Ballina Shire Council debates new recreational space on farmland at Wardell

A northern NSW town hammered by last year’s floods is looking to turn farmland into a new park after a pod village popped up in its old recreational area. Here’s the latest.

Residents flee West Ballina after torrential rain causes flash flooding in 2022. Picture: Tessa Flemming.

A northern NSW town hammered by the 2022 floods is looking to turn farmland into a new park after its old recreational area turned into a space for emergency housing.

Mayor Sharon Cadwallader put forward a motion to create open space at Walsh Park, in East Wardell at Ballina Shire Council’s most recent meeting, sparking passionate debate.

Wardell was hammered by the floods and the small community is still rebuilding.

The town once had a recreational ground, but it has been replaced by a pod village for Cabbage Tree Island residents left homeless after the floods.

Cr Cadwallader’s proposal would see a stretch of what was once farmland, between River St and Blackwall Dr, transformed for the community to use.

The triangular plot of former farmland sits behind a row of homes in East Wardell.

Cr Cadwallader said when the proposed park was mentioned at a recent Wardell Progress Association meeting councillors who attended, “two warring parties”, came together and agreed “this is a great idea”.

“It’s something simple and easy for Wardell because obviously we don’t have an endless bucket of money … this is all about trying to bring the community together,” she said at Thursday’s meeting.

Pod villages like this one at Lismore popped up to help flood survivors after last year’s horrific natural disasters. Picture: Cath Piltz

Councillor Jeff Johnson said he thought it seemed “like a very grand idea” which had not been properly thought out.

“I’m not sure how having a grassy area … is going to rebuild the social fabric of the Wardell community,” he said.

Councillor Phil Meehan said he was concerned the proposal lacked detail, carried unknown costs and was not practical.

“(People) would have rocks in their head … to think by slashing (former farmland) it will become user-friendly,” he said.

Ballina Mayor Sharon Cadwallader.

Speaking after the meeting, Cr Cadwallader said she disappointed her proposal turned into such a contentious issue.

“It was disappointing to see the councillors so divided,” she said.

“The Wardell community is conflicted and we saw the council reflect that.”

However, after hours of debate the council eventually voted to support the motion unanimously, with the inclusion of possible space for a community garden.

The council has already committed to spending further money to help Wardell rebuild.

Some projects planned include rebuilding Wardell town centre, the town’s tennis courts, Fitzroy Park playground and the reconstruction of Raglan St.