Greens councillors have failed in a bid to reshape Ballina’s housing policy, losing two key votes — including a push to block future growth areas and a proposal to give away council land.

At Thursday’s April meeting of Ballina Shire Council, both proposals were rejected — with a casting vote from Mayor Sharon Cadwallader retaining key housing areas and a plan to gift land at Wollongbar defeated.

Casting vote keeps growth areas alive

Councillors were split over whether to remove three Strategic Urban Growth Areas (SUGAs):

• Precinct B, North Kinvara
• Precinct C, Cumbalum
• West Lennox Palms, Lennox Head

Greens councillor Kiri Dicker argued the sites alongside the M1 motorway would deliver poor outcomes.

“I don’t want them to have to have their windows closed all the time because of road noise,” she said.

“I don’t want them to have to get in the car every time they need to go to the shops.”

She warned continuing to identify the land for housing risked locking in poor planning outcomes.

“If this is the kind of housing we’re offering, I don’t think that’s a good outcome.”

Obstacles can be overcome

A council map showing (shaded in red) two of the three disputed growth areas, Precinct B, North Kinvara and Precinct C, Cumbalum

Main Image: Architect impressions of the low-cost worker housing council looked to develop at Wollongbar, before scrapping the plan.

Councillor Phil Meehan said the sites should not be ruled out.

“These areas have been identified for 30 years,” he said.

He said many of the constraints raised were manageable.

“We shouldn’t be ruling things out because of technical difficulties — we should be asking how those difficulties can be addressed.”

He also dismissed concerns about proximity to the M1, saying buyers would accept noise if it meant securing a home.

With councillors evenly split, the mayor cast the deciding vote to retain all three areas.

Part of the North Kinvara SUGA land, looking north from Glenross Drive. (Images: Ballina Shire Council)

‘I’m going down fighting’: land giveaway push rejected

The housing debate intensified over council-owned land at Wollongbar.

Council moved to sell residential lots after earlier plans for a “low cost worker housing project” were deemed unviable.

Cr Dicker proposed retaining one block to gift to a not-for-profit housing provider.

“I’m going to go down fighting on this one,” she said.

“It’s the very least we can do… so someone might actually one day receive the housing they need.”

The proposal was strongly opposed.

Deputy Mayor Damian Loone said housing delivery was not a council responsibility.

“State government responsibility for housing, not local government,” he said.

Councillor Meehan said council had already spent heavily exploring options.

“We’ve spent $750,000… to find a negative result,” he said.

“To now gift a block of land… we’re up to $1.3 million of public money.”

“Our duty here is to the residents and ratepayers… to make financially sound and viable decisions.”

Crollick breaks ranks

Councillor Therese Crollick did not support the Greens’ position — a notable shift from previous votes.

She pointed to strong community backlash in Wollongbar to the previous “affordable housing” plan and believed social housing would be a step too far.

“It’s one of the nastiest, most horrible meetings that I have ever attended in my life,” she said, referring to a public meeting called by residents in opposition three years ago.

The area has attracted families investing heavily in new homes, many paying around $700,000 just for a block of land.

Cr Crollick said she would not revisit that conflict.

“I just would not ever want to go down that track again.”

Council backs full sale

The proposal to retain and gift a block was defeated.

A follow-up attempt to involve the state government also failed.

Council then voted to proceed with the full sale of the Wollongbar lots.

Mayor: council must stay in its lane

Mayor Sharon Cadwallader said while the housing pressures were real, council could not take on responsibilities that sit with higher levels of government.

“State government responsibility for housing, not local government,” she said.

She warned that stepping into that space risked undermining council’s financial position and its ability to deliver core services.

“If we can’t sustain ourselves… then we can’t do the social stuff, we can’t do the community stuff.”

The mayor also pointed to competing priorities, including major community projects such as the Alstonville Cultural Centre construction which is reliant on land sales.

“Financial sustainability for this shire and doing what’s best for ratepayers is what we always need to have to have top of mind,” Cr Cadwallader said.”