Hume Council proposes new suburbs to meet future growth demands

“Unprecedented” population growth in Melbourne’s west has seen farming land make way for houses and businesses. Now Hume Council is looking to carve up existing suburbs and create new ones to cater for more people, and it could prove controversial.

A Hume Council proposal could see new suburbs carved out of Mickleham, Craigieburn, Sunbury and Bulla. (Digitally altered image).

Mickleham would be carved into four, and Craigieburn cut in two, under a Hume Council proposal that could see the creation of three new suburbs.

The proposal, which will form part of a council review, presents two options that would see suburbs cut up, as well as shift the boundaries of neighbouring Yuroke and Oaklands Junction.

Suburb boundaries at Sunbury and Bulla would also be looked at as part of a municipal review.

Option one would see Mickleham, split north/south and halved to 19sq km, with new suburbs created in the northern half and southern corner.

Yuroke would be expanded to take on the rural side on the west.

Option two retains the new suburb in the southern corner, but splits Mickleham west/east.

Both options propose cutting land from Craigieburn east of the Hume Freeway for a new suburb.

Maps showing new suburbs proposed for Hume.

The review will be conducted in stages, with the proposal to be put for public consultation on July 8.

The community will also be consulted regarding names of any new suburbs.

Unless the council decides to undertake a second round of community consultation, proposed changes will come into effect on January 1, 2020.

Under the proposal, Sunbury could also be split west/east and two new suburbs created.

The suburbs would be wedged between Sunbury, Bulla and Wildwood.

Sunbury Residents Association spokesman Malcolm Thompson said the proposal could be controversial.

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“Because there are so many people living in town for so long and because of the heritage of the name, Sunbury has to stay under one name,” Mr Thompson said.

“I think new suburbs would be a loss for our heritage.”

Hume Council corporate services director Daryl Whitfort said the city was experiencing unprecedented population growth with numbers expected to reach 372,600 by 2041.

He said a review would ensure the suburb size and design met the needs of the existing and future community.

“The existing locality boundaries in the planned growth areas were designed for farming activities and new boundaries should reflect the change in use to residential and commercial uses,” Mr Whitfort said.