Zoe Moffatt
A Hume council plan to allow three-storey buildings in much of Sunbury has residents worried about the future of the township, saying ‘city living, country style’ is slipping away.
Armed with the catchy slogan, residents from Sunbury and surrounds have rallied to preserve their style of living from what they fear could be over-development.
Amendment C263 seeks to “implement a municipal wide strategic housing framework,” and places much of Sunbury in the ‘moderate change’ level, which will “evolve to a new three storey built-form character”.
These areas are mainly located either side of Horne Street, near Macedon Street and Gap Road. They can be viewed in pink on the map.
For Jeff Truscott, who has lived in Sunbury since 1985 and is leading the charge, this change has the potential to alter the character of the town forever.
When he received an email with the proposed amendment from Hume council he said he was “horrified” to see his home in Ardcloney estate listed in the ‘moderate change’ level.
“Moderate change doesn’t cut it. They called it moderate but it’s more radical, three-storeys in my mind is not moderate change,” he said.
“It covers almost all of the areas within walking distance from Sunbury centre. I just think it’s going to change the whole character of the town. We all like our own space and I think it’s a recipe for disaster.”
From parking, to neighbours catching a peep into your backyard from three-storeys up, Mr Truscott said the whole thing needs to be tackled differently.
“I suppose growth is inevitable, change is inevitable but … I don’t think the answer is to stuff a whole lot of people in a small space,” he said.
“Every person I’ve spoken to, except one, said the same thing – they like the country, big town feel.”
Believing that this opinion is wide-spread, Mr Truscott along with a handful of other residents have been pounding the pavement in Ardcloney estate.
They are letter dropping an objection template to the proposed changes- a remedy to their worry that residents don’t know about the proposed changes.
“Most of [the residents] were shocked because they didn’t know about it,” Mr Truscott said.
“I think that’s our biggest problem, I think a lot of things are going on and we don’t know about. The process is not as transparent as it should be.”
“If [council] do allow more time for people to respond, when the changes are made, they are well thought through.”
Mr Truscott said he is hopeful there can be a positive outcome, but when growth is pushed onto a township without enough consultation “it becomes a problem rather than a solution to a problem.”
When asked if he still thinks Sunbury is summed up by its catchy slogan, he replies “I think it is, but only just. If we go down this path with the proposal, I think it will no longer be ‘city living, country style’.”
A Hume council spokesperson said this amendment does not propose to rezone these areas to allow greater development than is already permitted.
“Amendment C263 aims to increase the diversity of housing across Hume to provide options for residents who don’t want or are unable to live in a large house,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said they notified residents through The Age newspaper, council’s website, emails, social media posts, two online information sessions, drop in sessions and at global learning centres.
“Council has received a relatively small number of submissions to date, however formal exhibition of the amendment does not close until [May 3].
“There is still time for residents to make a submission to the amendment, after which time council will assess whether to make any changes to the amendment.”
Residents have until 11.59pm Friday, May 3, to make a submission on the amendment.
Details: participate.hume.vic.gov.au/amendmentc263
