Wardell is preparing for a showdown with the NSW Government over the loss of its much-loved sporting and recreation club — and the fight to secure a new social hub for the flood-hit community.

The Wardell Sport and Recreation Club was requisitioned in the aftermath of the 2022 floods to make way for the temporary housing pod village. 

Residents were told the takeover would last no more than two years. 

Now, more than three years on, the Wardell Progress Association has learned the NSW Reconstruction Authority is looking to permanently repurpose the site to house residents from Cabbage Tree Island.

Mayor Sharon Cadwallader says that’s unacceptable.

“I was at the Wardell Progress Association meeting when residents raised their fears of losing not just their clubhouse but also their sporting fields. 

‘They’d been told this would be temporary, and now the goalposts have shifted.

“You can’t just take something from a community and give nothing back,” she said.

A Town Without a Pub or Club

The closure of the Wardell pub has left locals without any regular meeting place.

Aside from occasional “pop-up pub” events run by the Progress Association at the community hall, there is nowhere in the village for people to gather socially over a drink.

“Social connection is vitally important for mental health,” Cr Cadwallader said.

 “Without a club, a pub, or a proper recreation space, Wardell has lost a vital outlet. 

“People need somewhere to go at the end of the week, to meet their neighbours, play a game of darts or cards, and share a beer.”

Built by Volunteers, Taken by Government

The Wardell Recreation Club was not just another building. It was established in the mid-1980s by townspeople who literally built the grounds with their own hands. 

Cane farmers and earthmovers cleared the land, volunteers laid out cricket and football fields, and families cooked barbecues to fuel the effort.

More than 120 residents chipped in $100 each to raise funds, and one local family even mortgaged their home to finish the clubhouse.

Over the decades, the venue became the beating heart of the town, hosting cricket, rugby league, netball, tennis, golf, and countless community events.

Now, residents say all of that has been stripped away.

Mayor’s Call to Action

Cr Cadwallader says she will take the issue to the next Ballina Shire Council meeting, pushing for the state government to identify land and fund a new facility.

“Yes, we are in a housing crisis, and yes, the pod village has served an important purpose.

“But if the government intends to keep the site, then they must deliver a new clubhouse and sporting space for Wardell. Anything less is unjust.”

She says the situation reflects a broader frustration in smaller towns.

 “Wardell has carried a heavy burden from the floods, yet it feels like the community is always last in line for support.

“Council has invested a lot in Wardell over the past few years and now is the time for state government agencies to work together and give back what was promised.”