‘Positive shift’ on the way for Robinvale, says Cupper

MEMBER for Mildura Ali Cupper met Swan Hill Rural City councillors on Tuesday to discuss the findings of recent reports that show Robinvale’s true population could be more than 12,000 and the town is heading for an “emerging housing crisis”.

Ms Cupper said while there were “agree-to-disagree moments” between herself and the council, overall the meeting was “constructive”.

“We are getting to a place where we can really make a positive shift for Robinvale,” she said.

“In relation to housing, one of the key recommendations was to promote Robinvale as a place where you can build housing stock and achieve meaningful capital growth.

“People have been held back form wanting to build in Robinvale because of the perception that it’s a small town with minimal opportunities and growth potential — that’s just not true.

“There’s enormous private wealth in Robinvale and there are big numbers to justify more development.”

The Robinvale Housing Strategy report, delivered by consultants Holmes Dyar, found “upward pressure on rental vacancies, and limited housing availability for the general population”.

The Robinvale Population Determination, undertaken by research company Geografia using bank and water usage data, and after meetings with local service providers, found the true population of the town could swell to 12,131, although the estimated mean population in Robinvale was about 7900.

Ms Cupper said one of the “key things missing” was “a way to legitimise potentially thousands of Robinvale residents”.

“(They are) making a valuable contribution to the economy and the community, (but they) just don’t have a legal pathway to stay,” she said.

“I think that’s important because then you start to get people who pay tax, which is good for the government. But also, people will feel confident to include themselves in Census figures.

“Once they’re legitimate and can move about the town in a way where they’re entitled to official citizenship, rights and entitlements, that’s going to translate to people who contribute more.

“I think we can get on top of this. We’re slowly, bit by bit, building all of those pieces that have long been needed to be able to ensure that Robinvale can get the resources from government it deserves, but also can start to give the business sector or the private sector the confidence to invest.”