Rates & spending · Ballina Shire Council
$800 hockey grant approved as Marine Rescue payment waits on BA21
Ballina Shire Council approved support for Jan Saul’s trip to Belgium and added an annual Rotary payment for Richmond Room operations, while holding a $4,250 Marine Rescue allocation until its jet boat is operational.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
Jan Saul has been approved for an $800 Ballina Shire Council donation towards travel to the 2026 World Masters Hockey competition in Belgium.
At the same meeting on 24 September, councillors approved an annual community donation to the Rotary Club of Ballina on Richmond for the weekly set-up and pack-down of the Richmond Room for the Ballina Lighthouse Day Club. The amount was not stated, but the resolution says it is to be set at the maximum allowed under Council’s Financial Assistance for Community Groups policy and formalised through a signed agreement, renewed within nine months of the start of each Council term.
Council also held a $4,250 donation allocation for Marine Rescue NSW for 2026/27. The allocation will remain on hold until the Ballina Jet Boat BA21 is operational. The minutes do not give a date for that condition to be met.
The broader not-for-profit groups resolution recorded support for continued discussions with the Girl Guides Association of NSW and the Ballina Shire Concert Band about improving use of Wigmore Hall.
All councillors present voted unanimously on the item. Cr Therese Crollick was absent. Mayor Sharon Cadwallader and Cr Erin Karsten had declared non-significant, non-pecuniary interests in the item, with their declarations stating they would remain in the room and vote.
What deserves a closer look
The confirmed $800 donation and the Rotary policy amendment were resolved, while the Marine Rescue allocation remains conditional on a future operational status that is not dated in the minutes.
The Rotary donation is to be set at the policy maximum, but the dollar value cannot be reported from the minutes.
Questions for follow-up reporting
What is the maximum dollar amount allowed under the Financial Assistance for Community Groups policy for the Rotary donation?
When is the Ballina Jet Boat BA21 expected to become operational?
When will the initial Rotary donation agreement be signed?
What happens next
Formalise the Rotary donation through a signed agreement, renewed within nine months of the start of each council term.
Hold the $4,250 Marine Rescue allocation for 2026/27 until the Ballina Jet Boat BA21 is operational.
Continue discussions with the Girl Guides Association of NSW and the Ballina Shire Concert Band about Wigmore Hall use.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
Council approved an $800 donation to Jan Saul towards travel to the 2026 World Masters Hockey competition in Belgium.
FOR VOTE - All Councillors voted unanimously. ABSENT. DID NOT VOTE - Cr Therese Crollick 9.5 Donations - Australian Representation 240926/12 RESOLVED (Cr Damian Loone/Cr Simon Chate) That Council approves the donation of $800 for Jan Saul towards travel expenses to compete at the 2026 World Masters Hockey held in Belgium as per Council's Donations – Australian Representation Policy.
Item 9.5, resolution 240926/12
Open original minutes ↗Council resolved to amend the Financial Assistance for Community Groups policy to include an annual donation to the Rotary Club of Ballina on Richmond for weekly Richmond Room set-up and pack-down for the Ballina Lighthouse Day Club. The donation is to be set at the policy maximum and formalised through a signed agreement, renewed within nine months of the start of each Council term.
MAYOR 9.6 Not for Profit Groups - Reviews 240926/13 RESOLVED (Cr Phil Meehan/Cr Erin Karsten) 1. That Council notes the contents of this report in respect to the use of the Wigmore Hall by the lessees and supports continuing discussions with the Girl Guides Association of NSW and the Ballina Shire Concert Band to optimise use of the Wigmore Hall. 2. The Council amend the Financial Assistance for Community Groups policy, to include an annual community donation to the Rotary Club of Ballina on Richmond, for the weekly set up and pack down of the Richmond Room for the Ballina Lighthouse Day Club. The annual donation is to be set at the maximum figure allowed in the policy. That Council also formalise this donation through a signed agreement, renewed, within nine months of the start of each Council term.
Item 9.6, resolution 240926/13, points 1–2
Open original minutes ↗Council supported continuing discussions with the Girl Guides Association of NSW and the Ballina Shire Concert Band about optimising use of Wigmore Hall.
MAYOR 9.6 Not for Profit Groups - Reviews 240926/13 RESOLVED (Cr Phil Meehan/Cr Erin Karsten) 1. That Council notes the contents of this report in respect to the use of the Wigmore Hall by the lessees and supports continuing discussions with the Girl Guides Association of NSW and the Ballina Shire Concert Band to optimise use of the Wigmore Hall.
Item 9.6, resolution 240926/13, point 1
Open original minutes ↗The recorded vote was unanimous, with Cr Therese Crollick absent and not voting.
FOR VOTE - All Councillors voted unanimously. ABSENT. DID NOT VOTE - Cr Therese Crollick 9.7 Club Lennox Sports - Lease 240926/14 RESOLVED (Cr Phil Meehan/Cr Simon Chate) 1. That Council grants a new five year lease of the King Street Lease Area (road reserve) to Ballina Bowling and Recreation Club Limited at a market rent for the first year of the term, and then subsequent annual CPI adjustments.
Voting record following item 9.6, before the item 9.7 heading
Open original minutes ↗Cr Sharon Cadwallader and Cr Erin Karsten declared non-significant, non-pecuniary interests in item 9.6, with their declarations stating they would remain in the room and vote.
MAYOR 5. Declarations of Interest and Reportable Political Donations • Cr Sharon Cadwallader - declared an interest in Item 9.6 Not for Profit Groups - Reviews (Nature of Interest: non-significant, non pecuniary). Cr Cadwallader's husband is a member of Rotary. Cr Cadwallader will remain in the room and vote on this item. • Cr Erin Karsten - declared an interest in Item 9.6 Not for Profit Groups - Reviews (Nature of Interest: non-significant, non pecuniary). Cr Karsten is friends with a member of the Ballina Shire Concert Band. Cr Karsten will remain in the room and vote on this item. • Cr Michelle Bailey - declared an interest in Item 10.1 Ballina Shire Strategic Road Network - Traffic Modelling to 2046 (Nature of Interest: non- significant, non pecuniary).
Declarations of Interest and Reportable Political Donations
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Reporting from the public minutes of Ballina Shire Council’s ordinary meeting held on 24 September 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- Council approved $800 for Jan Saul’s travel to the 2026 World Masters Hockey competition in Belgium.
- A $4,250 Marine Rescue NSW allocation for 2026/27 was held until the Ballina Jet Boat BA21 is operational.
- Council added an annual Rotary Club of Ballina on Richmond donation for Richmond Room set-up and pack-down.
- The Rotary donation is to be set at the maximum permitted under council policy, but the minutes do not state the amount.
- The not-for-profit groups resolution passed unanimously among councillors present; Cr Therese Crollick was absent.
Why it matters
- The resolution provides a confirmed $800 grant for a competitor and establishes a policy-based annual payment for community-facility operations, but leaves the Marine Rescue funding conditional on the Ballina Jet Boat BA21 becoming operational.