The latest review of Sunbury’s planned secession from Hume is unnecessary and just goes over old ground, the town’s largest residents’ group claims.
Sunbury Residents Association president Bernie O’Farrell said pro-split supporters remained ‘‘somewhat suspicious’’ about the intent of the review and feared Labor was simply looking for a way to wind back last year’s gazetting of Sunbury as an independent city by the former Liberal government.
Mr O’Farrell said terms of reference handed to independent auditors by the state government were essentially the same as those for the previous local government panel, which recommended the separation.
‘‘There’s a couple of minor differences, but the substance of it is no different,’’ he said. ‘‘As far as we’re concerned, the entire thing is unnecessary.’’
As reported by Star Weekly, auditors Frank Vincent and John Watson have been given 12 months to investigate questions about the secession process.
The split has been delayed until July1 next year in order to address queries about costings and service delivery.
Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins said too many questions remained unanswered about the separation, which had been scheduled for July 1 this year.
Ms Hutchins has instructed Mr Vincent and Mr Watson to assess the financial implications for a new Sunbury city council and a restructured Hume ‘‘with and without cross-subsidy from Hume city council’’ and an appropriate method for division and distribution of assets and liabilities.
The auditors are due to report by August 31 after “broad” consultation.
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