community services · Ballina Shire Council
Ballina council rejects croquet land search after club access dispute
Ballina Shire Council lost both a push to write to Cherry Street Sports Club and an amendment to find alternative croquet land on Ballina Island, leaving the issue unresolved after a split vote.
Ballina Shire Council has rejected a bid to intervene in the dispute over Ballina Croquet Club’s access to the Cherry Street croquet lawns, with the motion lost on the Mayor’s casting vote at the extraordinary meeting on 13 April 2026 in Ballina.
Cr Kiri Dicker moved that council write to the manager and chair of Cherry Street Sports Club expressing disappointment at the club’s decision to terminate Ballina Croquet Club’s access, and urging reconsideration and long-term shared access. The motion was seconded by Cr Therese Crollick, but it was lost after a 4-4 split. Crs Therese Crollick, Eva Ramsey, Erin Karsten and Kiri Dicker voted for it, while Mayor Sharon Cadwallader, Crs Michelle Bailey, Simon Kinny and Damian Loone voted against it.
An amendment from Cr Erin Karsten, seconded by Cr Therese Crollick, sought to have council urgently identify an appropriate parcel of land to maintain community-based croquet on Ballina Island. That amendment was also lost. Crs Therese Crollick, Erin Karsten and Kiri Dicker supported it, while Mayor Cadwallader, Crs Michelle Bailey, Simon Kinny, Damian Loone and Eva Ramsey voted against it.
The meeting record also notes declarations of non-significant, non-pecuniary interests on the item. Crs Michelle Bailey, Simon Kinny, Damian Loone, Therese Crollick, Eva Ramsey, Erin Karsten and Kiri Dicker, along with general manager Paul Hickey and director Caroline Klose, said they were members of Cherry Street Sports Club and would remain in the meeting and vote.
Cr Bailey separately declared an interest because she is president of Business Lennox Head, which receives sponsorship from Cherry Street Sports Club. She also remained in the chamber and voted.
There were 28 people in the gallery when the item came up.
For Ballina Croquet Club members and residents watching the dispute, the council did not send the proposed letter and did not start any formal search for replacement land on Ballina Island. The club’s access to the Cherry Street lawns remained unresolved in the minutes.
The extraordinary meeting closed at 3.47pm. No council follow-up action was adopted on the croquet issue, and any further response would need a new motion, report or action outside council.
Reference minutes
Based on the Ballina Shire Council Extraordinary Council - 13 Apr 2026 minutes.
Key facts from the minutes
- The meeting was Ballina Shire Council’s extraordinary council meeting on 13 April 2026.
- Cr Kiri Dicker moved the main motion about Cherry Street Sports Club and Ballina Croquet Club, seconded by Cr Therese Crollick.
- The motion was lost on the Mayor’s casting vote after a 4-4 split.
- Cr Erin Karsten’s amendment to identify land on Ballina Island for community-based croquet was lost.
- Twenty-eight people were in the gallery.
- Councillors and some senior staff declared non-significant, non-pecuniary interests because they are members of Cherry Street Sports Club.
- Cr Michelle Bailey also declared an interest linked to Business Lennox Head sponsorship from Cherry Street Sports Club.
Why it matters
- Council did not back a formal response or a replacement-site search, so the future of community croquet access in Ballina remains unsettled.