By LAURA WAKELY
RUMOURS have circulated about its demise for months, but the Sunshine Residents and Ratepayers Association (SunRRA) president says the group is alive and kicking.
Star has been contacted by residents who claim the group is folding while comments on SunRRA’s own online forum have pointed to trouble in the ranks.
One comment suggested SunRRA had begun “bad mouthing people with different views”, while others say members are leaving the group.
“You have lost your connection to the people by not holding meetings, by not holding rallies and by not listening to people who have pointed out why they are losing faith,” one user posted.
President Darlene Reilly admitted the group hadn’t been as active as it had been in the past.
The group banded together in 2004 to fight for the Sunshine pool and stayed together to help expose corruption among the former Brimbank councillors.
Ms Reilly said the group has 106 members, of which 20 are active members, and SunRRA is yet to hold a meeting this year.
“We mobilise when necessary,” Ms Reilly said.
“It hasn’t been as active previously, when we were in battle mode with the councillors.”
She said there was more consultation under administration to the point that it was “overwhelming”.
“It’s very hard for a group of volunteers and part-timers to respond to every draft and proposal that council’s putting out.”
But she welcomed the extension of administration and said SunRRA had sent three letters to Local Government Minister Jeanette Powell asking for a delay to council elections.
“I think this has given us back the opportunity, where we got side-tracked before, come back to basics and lobby for community assets and community infrastructure,” Ms Reilly said.
She said the group was already getting back on track, recently uniting with residents to stop the acquisition of the HV McKay Gardens for the Regional Rail Link.
And Ms Reilly promised SunRRA had a “lot of ideas going forward”, including the hope of working with other residents groups across Brimbank.
SunRRA will hold their first public meeting of the year on Thursday 19 July in the Harvester Room, Sunshine Library.
For more information visit www.sunshine.asn.au or contact secretary@sunshine.asn.au
