Established in 1981 as the
proudly serving Sunbury and Macedon Ranges
5 MAY, 2026
Volunteers are vital Neighbourhood houses across Sunbury and the Macedon Ranges are celebrating their volunteers ahead of National Volunteer Week. Sunbury Neighbourhood House (SNH) currently has 50 volunteers helping to run the programs, and house manager Hope Jenkins said volunteers are vital to the success and sustainability of SNH. “Without volunteers, SNH would simply be unable to deliver the breadth of programs and opportunities our community relies on,” she said. “Funding constraints allow for paid staff to be on site only three days per week. Thanks to our volunteers, SNH is able to provide programming across six days each week, dramatically increasing access for our community - an imperative in a rapidly growing population like Sunbury’s.” Volunteers help run many sessions, including Messy Play, with three volunteers helping make the sessions happen. SNH is always looking for more volunteers to help assist programs at the house. Details: sunburyhouse.com.au/
Sunbury Neighbourhood House volunteers Cindy Morrissey and Lyn Duffy. (Damjan Janevski) 550097_02
No road in sight By Georgia Tacey Jacksons Hill residents have hit a roadblock with a vital road connection delayed for the foreseeable future. The decades-long promised project to connect Jacksons Hill with Sunbury’s south and Vineyard Road has been all but abandoned by Hume council, after all but two councillors voted to delay the Yirrangan Road to Watsons Road connection at the 27 April meeting. Officers said in a report to the meeting that there was too much financial risk associated with the project, and referenced the lack of development occurring in the Sunbury South Precinct Structure Plan (PSP).
Council already received $3.2 million in funding from Development Victoria for the project, and planned to contribute a further $27 million as part of its capital works program from 2025-26 to 2031-32. Cr Naim Kurt, in moving the motion to delay the delivery of the road, said the delivery of the level crossing removal and the removal of the Horne Street and Gap Road roundabout has reduced the need for the Yirrangan Road connection to be completed now. “Unfortunately the situation is that this project is simply costing too much money. It’s looking around $30 million, even with that $3.2 million grant from Development Victoria,” he said. Officers said the section of the road within
the PSP is funded through Infrastructure Contributions Plan (ICP) revenue, however insufficient funds have been collected to date. Council previously agreed to forward fund the works to enable early delivery, according to the report. Cr Jarrod Bell, who represents Jacksons Hill, said council needs to forward fund the project. “My community is poised to double in the next 20 years … that growth was supposed to be effectively the funding for this road,” he said. Cr Bell said its clear council is worried about the success of the Sunbury South PSP. Officers said development in the PSP has progressed too slowly, with the area
impacted by significant cultural heritage artefacts which prevent the necessary approvals needed for permits. To combat that, council will write to the planning minister to request the state government undertake a review of the sections of the PSP impacted by cultural heritage approvals and amend the planning scheme as necessary. “I will continue to advocate strongly to ensure that this road stays on our agenda,” Cr Bell said. Cr Bell and Cr Steve Gagen were the only councillors to vote against the motion, with Cr Kate Hamley an apology. Council will also engage with Development Victoria to reinvest the funding contribution into Sunbury projects.
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