Pro-split supporters believe the state government will have broken a promise if Sunbury is still part of Hume after July 1.
Sunbury Ratepayers Association president Bernie O’Farrell said Sunbury City Council was supposed to come into existence on that date and the community would feel let down if it didn’t.
Labor, which promised not to wind back the order gazetted by the former state government last October, launched a review of the secession process late last year.
As reported by Star Weekly online, Hume council last week raised significant concerns about the July 1 deadline.
Mr O’Farrell said people had been promised an independent Sunbury.
‘‘If it doesn’t happen, then as far as I’m concerned that is a broken promise,’’ he said.
With less than 110 days remaining until July1, Hume chief executive Domenic Isola last week wrote to Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins, again outlining the council’s fears about potential
disruption to staff and implications for ratepayers.
The council did not request an extension of the proposed start date as has been reported by other media outlets.
In the letter, Mr Isola said a range of operational and legal matters had to be resolved.
‘‘I do not believe this provides sufficient time to undertake this significant process in a respectful, open, transparent manner for ratepayers and council staff,’’ the letter said of the impending deadline.
Mr Isola told Star Weekly that Hume council had pressed the urgency of a decision at all meetings with Ms Hutchins in the past few months.
‘‘Council appreciates that the new government is not yet in a position to be clear on the full implications of the separation of Sunbury from Hume,’’ Mr Isola said.
A spokeswoman for Ms Hutchins said the minister was considering the letter.
‘‘Significant issues with transferring of staff and assets are still to be resolved,’’ the spokeswoman said.
‘We are not walking away from our commitment, but these issues do need to be properly resolved. We don’t want to see local residents disadvantaged or denied the services they need.’’
Sunbury-based councillor Jack Ogilvie said council, staff and the community deserved a definitive answer.
‘‘I think it’s [the letter] out of frustration at all this hold up,’’ Cr Ogilvie said.
‘‘It’s getting stupid – people need to know.’’
‘‘The people are expecting that to happen,’’ he said.
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