Sunbury will remain a part of the City of Hume – at least for now – after the State Government accepted independent advice to abandon the controversial split.
Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins last Friday accepted the advice of the independent Transition Auditors appointed to examine the proposal.
“The Transition Auditors report clearly shows the proposed split would come at a significant financial cost to local residents,” she said.
“We supported Sunbury out of Hume in good faith. Faith that the previous Liberal government had done the work to ensure it was a fair outcome for local residents. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.”
‘A kick in the teeth’
But Opposition leader Matthew Guy slammed the decision calling it a “kick in the teeth for Sunbury” and pledged to establish the council if elected in 2018.
“I can’t say I’m surprised,” he said.
“It was less than 12 months ago that the Labor Government held hand to heart and promised that they would create the city of Sunbury. This is a total betrayal and a blatant lie to the residents of Sunbury.
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy
“One of the first acts of my government will be to establish the City of Sunbury.”
Ms Hutchins hit back saying the Liberals let down Sunbury and Hume by failing to do the necessary groundwork and sold them a proposal that would cost residents too much.
“Even now, Matthew Guy wants to cut local services and slug Sunbury residents with rate increases of up to 14 per cent.”
Former Supreme Court judge Frank Vincent and chair of Brimbank’s administrators, John Watson, found that the split should be scrapped due to the long-term and significant financial impact on Sunbury residents.
Auditors found that the move would increase council rates by 14 per cent, significantly reduce services and create an unviable, unsustainable council.
The Auditors also found that the previous Liberal Government’s process to split the councils was significantly flawed, based on a legally questionable 10 year transition period and an uncertain and potentially unenforceable share of the voluntary rates from Melbourne Airport.
Additionally, the Auditors found that the process had lacked adequate community consultation and had failed to explain the detrimental impact on local residents.
‘End of uncertainty’
Hume Mayor Adem Atmaca said the announcement ended more than three years of uncertainty and speculation and would allow the Council and community to plan for the future with greater clarity.
“Council was determined to achieve a fair outcome for Hume residents, regardless of which
town or suburb they called home,” Cr Atmaca said.
Hume chief executive Domenic Isola said the organisation would continue to maintain its focus and deliver important services and community projects to all areas of Hume.
“We will continue to plan and deliver projects that our community expects, and now we can do this with greater certainty,” he said.
Sunbury MP, Josh Bull, and Broadmeadows MP, Frank McGuire, both agreed that the decision was made in the best interests of residents.
Broadmeadows Progress Association associate secretary Sonja Rutherford said the group were pleased with the news.
“We’re glad that a decision has been reached and the issue can now be put to rest and stop diverting attention away from other important projects that need to addressed.”
Read the full report at at www.sunburyhumetransition.vic.gov.au
