If you were to step into a time machine and travel 15 years into the future, how would you expect our region to look?
This is one of the key questions being asked as Mildura Rural City Council undertakes a multiple stage review of the Mildura Planning Scheme.
Among our most important statutory documents, the Mildura Planning Scheme outlines how land is used and developed across the whole of the Mildura municipality.
Updated every four years, Phase 1 of the review is focused on gathering community sentiment on what it's like living in our region now and in the future.
Feedback will also be sought on how our current Scheme is performing, what improvements could be made and ensuring it stays up-to-date and responsive to change.
Due to the scope-specific skills needed to undertake the review, Council is partnering a consultant team led by Plan2Place Consulting.
Mayor Cr Liam Wood encouraged the community to have their say and contribute to the Review.
"This is arguably one of the most important and influential documents relating to our Council, and sets our planning priorities over many years," Cr Wood said.
"We're keen to talk to community members, developers and landowners about their experience living in Mildura, and what they would like to see in the future for the municipality.
"The community should also reach out to my fellow Councillors and myself to share their thoughts and views."
Feedback will help form a short report that identifies key issues for the community.
"This review will have numerous phases, and check-in points, providing plenty of opportunities for our community to have their say," Cr Wood said.
"This ensures we share our findings with the community, while mapping out how the future looks from a strategic planning perspective."
The Review will also incorporate several frameworks and polices, including the Planning Policy Framework, Municipal Planning Statement and Regional and Local Policy, along with undertaking work previously identified through the 2018-19 Planning Scheme Review.
Outstanding items also included for consideration and recommendations are:
- Additional work to the recent Minimising Harm from Gambling Policy, looking at the effects of gaming machines on the community and introducing guidance for planners determining permit applications for their introduction
- Considering use of the Buffer Area Overlay to replace the Environmental Significance Overlay Schedule 4 (ESO4) and how this might affect the future maintenance of the closed Koorlong Landfill
- Scoping brief for Barriers to Integrated Water Management/Water Sensitive Urban Design (IWM/WSUD) including in Public Open Space, to enable a future project to be undertaken
- Consideration of Public Open Space (POS) Contributions at subdivision stage of development and as part of permit applications
- Process for future management of the protected species (but sometimes local plant-pest) Cumbungi at Lake Cullulleraine and other key Council sites
- A desktop review of the use and effectiveness of the Salinity Management Overlay (SMO) last reviewed in 2009
Those interested can share their thoughts by completing a short survey at yoursay.mildura.vic.gov.au/PSReview24.
