Mildura East Growth Area Strategic Framework Plan

Stage 1 Adoption of Vision & Key Directions

At the Ordinary Meeting of Council on the 28 April 2022, Council proposed and then resolved at the June 2022 meeting, to defer consideration of the draft reports until the 28 July 2022 meeting of Council.

The draft Vision & Key Directions and draft Key Issues Report were adopted by Council at it's 28 July 2022 Council meeting.  The Vision & Key Directions, July 2022 will now be finalised in line with the Council resolution passed and the project will progress to the next stage, with a view to completion in the second half of the year (2022).  

Please see below for the media release issued by Mildura Rural City Council 29 July 2022.

Information regarding the next stage of the Mildura East Strategic Framework Project (Stage 2) can be found here.

Have Your Say - Community Consultation

When seeking community input, Council welcomes all written comments on its planning proposals and wishes to hear from the community and interested parties about any potential benefits and opportunities that projects might bring for the community, along with any concerns or challenges, possible solutions to these, or changes (if any) that could be made to improve project outcomes, for the net benefit of the whole community. 

Confirmation of the vision and key directions for the study area is an important and necessary step in enabling completion of the full Mildura East Growth Area Strategic Framework Plan.

Previous Rounds of Consultation

During September 2021 (Round 1) and November 2021 (Round 2) last year, we had an open conversation with landowners, residents and visitors to the study area, including government authorities, industry professionals and a number of stakeholder groups, to identify and explore the issues and opportunities within Mildura East.  Interested parties have also had the opportunity to talk to the project team about their ideas and discuss appropriate responses to the issues raised. Round 3 consultation (Jan-Feb 2022) saw the exhibition for formal public comment of the draft Vision & Key Directions and draft Key Issues reports respectively, for the study area.

Round 3 Consultation - Exhibition of Vision & Key Directions (14 January to 28 February 2022)

Round 3 Consultation (recently completed) encouraged community input again.   Community input to date, via surveys, online workshop discussions and written feedback, has been used to inform the development of a draft Vision and Key Directions Report(PDF, 10MB) and a draft Key Issues Report(PDF, 585KB) for the Mildura East Growth Area.  The draft documents were available for public comment until close of business Monday 28 February 2022.  The draft documents, a pdf of the survey (now closed) and a project bulletin(PDF, 1MB) (prepared by Consultants Hansen Partnership) remain available for download at the bottom of this page. 

During exhibition the report was also available for viewing at Council's Madden Avenue Service Centre (if open) and Deakin Avenue Service Centre (if open) and Mildura Library (if open).

Online community drop-in-sessions were held on Wednesday, 9 February 2022 at 12pm and 6pm respectively giving the community opportunity to chat to the consultants and ask any questions.  The session was changed from in-person (as previously advised) to be conducted on-line due to uncertainty around Covid-19.  A link was sent to all registered participants and alternative arrangements were offered to those without internet access.

Round 2 Consultation (11 November 2021)

Round 2 Consultation for the Mildura East Growth Area Strategic Framework Plan was completed recently. The discussions held and input received from Round 2 Consultation (an interactive workshop with community members)  have been used by Hansen Partnership to inform the draft Vision & Key Directions Report.

A number of key issues within the study area were identified through Round 1 consultation, held in September 2021.  Round 2 consultation sought further input from the community, including landowners, residents and visitors to the Mildura East Growth Area  and other interested parties, to explore the issues raised.  An online consultation session was held on 11 November 2021 via zoom and provided interested parties with an important opportunity to talk to the project team and to discuss appropriate responses to issues affecting the area.

The discussions held and input received will now be used to  inform the draft Vision & Key Directions Report that will be exhibited for public comment, finalised and then reported to Council for its consideration and adoption.   

A project bulletin(PDF, 4MB) for Round 2 Consultation is available for download at the bottom of the page for your information.

Round 1 Consultation (Visioning) 6 September to 30 September 2021

Council held two online community workshops during September  (17 September and 29 September) to hear from landowners, residents and visitors regarding what they consider to be important and valued, and what they want the Mildura East Growth Area Vision to be.

An online Landowner Survey was also made available during the consultation period and written comments sought from residents and other interested groups about their Vision for the area.  

Background 

Mildura Rural City Council is working with Hansen Partnership to prepare the Mildura East Growth Area Strategic Framework Plan. The study area extends from Irymple to Nichols Point, and from Cowra Avenue to Irymple Avenue, as well as a number of smaller areas at the edge of Mildura, for which no development plan has yet been prepared.

This project seeks to provide long-term vision and strategic direction for the study area, which will guide future growth of the precinct, including land use, built form, and public spaces. It also seeks to guide future residential development, so that development occurs by the most efficient provision of drainage infrastructure.  The Framework Plan will also seek to identify how such infrastructure might be funded.

The Framework Plan will be used to update relevant aspects of the Mildura Planning Scheme, to ensure Council’s decision-making achieves enhanced economic, social and environmental objectives for the future of this important precinct for the next 30 years.

Timeline

Event	Time
Round 1 Consultation (Visioning)	6 to 30 September 2021
Round 2 Consultation (Developing theVision and Key Directionsfor the Study Area)	11 November 2021 (Online Workshop)
Round 3 Consultation (draft Vision and Directions) - Public Comment	14 January 2022 to 28 February 2022
Comments are considered, Response to Submissions prepared and draft Vision and Key Directions report is finalised.	March 2022
Draft Vision and Key Directions reported to Council for adoption	Reported to April Meeting, deferred to July 2022 meeting.
Draft Vision and Key Directions represented to Council for adoption	Adopted at 28 July 2022 meeting.
Project Stage 2 Commences	August 2022

More Information

For more information please contact Council’s Strategic Planning team by phone 03 5018 8100 or emailplanning.services@mildura.vic.gov.au

Information regarding the next stage of the Mildura East Growth Area Strategic Framework Plan (from August 2022) can be found here.