Wardell festival to unveil new $1.7m space

THE Wardell River Festival will showcase a new $1.7 million community space later this month, with live music and activities to celebrate the river and village.

The festival will run from 1pm to 8pm on Saturday, July 26, with youth and main acts performing alongside food trucks, markets, arts and activities.

The new green space has been completed as part of the Wardell Village Centre Revitalisation project and will serve as the hub of the festival on Richmond Street.

The event is run by the Wardell CORE Neighbourhood Centre, with support from Ballina Shire Council, Sunshine Sugar and other local partners.

Ballina mayor Sharon Cadwallader said the festival would be a chance to celebrate the project and bring the community together.

“The upcoming Wardell River Festival will be a fitting way to celebrate this new space, a chance to honour the river’s significance and bring the community together through music, culture and connection.”

“This new space is a real milestone for Wardell. It’s about creating a place where people can come together, reconnect and celebrate their community.

“This revitalisation is not just about streetscape upgrades. It’s about investing in Wardell’s social and economic recovery, and building a stronger, more connected village for the future.”

The $1.7 million project included new paving, seating, landscaping, public art, lighting, and a stormwater upgrade on Sinclair Street.

Future plans include a boardwalk and footpath along the riverbank, with work expected to start late next year.