Ballina mayoral, council candidates for 2021 local government election
There are five candidates for Ballina mayor and 22 candidates for nine councillor positions at the upcoming election. Here is who they are and what they stand for.
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Ballina Shire will be one of 124 councils holding elections on Saturday, December 4, for the election of councillors.
Ballina voters will also be electing a mayor.
There are five candidates for mayor and 22 candidates for nine councillor positions.
Here are this year’s candidates.
Note: All candidates were contacted for comment but not all responded.
Mayoral candidates
Keith Williams, Tintenbar, Labor
Mr Williams has been a Ballina councillor for nine years, is a former deputy mayor and for the past four years has been elected the chair of Rous County Council.
“I have the experience and ability to make sure our council is working for us, not the property developers,” Mr Williams said.
He said his priorities were no more rates rises, addressing the housing crisis, footpaths and pedestrian safety, job creation and building the Barlows Road extension to link West Ballina and North Ballina.
“Ballina is a wonderful place to live, I want to keep it that way,” Mr Williams said.
Jeff Johnson, Cumbalum, Independent
Elected to the council in 2008, he is a business graduate from Southern Cross University and has worked in management and small business.
He believes it is important that the council is proactive as well as reactive in responding to the economic, environmental, cultural and social needs of the shire.
Addressing climate change, expanding the cycleway network and cleaning up the Richmond River are some of the issues he believes are important.
Mr Johnson supports the principles of environmental sustainability, social justice, nonviolence and grassroots participation in government and intends to uphold these principles in his decision making.
Steve McCarthy, Ballina, Independent
Steve McCarthy says he wants progress on the Western Arterial Road and North Creek bridge, which he says are essential to solving the traffic problems around Ballina.
He is also passionate about water security and wants to ensure all the critical facts are presented before making important decisions.
He said he would continue to support volunteers, sports clubs, service clubs, veterans, fire-brigades, the arts community, surf clubs and boardriders while progressing community sport and healthy lifestyles.
He said he would also seek out a better balance between the built and natural environments to ensure the North Coast lifestyle was maintained.
Eoin Johnston, Rous Mill, Independent
Eoin Johnston said he was running for mayor having served as a C Ward representative on the council since 2016.
“I have been a shire resident for 45 years and my contribution to the community has been significant,” Mr Johnston said.
“ I hold five life memberships and I was honoured to be named Citizen of the Year in 2009.”
He said key items the incoming council needed to address included long term sustainability of water supply for town and country and keeping pace with vital infrastructure at Lennox Head and Wollongbar.
Sharon Cadwallader, East Ballina, Independent
Ms Cadwallader said it had been an honour and privilege to serve the community for almost 20 years and she was proud to be Deputy Mayor.
“My priority is to ensure Ballina continues to have steady, responsible leadership, while improving the services council provides to ratepayers,” Ms Cadwallader said.
“I’m keen to make sure we keep rate rises to the legislated minimum while delivering the essential services our growing community needs, working closely with state and federal governments on the big issues like the housing crisis and fixing our river.
“We need to safeguard our future water supply needs without derailing the planning processes to suit a few wealthy lobbyists.”
Councillors – Ward A
Rick Hyde, Keith Hall, Independent
Phil Meehan, East Ballina, Independent
Phil Meehan said his main priority as a councillor had always been to “put the people first”.
“During the next term of council, I will keep rates low and support initiatives to promote local business activity, services, health provision, our airport operations and tourism,” he said.
“Importantly, I will protect our natural environment and not support developments that threaten it.”
Lenkunyar Roberts, West Ballina, Independent
Ms Roberts is a fourth-generation direct descendant of the Nyangbul clan of the Bundjalung Nation.
“If elected, my focus would be to grow our community through infrastructure services and service delivery as well as growing business opportunities,” she said.
“A key focus will be showcasing our great community to create opportunities for tourism, housing and employment.”
Rod Bruem, Ballina, Independent
Mr Bruem said he would work to protect the region’s environment and heritage, especially the beaches.
He said he would continue to work to turn around the slow destruction of waterways.
