Community questions changes to Craigieburn, Sunbury but welcomes Merrifield move
Sunbury residents worry their town’s “big happy family” will be torn apart as a move to split them up forges ahead under a council plan for four new suburbs, with fears the move will also financially hurt homeowners.
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Homeowners in Craigieburn and Sunbury say they want no part of a forthcoming split to their suburbs.
Hume Council signed off this week on four new suburbs as part of a boundary review to keep up with the municipality’s booming population.
The eight proposals were first raised in 2019 due to unprecedented population growth in the west that saw farming land make way for houses and businesses.
The announcement saw many residents flag concerns with the changes this week.
The proposal included options for Mickleham and Craigieburn to be split and make way for modern suburbs.
Craigieburn will be split in two as part of plans for four new suburbs in Hume.
The changes can be viewed on an interactive map.
Ratepayers have raised concerns online about the division of Craigieburn and Sunbury in particular.
“Please leave the suburb of Craigieburn intact. I have lived here for 21 years, and it’s always been Craigieburn. Everyone knows this area as Craigieburn,” one user commented.
Council suggested splitting Sunbury to make way for two new suburbs, one using the eastern are of Sunbury, between Wildwood and the other in the southeast, which would absorb part of Bulla.
“I strongly object to splitting Sunbury into multiple suburbs. Sunbury has a single town centre and single government and support services,” one user argued.
“This will leave people in the ‘split’ suburbs isolated from their own community, part of the appeal of Sunbury is the strong community ties. We need Sunbury to feel like one big happy family, not to break it apart.”
Ratepayers were also concerned about the impact on housing values if suburb names are changed.
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However, readers welcomed the proposed name Merrifield for a new suburb in the northeast of Mickleham, between Donnybrook Rd and Old Sydney Rd.
“Merrifield is an existing estate, and locals already call the area Merrifield and they would love to see it formally recognised as such,” an anonymous user said.
Final boundary amendments will be decided in early 2021, with the plans to be reopen to community feedback at the council’s suburb boundary review site.
courtney.beaumont@news.com.au