Confidence in the leadership of Tamworth Regional Council has been seriously undermined following the ongoing Ray Walsh House debacle and the handling of asbestos removal, remediation costs, and public communication over the past four years.
After last week’s public meeting, the Mayor publicly admitted they are caught between a “rock and a hard place” regarding the future of Ray Walsh House.
At the same time, evidence aired publicly has highlighted the enormous pressures currently surrounding Council administration.
Ratepayers have every right to ask why did Council completely gut all floors of Ray Walsh House knowing Council did not have the funds to complete the asbestos removal and the refurbishment of this building? Why did Council enter into a long term and costly lease at the Hub to house Council’s indoor staff when this money, some $15M at least, could have been used to remove the asbestos from Ray Walsh House?
This situation has become a costly and an embarrassing failure of leadership, governance, transparency and financial management. Many members of the community now believe the only way to restore public trust is for the current leadership to step aside and allow new leadership to move forward.
This is not personal; it is about responsibility to the community, accountability for public money and restoring confidence and reliability to local government decision-making.
The people of Tamworth deserve transparent answers, competent management and leadership that the community can have confidence in.
Enough is enough, this community urgently needs all Councillors to listen to the people they are representing and ensure immediate changes are made to ensure effective, competent and accountable Council leadership.
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