notice of motion.
• Ballina Island (locality)
  Mentioned in the failed amendment as the area where alternative land for community croquet might be identified.
• Lennox Head (town)
  Mentioned in a declared interest through Business Lennox Head sponsorship.

Next steps

• No council follow-up action was adopted on the croquet access issue at this meeting.
  As of the meeting on 13 Apr 2026
• Any further response on the matter would require a new motion, report, or external action by the clubs involved.
  Future meeting or separately outside council

Extracted minutes text

MINUTES OF THE EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF BALLINA SHIRE COUNCIL HELD IN THE BALLINA SHIRE COUNCIL CHAMBERS 40 CHERRY STREET BALLINA, ON 13/04/26 AT 3:15 PM of 2 of the Minutes of the Extraordinary Meeting of Ballina Shire Council – 13/04/26 ................................................. MAYOR Attendance Crs Sharon Cadwallader (Mayor - in the chair), Michelle Bailey, Simon Kinny, Damian Loone, Therese Crollick, Eva Ramsey, Erin Karsten and Kiri Dicker. Paul Hickey (General Manager), Troy Anderson (Director - Civil Services Division), Matthew Wood (Director - Planning and Environmental Health Division), Caroline Klose (Director - Corporate and Community Division) and Nikki Glassop (Executive...