Supporters of an independent Sunbury, who claim the town was torpedoed by a report that recommended against it splitting from Hume council, are testing the waters for a new political party.
Star Weekly understands discussions are ongoing between a number of prominent residents about forming a ‘Sunbury for Sunbury’ party to contest the next state election.
The Sunbury Residents Association also recently vowed to continue fighting for a Sunbury council, regardless of what Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins eventually decides.
Others, including Sunbury-based councillor Ann Potter, Broadmeadows Progress Association and the Sunbury Community Progress Association, have called for people to ‘‘move on’’.
Pro-split proponents believe the proposed party would easily secure the 500 members it needs to register.
Sunbury resident Trevor Dance, who stood for the Palmer United Party in the Senate last November, said a new party would have merit.
‘‘I think it’s getting to the stage where people are peeved with both sides of politics,’’ he said.
‘‘If there were to be an alternative for Sunbury to get what it’s been looking for for 20 years, you look at all options.’’
The auditors’ report – presented to Ms Hutchins on August 28 and released last month – said there were too many concerns a Sunbury council would be unviable.
The auditors said they believed previous financial advice prepared by three consultants supported their view that a Sunbury council was unlikely to be sustainable without significant financial assistance, higher rates or reduced services.
Critics have complained auditors Frank Vincent and John Watson were not given scope to assess the validity of figures relied upon in the previous reports, including unaudited data provided by Hume council to KPMG.
‘A spokeswoman for Ms Hutchins said attempts to discredit the approach taken by the auditors were ‘‘not in the best interests of the community’’.
“The KPMG report was analysed by both the panel established by the former Liberal government and the independent transition auditors,’’ she said. ‘‘Neither disputed the figures found in the KPMG report
“The auditors’ report found that the KPMG, Deloitte and Blacher reports all agreed on one thing – a separated Sunbury council would result in higher rates or fewer services.”
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy has promised Sunbury would get its own council under a Liberal government.
Community action groups from Broadmeadows, Sunbury, Craigieburn and Tullamarine have been approached to sign a letter to the Premier, urging the government to accept the auditors’ recommendations.
Ms Hutchins has said she would carefully consider the auditors’ recommendations before making a final decision in ‘‘coming weeks’’.
