Sunbury’s secession from Hume has become bogged down, leaving residents confused as to whether the state government has left enough time to do the job properly.
With a deadline of end of April for its report to the local government minister, the names of those appointed to community consultation committee have not been announced, nor, as of last Friday, has the name of the new minister.
It is believed as many as 48 locals have nominated to be part of the community consultation committee, which outgoing Local Government Minister Jeanette Powell said would be made up of eight “passionate” locals.
Premier Denis Napthine said on Friday he would appoint new ministers to the portfolio areas in which incumbent MPs had announced their retirement. They include Mrs Powell, whose busy local government portfolio will require more than an overnight handover.
The Sunbury public consultation process is to be co-ordinated by Northern Victoria MP Amanda Millar, who took over the upper house seat vacated by Donna Petrovich last year.
A spokeswoman for Ms Millar said no decision had been made on the committee’s membership as of late last week.
The Weekly received the same response from the minister’s office.
