Ballina’s mayor has taken concerns about suspected vehicles in the Richmond River directly to senior police, as the region prepares to receive new frontline officers.

Cr Sharon Cadwallader met with NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon in Sydney last Thursday night (main image), raising community concerns about cars believed to be lying on the riverbed.

She said the police chief was receptive and agreed to raise the matter with the Richmond Police District leadership.

The move follows Ballina News Daily reporting that multiple vehicles may be submerged in local waterways, with fishers reporting sonar detections.

Recent recoveries have intensified the issue, including a vehicle linked to Sue Connors and another pulled from the Richmond River during the investigation into Cicily Spiers.

Long-running cases such as that of Ellen Wilson — whose vehicle has never been found — continue to raise questions about whether waterways were adequately searched.

“If those vehicles are in the river, they should be investigated,” Cr Cadwallader said.

She said the issue was also environmental, pointing to debris still sitting in the river following the 2022 floods.

“Half of Lismore… is sitting on the bottom of the Richmond River,” she said.

More police recruits on the way

Deputy Mayor Damian Loone has welcomed the announcement that additional police resources were also on the way to the region.

The former detective told last week’s meeting of Ballina Shire Council that he’d attended a briefing with Richmond Police District leadership, where officers confirmed new recruits would soon be deployed.

“They’ll be getting 12 new probationary constables from the Goulburn Police Academy,” Cr Loone said.

“It’s not yet known how many will be stationed in Ballina.”

The recruits will be spread across the district, which includes Ballina, Lismore and Casino areas.

Union sources have previously told Ballina News Daily that actual frontline policing numbers covering Ballina Shire are comparable to 1980s levels, despite the population having roughly doubled.

Those sources say increasing demand, more complex policing tasks and rising administrative pressures have placed additional strain on existing officers, with some currently on stress leave.

Cr Cadwallader said any increase in police numbers would be a positive step for the community.

She said stronger resourcing would help deliver better policing outcomes across Ballina Shire.