Plan2Place Consulting partnered with Wayfarer Consulting and Practical Ecology to undertake a comprehensive review of the Mildura Planning Scheme which was last reviewed in 2019. The review aimed to ensure consistency and effectiveness across zoning, overlays, and development controls. Guided by numerous legislative frameworks and planning practice notes, including the Planning and Environment Act 1987, the project enhanced the scheme’s alignment with state, regional, and local planning policies and strategies including Plan for Victoria.

As the largest regional municipality by area within Victoria and situated in the far north-west of the state on the Murray River, the planning scheme review further refined Council’s planning framework. This improved implementation of Council’s strategic vision, better managed land use and development and facilitated the outcomes valued by Council and the community. Issues included climate change, housing and tourism growth, riverine management, biodiversity protection, changes to farming practices and the maintenance of high-quality agricultural land, increased bushfire risk, population change, township rejuvenation and protecting primary industries.

The review focused on the entire municipality, extensively engaging with key stakeholders and organisations as well as the communities of Mildura, Ouyen, Red Cliffs and Merbein. The recent changes to the format of planning schemes provided the opportunity to refocus and redesign Council’s planning scheme to meet the contemporary needs of Mildura Rural City Council and its community. A key issues report was also prepared that provided a roadmap for seven important planning issues from the 2019 review.

The project team provided Council with a review that was sound, evidence based, robust and technically proficient, ensuring Councillor and stakeholder buy-in based on expert recommendations and providing the foundation for Council’s responses to future challenges. The review sets strategic directions including ordinance and mapping changes that were then to be implemented through a future planning scheme amendment (Amendment C126mild).