I am asking all Tamworth Regional Council Councillors to consider the following before they vote on the future of Ray Walsh House on Tuesday 16 June 2026;
- Will selling Ray Walsh House provide a quick fix and an end to this longstanding problem?
- Will selling Ray Walsh House spark new debate and community concern about the cost to build a new Council headquarters?
- How much will it cost the ratepayers to pay for a new Council headquarters if Ray Walsh House is sold?
- A loan for the new Council headquarters may cost ratepayers between $4M and $10M each year for 20 years. That’s a debt of between $80M and $200M ratepayers will need to pay off. Will ratepayers be happy with this huge debt?
- Will this huge debt restrict future Council’s ability to provide services?
- Will the cost of the new Council headquarters ultimately make a rate rise necessary to pay for this new building?
- Will the community remember for many years the Councillors who voted to sell Ray Walsh House and burden ratepayers and future Council’s with a huge debt?
Councillors please consider option 1 of the 4 options the Mayor displayed at the Council public meeting on the 14 May 2026 as option 1 allows; 1) Council to continue to own Ray Walsh House 2) allows future Councils the opportunity to plan to use Ray Walsh House as Council’s headquarters, 3) avoids ratepayers having to pay off a $100M PLUS debt.
Councillors please listen to the community you serve and vote to retain Ray Walsh House in Council ownership.
Got something on your mind? Go on then, engage. Submit your opinion piece, letter to the editor, or Quick Word now.