Finance and Facilities Committee - 6 Jul 2026

Topics

• Ballina grants round approved for 2026/27 community groups
  Council has signed off on its annual donations package for local community groups, setting up funding for the next financial year.
  Community organisations rely on this funding for local programs, services and volunteer activity.
• Volunteer Marine Rescue NSW funding delayed pending fresh report
  Council has held back funding for Volunteer Marine Rescue NSW until a further report comes back, leaving the allocation unresolved for now.
  Marine rescue operations are important for coastal safety and the delay may affect planning and budgets.
• Ballina industrial site 26 Endeavour Close heads to public auction after EOI rejected
  Council has rejected expression of interest responses for the Ballina industrial site and decided to sell it by public auction instead.
  The sale path could shape future industrial land supply, redevelopment interest and local business opportunities.

Decisions

• 2026/27 community grants approved
  Council approved the Donations – Financial Assistance for Community Groups for 2026/27 in line with the recommended amounts in Table 1 under section 356 of the Local Government Act 1993.
  Community groups across the shire will receive funding support for the 2026/27 year.
• Volunteer Marine Rescue NSW funding held over
  The allocation for Volunteer Marine Rescue NSW was made subject to a further report to Council before any funding is provided.
  A key marine rescue funding decision was deferred, so final support is not yet locked in.
• 26 Endeavour Close expression of interest noted
  Council noted the background report on the expression of interest process for 26 Endeavour Close, Ballina.
  Residents and local businesses were informed that the site was under consideration for disposal through an EOI process.
• 26 Endeavour Close to be sold by public auction
  Council confirmed it would not accept the EOI responses because they lacked commercial value, approved sale of 26 Endeavour Close by public auction, authorised the General Manager to set a reserve price based on market conditions for industrial land, and allowed agency agreements with real estate agents at 1.50% plus GST commission.
  The industrial site is being moved to auction, which could affect future land use, local business interest and council asset management.

Discussion

• Community grants funding round
  The committee approved donations for community groups for 2026/27, with amounts to be paid as recommended.
  Local community organisations will want to know whether they are receiving support and how much.
• Volunteer Marine Rescue NSW funding pending further report
  The committee specifically held back the Volunteer Marine Rescue NSW allocation until another report comes back to Council.
  Marine rescue services and coastal residents may see a delay before funding is finalised.
• 26 Endeavour Close disposal process
  Council moved from an expression of interest approach to a public auction after determining the responses did not provide commercial value.
  This affects a Ballina industrial property and may influence local development and business activity.
• Auction campaign terms for 26 Endeavour Close
  The General Manager was authorised to set a reserve based on industrial land market conditions and to sign agency agreements with participating real estate agents at 1.50% plus GST.
  The sale process is now active and sets the commercial terms for agents and potential buyers.

Impacts

• Community groups will receive 2026/27 donations under Council's assistance program.
• Volunteer Marine Rescue NSW will not be funded yet until Council receives a further report.
• The future of 26 Endeavour Close, Ballina has shifted to public auction, which could affect local employment and industrial land supply.
• Council is seeking real estate agent participation in the auction campaign on a set commission rate.

Places

• Ballina Shire (local government area)
  Council area covered by the meeting decisions.
• Ballina (town/suburb)
  Location of 26 Endeavour Close and the main asset sale decision.
• 26 Endeavour Close (property/site)
  Industrial site approved for sale by public auction.

Next

• Bring a further report on the Volunteer Marine Rescue NSW allocation to Council
  Before funding is released
• Prepare and run a public auction campaign for 26 Endeavour Close, Ballina
  Following the meeting
• Set a reserve price for 26 Endeavour Close based on prevailing industrial land market conditions
  Before auction
• Execute agency agreements and sale documents if required
  During the sale process

Extract

MINUTES OF THE FINANCE AND FACILITIES COMMITTEE MEETING` OF THE BALLINA SHIRE COUNCIL HELD IN THE ROUS COUNTY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 57 GALLANS ROAD, BALLINA ON 6/07/26 AT 4:00 PM Ballina Shire Council Finance and Facilities Committee Meeting Minutes 06/07/26 of 4 Attendance Crs Sharon Cadwallader (Mayor - in the chair), Michelle Bailey, Simon Kinny, Damian Loone, Therese Crollick, Erin Karsten and Kiri Dicker. Paul Hickey (General Manager), Troy Anderson (Director - Civil Services Division), Matthew Wood (Director - Planning and Environmental Health Division), Tracy Lister (Acting Director - Corporate and Community Division) and Nikki Glassop (Executive Assistant - General Manager and Mayor) wer...