Hume council has added its voice to the great number of views expressed to the auditors reviewing plans for an independent Sunbury.
Councillors last week endorsed a submission, which confirmed Hume’s opposition to plans for a Melbourne Airport cross-subsidy, and staked its claim for a share of money received for the sale of land in Racecourse Road.
It also reiterated the council’s wish that there ‘‘be no disadvantage to the Hume community, staff, businesses and stakeholders’’, and called for greater clarity about the allocation of assets and liabilities if the separation is to proceed.
Submissions to transition auditors Frank Vincent and John Watson closed last Wednesday. A spokeswoman for the auditors said the council’s submission was among almost 100 received by the closing date.
The council’s submission said that while it had maintained a neutral position, the previous state government’s adoption of panel recommendations, and its subsequent creation of a new Sunbury council, left it no choice but to express concerns about the process and the impact of the split on the Hume community.
New auditors were appointed by the Labor government in March with a brief to review the separation after the former Liberal government gazetted papers to start a new Sunbury council on July 1 this year.
‘‘The order-in-council is written in a general sense and provides little direction and inappropriate recommendations,’’ the council’s submission said, referring to the timing of audits, staffing arrangements and airport payments. It also complained that preparation costs were not acknowledged, nor was the financial ramifications of changing administrative systems and licensing.
‘‘The panel also recommended that the airport rates in lieu are to be shared with Sunbury,” it said, questioning why one council was expected to fund and subsidise another.
The submission said more than $12 million from proceeds of the sale of land in Racecourse Road would be used at Sunbury in 2015-16.
‘‘Given this has occurred prior to the establishment of a new Sunbury council, the total amount allocated to Sunbury should be amended to reflect this [if the split proceeds].’’
The auditors, who last month held a public information evening at Sunbury, have promised to report and make recommendations to Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins by August 31.
The council urged the government to make a final decision as soon as possible.
‘‘For more than three-and-a-half years, council has operated in a period of speculation and uncertainty.
‘‘The Sunbury project has been divisive, and the delays have had impacts for our community and council staff.’’
