Mildura Older Irrigated Area - MOIA

Current Status

The most recent update to the Mildura Older Irrigation Area Incorporated Document (October 2023) was approved by the Minister for Planning via a notice in the Victorian Government Gazette on 23 November 2023.  The updated approved changes to the Mildura Planning Scheme affect the local irrigated areas in the Farming Zone and were implemented into the Mildura Planning Scheme via Amendment C118mild.

Amendment C118mild (MOIA Incorporated Document October 2023)

The Minister for Planning has approved Amendment C118mild to the Mildura Planning Scheme.

The Amendment came into operation on the 23 November 2023 as published in the Victoria Government Gazette.

The Amendment replaces the Mildura Older Irrigation Area Incorporated Document (May 2020) with the Mildura Older Irrigation Area Incorporated Document (October 2023) to delete the requirement that a dwelling abutting existing development must not be located in a designated bushfire prone area. The Amendment also makes administrative changes to Schedules 1, 2 and 4 to Clause 35.06 (Rural Conservation Zone) and the Schedule to Clause 35.07 (Farming Zone).

A copy of the MOIA Incorporated Document can be viewed and downloaded from the links below.

Amendment C110mild (MOIA Incorporated Document May 2020)

Amendment C110mild was implemented by the Minister for Planning in May 2020.  The amendment allows planning permit applications for new dwellings on existing lots of between 0.2 and 1.2 hectares on land in the Farming Zone (FZ) in the Mildura Older Irrigation Area (MOIA) in conditional locations adjacent to existing development on land that is not suitable for horticulture, where the dwelling will have no adverse impact on nearby horticultural activity and where the land may be suitable for rural residential development.

The amendment also uses the Specific Controls Overlay (SCO) to apply the incorporated document to land in the MOIA.’ The changes are in accordance with the revised MOIA Incorporated Document May 2020 linked below.

The key changes related to both subdivision of land and the establishment of dwellings in the Farming Zone. The relevant planning provisions, both before and after approval and gazettal of the amendments and changes in the planning scheme, are summarised in the MOIA Fact Sheets linked below.

Amendment C89 (MOIA Incorporated Document August 2016)

Amendment C89 implements the findings of the Mildura Housing and Settlement Strategy (MHSS) 2013, together with the findings of the Review of Planning Controls for the Mildura Older Irrigated Areas (MOIA) 2014 and some aspects of the Mildura Planning Scheme Review Report 2014.

Following adoption of Mildura Planning Scheme Amendment C89 by Council, in conjunction with directions developed by the Mildura Housing and Settlement Strategy 2013, the Minister for Planning has approved changes to the way the Mildura Planning Scheme affects the local irrigated areas in the Farming Zone. The changes are in accordance with the revised MOIA Incorporated Document August 2016.  You will find both Amendment C89 documentation and the MOIA Incorporated document in the links below.

More Information

To see if your property is affected by the changes please access the MOIA Areas Map in the links below and zoom in to your property location.

To access the provisions of the Farming Zone at Clause 30 of the planning scheme, please use the Mildura Planning Scheme link below.  

If you would like to discuss your property in more detail or require more information please contact Council's Strategic Planning Team on (03) 5018 8419.

Background/Further Reading

The Mildura Older Irrigation Area (MOIA) comprises the older pumped districts of Mildura, Merbein and Red Cliffs located within the Farming Zone in the Mildura Planning Scheme.  These districts have a strong farming history particularly in the production of table grapes, dried grapes, wine grapes and citrus.  The MOIA is valued for the landscape amenity it provides, in particular for rural residential living which is a fundamental part of the character and identity of Mildura.

Horticulture underpins the Mildura Rural City's economy directly with products for the local, national and international markets.  It also supports a significant agricultural services industry and food processing, packaging and manufacturing sector that accepts products grown within the City and the wider region.

It is estimated that agriculture from the MOIA generates about $200m per annum to the local economy.

Mildura Rural City Council has grappled with the issues surrounding the future of the MOIA such as drought, commodity prices, water trading and particularly with respect to the impact of the development of dwellings over many years.  In 2009, changes to the way the Mildura Planning Scheme affects the local irrigated areas were made specifically by the Minister for Planning with the introduction of the MOIA Incorporated Document, which overrides the provisions of the Farming Zone in the MOIA pertaining to the subdivision of land and the establishment of dwellings.

Further changes were proposed by Council in 2015 with Amendment C89 and by the Minister in 2020 and 2023 with Amendments C110mild and C118mild respectively.  Links to Amendment documentation and approved documents can be found below.

The chronology of the MOIA issue:

Old Format Planning Schemes	Pre 1995
New Format Planning Scheme introduced under Planning & Environment Act	1999
Mildura Rural Areas Strategy completed	2005
Mildura Planning Scheme Amendment C30 lapsed by Minister for Planning	2009
Mildura Planning Scheme Amendment C37	2006
MOIA Rural Strategy	2008
MOIA Study into Land Values	2008
Mildura Planning Scheme Amendment C58	2009
Mildura Social and Economic Impact of Drought	2009
Mildura Planning Scheme Amendment C59	2009
Mildura Planning Task Force	2009
Mildura Planning Scheme Amendment C65	2010
Mildura Planning Scheme Amendment C72	2012
Revised Farming Zone	2013
Mildura Housing and Settlement Strategy	2013
Sunraysia Modernisation Project	2013
Mildura Planning Scheme Amendment C87	2014
Mallee Irrigation Status Report 2013-14	2014
Mildura Planning Scheme Review Report 2013-14	2014
Mildura Planning Scheme Amendment C89	2016
Mildura Planning Scheme Amendment C110mild	2020
Mildura Planning Scheme Amendment C118mild	2023