THE Country Women's Association (CWA) of NSW is looking to sell its Potts Point, Sydney, head office.
The association's state executive has made the recommendation to its members as it has been advised the building requires replacement or upgrades to a cost of close to $1.7 million.
Long-term expenditure to improve the facility to a "medium standard" would cost close to $3 million.
Members were advised of the recommendation to sell the building in August 2013 and the motion has been placed on the 2014 State Conference agenda.
CWA NSW State president Tanya Cameron said while the head office and the residential club had been based at the Potts Point site for a long time and it would be sad to leave the site, the "heart and soul" of the CWA was the members - not bricks and mortar.
"The advocacy we do is not dependent on a building; it is based on passion, empathy, intelligence and a desire to achieve a better future for women, families and communities," she said.
"The recommendation to sell is based on sound judgement, significant research and extensive consultation with building and property experts."
The CWA of NSW property sub-committee has considered a number of alternative options and commissioned various reports and information to help them make their decision.
This has included a survey of all members, an assessment of the current condition of the building, a commercial assessment of the site and a site valuation.
If the CWA of NSW members vote to sell the building at the State Conference in May, the state executive will proceed to make alternate arrangements for member accommodation with an established accommodation provider.
The proposal is then to purchase a commercial building for head office operations with additional floors available to lease which would provide an income stream to support the CWA of NSW activities, Mrs Cameron said.
