More than 70 concerned locals gathered at Ballina’s Cawarra Park on Sunday to protest council plans that could see part of the popular public reserve developed into a croquet complex.
The protest follows Ballina Shire Council’s decision at its May meeting to revisit the park’s masterplan after renewed lobbying by the Ballina Croquet Club.
The move has alarmed nearby residents and current park users – including the Ballina Sharks Baseball Club -who fear losing access to one of the few remaining open green spaces in the area.
“This is about protecting a multi-use public park that already serves many different groups,” said Rae Smith, one of the organisers of the ‘Day in the Park’ event.
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“The community went through consultation, and the masterplan was finalised and adopted in November 2023. To have it suddenly reopened feels like an ambush.”
Concerns Over Access, Flooding, and Facilities
Baseball club president Dave Bolton emphasized the long and proud history of the Sharks at Cawarra Park and affirmed that the current field suits their needs.
“It’s not competition-grade for top-tier divisions, but it’s perfect for the level we play,” he said.
“This field has served the club and community well for decades. There’s over 50 years of history here.”
Bolton expressed frustration that the debate keeps resurfacing.
“We’ve fought this fight three times and won, but it just keeps coming back. It’s like some people can’t accept the umpire’s decision.”
He also rejects claims the baseball club does not fully utilise the park.
“We’ve had limited play recently due to heavy rain and flooding, which has stalled the season. But that’s because the grounds are at sea level with poor drainage, not because we don’t use the park. The field is more than adequate for the grade we play.”
One of the main concerns for protesters is the proposed croquet facility’s requirement for substantial landfill to raise the playing surface. Residents worry this could worsen existing drainage and flood issues.
“Our end of Cawarra Street already gets hammered,” said a local resident. “The road is crumbling, and stormwater combined with king tides flood the cul-de-sac. Adding more fill and hard surfaces will only increase the risk.”
Access is another major issue. Rae Smith and co-organiser Deborah Seib argued that fencing off part of the park for croquet would create an exclusive facility instead of maintaining shared open space.
“It might still look like green space, but it won’t be accessible green space,” Smith said. “It becomes something only a few people can use, and that’s not what public space should be.”
Seib added, “The demographics here have changed. There are many more young families, especially in the nearby units. Kids come here to kick a ball around because they have nowhere else to play. They can’t do that on a balcony.”
Another flashpoint is the council’s informal suggestion to demolish the public toilets at the boat ramp and instead open the baseball club’s toilets 24/7 to the public.
“We were approached about opening our toilets around the clock,” Bolton said.
“That raises safety and amenity concerns for us and nearby residents. We weren’t properly consulted, and our facilities aren’t designed for that use.”
A Question of Process and Trust
Residents also criticised the council’s handling of the issue, saying it undermines trust in community consultation.
“We went through a proper process with public input, meetings, and planning,” said Seib.
“Now it’s all back on the table because one group wants their own exclusive space.”
Council documents indicate the Ballina Croquet Club has 74 members, a figure critics argue does not justify taking away a large multifunctional area used by many more people.
Residents also challenged comments made during council debates suggesting the park could be sacrificed because nearby houses have large blocks.
“That’s simply not true,” said Seib. “Most of this area is zoned medium-density, with many units. The green space is needed more than ever.”
As the campaign to save Cawarra Park intensifies, organisers say they are committed to ensuring community voices are heard.
“This isn’t about being anti-croquet,” Smith said.
“It’s about making sure public land stays public, inclusive, and accessible to everyone.”
Main photo: Deb Seib, Rae Smith, and Dave Bolton stand united with local residents in strong opposition to the proposed changes at Cawarra Park.
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