Residents groups are circulating a petition calling for a halt to the state government’s Sunbury-out-of-Hume process.
The petition, organised by the Broadmeadows Progress Association (BPA) and Tullamarine Action Group, calls for a review of the process. It is aimed at Premier Denis Napthine.
BPA spokeswoman Sonja Rutherford said the petition cited increasing confusion because of a “lack of clear and accessible information” and “impossible timelines”.
“There are significant changes to the criteria on which residents voted in the Sunbury poll,” the petition says.
In a letter to the Weekly editor last week, the pro-split Sunbury Residents Association president Bernie O’Farrell said a key issue for his group was the inclusion of Melbourne airport in the new Sunbury municipality.
“We need to be ready to counteract the few who have not accepted the democratic wishes of the majority of Sunbury residents, ” the letter said.
But Ms Rutherford said including the airport in a new Sunbury shire did not have a mandate from residents and ratepayers.
“This is like a divorce where only one side is being heard,” she said. “We don’t want an unhappy parting, but they can’t take the family jewels.” She said the current consultation was “blatantly biased towards Sunbury residents”. “The consultation meetings allow for 12 hours, including day and night meeting times, in Sunbury and six hours during daytime-only in Diggers Rest, Tullamarine, Craigieburn and Broadmeadows,” Ms Rutherford said.
She said people who wanted to know more about the petition could phone 9309 6296.
Northern Victoria MLC Amanda Millar, who is overseeing the consultation, did not return requests for comment by deadline.
