Tensions have emerged between Sunbury residents in the lead-up to voting on whether Sunbury stays in Hume or creates its own shire.
Supporters of secession have been vocal in pressing their case, including holding a public meeting recently, while opponents are launching a campaign to keep Sunbury in Hume.
Exchanges between the groups in social media pages have become heated and one Sunbury community page has banned any mention of the topic.
Residents, including Kym Schubert and Raz Di Vito, said they weren’t against the secession move completely, but they couldn’t support it as proposed. They said residents were getting only one side of the story, which wasn’t all factual.
“People really want to know the real advantages of breaking away and not just what a few self-elected men want for their own good,” Ms Schubert said.
“The ‘yes’ group told people to wait for the [accounting firm] KPMG [financial] report [on secession] to come out, then as soon as it comes out it is dismissed as flawed as it doesn’t back their arguments.
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Mr Di Vito said: “There’s no clear plan for the community of Sunbury on why we should be voting yes.
“We acknowledge that the KPMG report is clear that a rate rise will occur.
“There will be plenty of debt and no real assets, just a rate rise to pay for it for years to come.
“Then there are other costs – garbage collection trucks, council infrastructure, wages, the list just goes on. There’s a lot of grey areas.”
All Hume residents can vote by post by October 25 on whether Sunbury forms its own shire or stays in the municipality.
