Cadwallader looks ahead as mayoral term reaches halfway mark

In part two of our Mayors of the Northern Rivers series, we sit down with Ballina Shire mayor Sharon Cadwallader as she reflects on a term shaped by floods and growth pressures, and looks ahead to the challenge of keeping infrastructure in step.

Ballina is growing faster than its hospital capacity, drainage systems and major infrastructure, and mayor Sharon Cadwallader says the second half of the current council term will be critical in determining how the region keeps pace.

Now more than 18 months into the term following the September 2024 local government elections, Cadwallader said council was under increasing pressure to secure land for a new hospital while progressing major projects to support population growth.

“The first thing I had to deal with as mayor were the floods. That was a huge challenge, I was really thrown in the deep end in that leadership role,” she said.

“But in all my experience throughout life, when the going gets tough, the tough get going, I seem to thrive during challenging times and our community did, too.”

Securing a suitable site for the Ballina hospital remains one of council’s defining priorities, with Cadwallader warning delays could limit future options.

“My concern is that if a site isn’t secured soon, there won’t be one suitable to build a new hospital,” she said.

“There’s so much we need there: We were promised beds in the emergency centre that were never resourced, there are no security guards despite incidents outside the emergency department, and staffing shortages.

“Supporting the hospital is a top priority for me, and I’ll keep championing the case for it.”

Cadwallader said balancing infrastructure investment with rapid growth continued to be one of the biggest challenges facing the shire.

“When you’re elected by your community, there’s a strong sense of responsibility not to let them down, and to work as hard as you possibly can,” she said.

“The biggest challenge is getting the infrastructure support we need to match the growth, and we know that isn’t happening.

“Construction costs are through the roof and the financial burden of all the things we want and need to do is significant.”

Among the major projects underway is a new emergency services command centre and SES headquarters, supported by a $4.5 million council contribution alongside $2.1 million from the state government.

Environmental concerns are also shaping council priorities, with ongoing efforts to improve the health of the Richmond River, currently rated D minus.

“Improving the Richmond River is a huge priority. It currently has a D minus rating, with black ooze on the riverbed, which is totally unacceptable,” she said.

“Areas like the Tuckean Swamp used to be a wildlife sanctuary and now it’s an international disaster. It’s critical we work with the state government to restore and protect the river for the future.”

Cadwallader also pointed to the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport as a key regional success story.

“Through careful commercial management rather than relying solely on ratepayer money, we’ve developed the airport into a cost effective, well used regional hub,” she said.

“It even attracts passengers from Coffs Harbour due to competitive flights. Plans are underway to introduce a direct flight to Adelaide, further enhancing connectivity for our residents.”

Council recently approved a special rate variation to help fund essential services including stormwater upgrades aimed at reducing flooding during king tides.

“With increasing heavy rainfall events, it’s essential we invest in drainage maintenance and upgrades to protect homes and businesses,” she said.

“The variation will help address this and ensure Ballina remains safe and resilient.”