The three-person panel appointed to oversee Sunbury’s secession from Hume has until next Monday to deliver its report.
Former local government minister Jeanette Powell appointed the panel in October last year to advise on the most effective way to separate the town from Hume.
Since then there has been no news from the government or the panel about how they will achieve the split without causing the unacceptable rate hikes predicted by accounting firm KPMG in its original financial analysis of the idea.
Instead, the community consultation, running in tandem with the panel’s work and headed by Upper House MP Amanda Millar, has been marred by complaints of sloppy processes and conclusions.
One major hiccup arose from comments by Ms Millar that she found “considerable” support for commissioners or administrators to replace all elected Hume councillors and oversee the transition of Sunbury out of Hume. She said she based her conclusions on verbal and written feedback.
But Ms Powell had earlier assured Hume councillors they would represent their constituents until the next council elections, to be held in 2016.
Just under 60 per cent of Hume ratepayers voted in a secession poll last year. Of those, less than 60 per cent voted for Sunbury to secede.
