UPDATE: Independent auditors have been given 12 months to investigate questions about Sunbury’s secession from Hume.
But pro-split supporters believe the state government has ‘‘broken’’ a pre-election promise to allow the creation of an independent Sunbury, and they have doubts the city will come to exist.
The split has been delayed until July 1 next year in order to address queries about costings and service delivery.
Speaking in Sunbury on Friday morning, Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins said too many questions remained unanswered about the separation, which had been scheduled for July 1 this year.
The decision comes after Hume chief executive Domenic Isola wrote to Ms Hutchins outlining the council’s fears about potential disruption to staff and implications for ratepayers.
Ms Hutchins said the previous government, which gazetted orders for an independent Sunbury last October before it entered caretaker mode, had ‘‘rushed’’ the process.
‘‘I’m not confident in some of the answers I’ve been given around who would actually be collecting rubbish, who would be taking phone calls, who would be mowing lawns as of the first of July,’’ Ms Hutchins said.
‘‘I’m taking this step … to ensure we have all those systems in place in 12 months’ time so we can progress successfully rather than setting up a new Sunbury council doomed to failure.’’
Terms of reference for the auditors will be announced soon.
Brimbank council chairman John Watson and former Supreme Court judge Frank Vincent QC have been appointed. They are expected to report back to Ms Hutchins by the end of this year to allow time for consultation.
Ms Hutchins did not rule out a compulsory vote on the secession, as proposed by the Australian Services Union, but she said she was not going to preempt the work of the auditors.
‘‘It’s possible they may come back with recommendations that the government will take a look at,’’ she said.
‘‘It’s about looking at what services are going to be delivered in both Sunbury and in Hume.’’
Mr Watson, who lives in Sunbury and was chief executive of the former Shire of Bulla, said the move represented a ‘‘fresh start’’.
Sunbury Residents Association president Bernie O’Farrell and Liberal upper house MP Bernie Finn said they had doubts that the split would go ahead.
‘‘I think the government is trying to worm out of it here,’’ Mr O’Farrell said.
Mr Isola said he would seek an urgent meeting with the auditors.
‘‘We have held serious concerns about the process undertaken by the previous government, including timeframes imposed, the process of asset distribution, the obligations and costs imposed on the community and the significant impact to staff,’’ he said.
He urged the government to treat the difficult process as a ‘‘significant priority’’.
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