Sunbury split from Hume looks over as auditors pour cold water on plan

A PLAN for Sunbury to split from Hume — which attracted some high profile opponents including footballer Dane Swan — looks over. HAVE YOUR SAY IN OUR POLL

Collingwood footballer Dane Swan and model Andreja Pejic - who grew up in Broadmeadows - against the Sunbury de-amalgamation. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

SUNBURY’S wish to form its own council could be over with a recommendation made to scrap the split.

A report by independent transition auditors John Watson and Frank Vincent, who have reviewed the process since April, was released this afternoon recommending the State Government not go ahead with the secession.

The pair expressed concern about the financial viability of the new council, including higher rate rises, service reductions and delays in community infrastructure.

Staunch Sunbury-based Hume councillor Jack Medcraft slammed the recommendation, saying it was another “broken promise”.

Cr Medcraft, who has long advocated for the split to go ahead, said he wasn’t shocked by today’s announcement and that it was just the “same old again”, claiming Labor had been swayed by the opinions of the Australian Services Union.

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He claimed Sunbury residents had been conned.

“It’s a very disappointing day for Sunbury,” Cr Medcraft said.

“They can play with figures to suit their arguments.

“Democracy didn’t stand a chance.”

He argued the separation was never going to happen.

“How stupid do they think we are?” he said.

“They (government) are now going to bring in rate capping. How is it that rates are going to go up when you’ve got rate capping?”

But fellow Sunbury councillor Ann Potter welcomed the findings and hoped the State Government would adopt them.

“I agree with the conclusions the transitional auditors have come to - they are the same conclusions I came to 12 months ago,” she said.

Cr Potter said while the council separation could be achieved, she had never been convinced the process could be completed without a hike in rates or a significant drop in service provision.

“The impasse had hurt both Sunbury and the broader Hume communities”, she said.

“Council has been totally distracted by this.

“The council hasn’t been able to make decisions or employ people because of the uncertainly.”

Lance Futcher and Bernie O'Farrell (right) were vocal in 2001 about splitting from Hume.

Cr Potter said new employees to Hume Council had been confined to one year contracts which was reducing the attractiveness of working there.

“I hope now things like the planning of a Sunbury Global Learning Centre can go ahead now and not be delayed for more than a decade or more.”

Sunbury state Labor MP Josh Bull said he looked forward to Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins’ response to the report in the coming weeks.

“Since coming to government we have always wanted the best outcome for residents in both Sunbury and Hume,” Mr Bull said.

“The Liberals unfortunately did not share the same view and choose a reckless and careless approach.

“The issues raised by the auditors including a potential 14.2 per cent rate rise, a reduction in services and delays to community facilities will be of significant concern to local residents.”

It’s understood the auditors’ report indicated the terms of separation set out by the previous government were “inequitable, inappropriate and with legal uncertainties”, including annual rate rises of 14.2 per cent to maintain current services and delays beyond 10 years for the $10 million investment in the Sunbury Global Learning Centre.

People living in Sunbury haven’t given up the fight to secede from Hume.

Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins will now consider the recommendations.

“We want the best outcome for the residents of Sunbury and Hume,” she said.

“I want to thank all of the residents of Sunbury and Hume who have made submissions on the separation proposal and assure them that the views of the community are being taken into account.”

Sunbury Residents’ Association president Bernie O’Farrell said the transitional auditors’ report would have no disruption on the long running campaign for Sunbury to become its own municipality.

“Our group will meet in the next few days,” he said. “This issue will not go away.

“We will be assuming the government is set to adopt the recommendations of the auditors and that when the State Government is defeated at the next state election that separation will go ahead under a government led by (state opposition leader) Matthew Guy.”

Mr O’Farrell said the government had “wormed out” of an assurance made by then opposition Local Government spokesman Richard Wynne last year that separation would be supported post election.

“Mr Guy said the process put in place by the new government was a sham and I suspect that is an accurate summation of the situation.”

Officials were all smiles 12 months ago when it was announced Sunbury and Hume would split.

“Ignoring the move to separate is a complete betrayal of the people of Sunbury.”

Mr O’Farrell also questioned the independence of transitional auditor John Watson, a former chief executive of Hume Council.

Meanwhile, Hume Council has called for a decision on Sunbury’s future to be made “as a matter of urgency”.

While they welcomed the report and will consider the recommendations put forward by the transition auditors, Mayor Adem Atmaca said it was now important for the government to make a decision so they could “break the cycle of speculation and uncertainty about this issue”.

Chief executive Domenic Isola said they had held serious concerns about the process undertaken by the previous government, particularly around timeframes, asset distribution, costs for the community and impacts on staff.

“We welcome the acknowledgement if these issues by the transition auditors in their report,” he said.

“Throughout this process, council has remained committed to getting a fair and balanced outcome for both communities and has respected the view of our residents and businesses.

“Hume calls on the State Government to consider the transition auditors’ report quickly so that our entire community can plan for the future with certainty.”