Hume mayor Casey Nunn has challenged Local Government Minister Tim Bull to face the people of Hume in person.
She has called a public meeting at Broadmeadows next Monday to send a message of outrage to the government about using Hume rates to prop up a new Sunbury municipality and challenged Mr Bull to hear people’s reactions for himself.
Hume council has been ordered to transfer more than $35 million of the fees it receives from Melbourne Airport directly to the new Sunbury council – $3.5 million a year over the next 10 years – despite the airport remaining fully within the City of Hume.
“If 500 people turn up, we’ll go to the Premier; if only 50 show, we’ll know people don’t care,” Cr Nunn said.
Hume council has organised an interactive presentation, including boundary maps and financial comparisons, to show how the decision to separate Sunbury from Hume will affect them.
“The Victorian government has adopted a report that is heavily weighted towards supporting a new Sunbury council but will severely impact on Hume in the process,” Cr Nunn said.
“The panel’s terms of reference outlined that the creation of a new Sunbury council should not disadvantage Hume but the report does just that.
“It fails to consider how actions outlined would affect Hume council and its 151,000 residents, compared to 35,000 residents of the new breakaway council.
“Hume council has been quite clear in acknowledging and accepting the community vote for Sunbury to separate from Hume, but not at the expense of Hume residents.”
The community protest will take place at 7pm next Monday at Broadmeadows town hall.
For more information, visit www.hume.vic.gov.au/sunburyproject