Mr Bruem said he would support local businesses and promote Ballina as a retail shopping and service destination.
Simon Kinny, Lennox Head, Independent
Dr Simon Kinny said he was keen to support Sharon Cadwallader to become the new mayor.
He said he would push to reconstruct North Creek Bridge, 20 years after it was burnt down.
He said he wanted to floodproof Ross Lane at the earliest opportunity and duplicate the River St and Tamarind Drive bridge access to Ballina Island.
Steve McCarthy, Ballina, Independent: See mayoral list.
John Bout, Cumbalum, Independent
Col Riches, East Ballina, Labor
Jason Shrieves, East Ballina, The Greens
Mr Shrieves, a mechanical engineer, said he was running because the council was much more than just water, sewage, roads and bins.
“Council is essential for laying the foundation that our community can rely on to thrive,” Mr Shrieves said.
He said an active community was a healthy community and the more it participated in solving local issues, the better the outcome would be.
Kevin Loughrey, Keith Hall, Independent
Kevin Loughrey said his prime objective as a councillor would be to represent the interests of the residents in his ward.
He said he would focus on achieving maximum value for money spent, housing development so supply matched demand, plentiful high-quality, low-cost water and bushfire hazard reduction as well as road safety and maintenance.
Councillors – Ward B
Keith Williams, Tintenbar, Labor: See mayoral list.
Wendy Wishart, East Ballina, Independent
Sharon Cadwallader, East Ballina, Independent: See mayoral list.
Jeff Johnson, Cumbalum, Independent: See mayoral list.
Eva Ramsey, Lennox Head, Independent
Eva Ramsey said she would pursue the improvement of Ballina Shire’s social and economic infrastructure and preserve its lifestyle while welcoming people to its growing population.
“I will help investigate ways of relieving our traffic congestion problems, support the creation of more community events and keep our green spaces green,” Ms Ramsey said.
Leonie Price, Alstonville, Labor
Leonie Price said all future road development should consider not only motor vehicles but safe pathways and bike tracks.
“Of particular concern is the pace at which development is eroding the green belts around our villages, turning them into sprawling suburbia,” Ms Price said.
“We must ensure we don’t love the area to death.”
Kiri Dicker, Lennox Head, The Greens
Ms Dicker said she was running for council because the community needed diverse and progressive leaders who were committed to sustainable development, environmental protection and creating a thriving community for local families.
“As an elected councillor I will be committed to community consultation and engaging with you on council issues in a way that is meaningful and easy to understand,” Ms Dicker said.
Her academic qualifications include a Masters Degree in community development.
Councillors – Ward C
Simon Chate, Alstonville, The Greens
Mr Chate, who has lived in Alstonville with his family for more than 20 years, said he was running for council because he wanted to be a voice for the environment and to ensure the health of its diversity as the community grew.
“In council, I’d like to see more transparency around big decisions, tangible solutions towards addressing our housing affordability crisis and to see council act swiftly on mitigating the effects of climate change both within council and throughout Ballina shire,” he said.
Nigel Buchanan, Tucki Tucki, Independent
Nigel Buchanan said he was running to support Sharon Cadwallader for mayor.
“I think Sharon has proven that she can be trusted to deliver on her promises,” Mr Buchanan said.
“I will be supporting local farmers and business owners as they are at the heart of our economy and stopping industrial-scale water drilling destroying the plateau and impacting farms.”
Eoin Johnston, Rous Mill, Independent: See mayoral list.
Stephen Bocking, Alstonville, Independent
Stephen Bocking said he offered sensible and accountable management, not radical change.
“Our shire has been well run in the past and this position hasn’t come by chance,” Mr Bocking said.
“It comes through solid stewardship.
“In uncertain times we don’t need radical change, or big city agendas. We need solid, local management that listens.”
Therese Crollick, Alstonville, Independent
Therese Crollick said her priorities would be footpaths, cycleways, pedestrian safety and a review of traffic management.
She also said the maintenance of the Wollongbar-Alstonville green belt and ensuring any development was appropriately designed would be a priority.
She said any development should benefit the whole community.
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