The Australian Services Union is circulating a petition calling for a compulsory referendum on whether Sunbury should separate from Hume.
The union, which represents council employees, claims Sunbury’s population would need to triple in order for a new municipality to be financially viable, and it warns residents could face substantial rate increases and cuts to services.
An ASU newsletter stated the union had met with the government and raised its concerns.
‘‘There is still time to stop the split,’’ the newsletter said.
‘‘We need to show the government that residents are opposed. We have started a petition to the Parliament and need to get as many signatures as possible.’’
But proponents of a stand-alone Sunbury, which is due to come into existence on July 1 this year, maintain the new council will have a growing rates base that would already be significantly larger than many other Victorian municipalities.
Hume council figures show that hundreds of millions of dollars in growth area infrastructure charges and developer contributions could be reaped from future developments in the Sunbury area.
Pro-split councillor Jack Ogilvie said if even 80 per cent of the 4000 or so hectares earmarked for precinct structure plans were developed for housing, Sunbury would benefit.
‘‘Now that goes to the state government, but a good percentage will go back to Sunbury,’’ he said.
‘‘People keep saying we will not have any money, but it just isn’t true.’’
Ogilvie, a serving Hume councillor, said the union’s claims that Sunbury residents faced massive rate rises and that the new council would try to save money by contracting out work for lower wages were not true.
‘‘Rates won’t rise by any more than five percent, the same as Hume,” Cr Ogilvie said.
‘‘This is about the people of Sunbury. They won’t get this chance again.’’
In September, the former state government accepted recommendations made by a panel it set up to create the new municipality.
But Hume council called for an urgent review of the secession project and has sought a meeting with Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins.
The meeting was due this month.
The council’s acting chief executive, Margarita Caddick, said the meeting would address the order-in-council by the former government and the implications for Hume council staff and its communities.
On Friday, an ASU spokesman said while signatures had not been counted, members were regularly requesting more copies of the A4 petition.
RELATED
Sunbury secession: Hume council reopens talks
Sunbury secession: ALP concerned over new council’s future
Sunbury secession: Casey Nunn dares Tim Bull to face Hume voters
Hume could mount legal challenge over $35m pay order
