Housing & planning · Ballina Shire Council
Wollongbar’s 20-place child care centre cleared to continue at Smiths Lane
Ballina Shire Council approved DA 2026/279 by 8-2, allowing the centre at 1 Smiths Lane to operate alongside the approved centre at 3 Smiths Lane, subject to conditions.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
A 20-place child care centre at 1 Smiths Lane, Wollongbar, has been approved to continue operating alongside the approved centre next door at 3 Smiths Lane.
Ballina Shire Council approved amending development application DA 2026/279 by eight votes to two at its 22 October meeting. The resolution deletes conditions 3 and 4 and removes references to the consent’s temporary nature in conditions 5, 49, 52 and 55 of the earlier consent, subject to conditions in Attachment 8.
The application also modifies development consents DA 1997/59 and DA 2022/690. Councillors Sharon Cadwallader, Michelle Bailey, Simon Kinny, Damian Loone, Therese Crollick, Simon Chate, Erin Karsten and Kiri Dicker voted for the application. Eva Ramsey and Phil Meehan voted against it.
The minutes record three deputations on the application. Peta Zorzetto and Dean Brodie, managing director of Positive Traffic Pty Ltd, spoke against it, while Marilyn Perkins spoke in favour. The record identifies their positions but does not include the arguments they made.
The approval permits the continued child care use, but the detailed requirements in Attachment 8 are not reproduced in the minutes supplied for this report. Those conditions, rather than the vote alone, will determine the requirements attached to the centres at 1 and 3 Smiths Lane.
What deserves a closer look
The approval is conditional because the resolution applies the requirements in Attachment 8.
The minutes identify the deputations' positions but do not set out their arguments.
The main unresolved issue for affected residents is the content of the conditions in Attachment 8, which is not included in the supplied minutes.
Questions for follow-up reporting
What specific conditions in Attachment 8 apply to the continued use of the two centres?
What traffic, operating or site-management requirements are attached to the amended consent?
When do the amended consent and its conditions take effect?
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
Council approved DA 2026/279 to permit continued use of the 20-place child care centre at 1 Smiths Lane alongside the approved centre at 3 Smiths Lane, subject to conditions and consent modifications.
MAYOR 8. Planning and Environmental Health Division Reports 8.1 DA 2026/279 - 1 and 3 Smiths Lane, Wollongbar 221026/3 RESOLVED (Cr Simon Chate/Cr Simon Kinny) That Development Application 2026/279 for an amending development application relating to Development Consent DA 2022/690, seeking to delete conditions 3 and 4, remove references to the temporary nature of the consent within conditions 5, 49, 52 and 55 from DA 2022/690, and permit the continued use of the 20-place child care centre at 1 Smiths Lane, Wollongbar in conjunction with the existing approved child care centre at 3 Smiths Lane, Wollongbar be APPROVED subject to the application
Item 8.1, Resolution 221026/3
Open original minutes ↗The resolution deleted conditions 3 and 4, removed references to the temporary nature of the consent in conditions 5, 49, 52 and 55, and included modifications to DA 1997/59 and DA 2022/690.
of conditions as set out in Attachment 8, and the associated Section 4.17 modifications to Development Consents DA 1997/59 and DA 2022/690 as set out in Condition 1 and Schedules 1 and 2 of Attachment 8, and as described within Attachment 4.
Item 8.1, Resolution 221026/3
Open original minutes ↗The application was approved by eight votes to two, with Eva Ramsey and Phil Meehan voting against.
FOR VOTE - Cr Sharon Cadwallader, Cr Michelle Bailey, Cr Simon Kinny, Cr Damian Loone, Cr Therese Crollick, Cr Simon Chate, Cr Erin Karsten and Cr Kiri Dicker AGAINST VOTE - Cr Eva Ramsey and Cr Phil Meehan 11.1 Notice of Motion - The Missing Matter: The Green Seat Project 221026/4 RESOLVED (Cr Damian Loone/Cr Michelle Bailey) That Council: 1.
Item 8.1 vote
Open original minutes ↗Three deputations were recorded on the application, with two opposing and one supporting.
Cr Bailey is the President of Business Lennox and is the organiser of Love Lennox festival. Cr Bailey will remain in the room and vote on this item. 6. Deputations • Peta Zorzetto spoke in opposition to Item 8.1 DA 2026/279 - 1 and 3 Smiths Lane, Wollongbar • Dean Brodie, Managing Director - Positive Traffic Pty Ltd spoke in opposition to Item 8.1 DA 2026/279 - 1 and 3 Smiths Lane, Wollongbar (Online) • Marilyn Perkins spoke in favour of Item 8.1 DA 2026/279 - 1 and 3 Smiths Lane, Wollongbar • Sally Leydon, Founder - The Green Seat Project spoke in favour of Item 11.1 Notice of Motion - The Missing Matter: The Green Seat Project • Monique Cordery,
Item 6, Deputations
Open original minutes ↗Source record
This report is based on Ballina Shire Council’s public minutes for its ordinary meeting on 22 October 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- Council approved DA 2026/279 for continued use of the 20-place centre at 1 Smiths Lane with the approved centre at 3 Smiths Lane.
- The application passed 8-2, with councillors Eva Ramsey and Phil Meehan voting against it.
- The resolution removed the temporary-use references and specified conditions from the earlier consent, subject to conditions in Attachment 8.
- Three people addressed council on the application: two against and one in favour.
- The decision was made at Ballina Shire Council’s ordinary meeting on 22 October 2026.
Why it matters
- The approval allows the 20-place child care use at 1 Smiths Lane to continue, subject to conditions, and affects nearby residents and the operation of the adjoining centre at 3 Smiths Lane.