DEVELOPERS are set to “pay the price” for Mildura Rural City Council failing to hit its population targets in the growth corridor of Mildura South, Irymple and Nichols Point.
Even though Mildura is booming on the back of one of the hottest property markets in Australia, the council says there has been “a lower population growth than expected” in these three areas over the past five years.
It is now proposing changes to the Mildura Planning Scheme to cater for further infrastructure and housing growth in this corridor.
“Analysis undertaken in 2017 found that the level of development projected by the DCP (Development Contribution Plan) for Mildura South would have equated to 3611 dwellings constructed by 2016,” a council spokesman said.
“The actual level of development in 2016 equated to 1623 dwellings.
“What this means is that infrastructure currently specified in the DCP would be constructed ahead of when it is actually necessary, which presents both a significant cost impact and resource and implementation issue for council.”
The spokesman said it was a “similar scenario” in the case of Irymple and Nichols Point.
“All three DCPs have been affected by a slower rate of levy collection linked to a lower population growth than expected, in conjunction with the original, possibly optimistic, development forecasts,” he said.
Local independent planning expert Roy Costa hit out at the proposed amendment, saying developers should not be punished for council “getting it so wrong on its planning for Mildura”.
“Why was there less than 50 per cent of that target built in Mildura South?” Mr Costa said.
“How could they get it so wrong? They have simply not allowed for more land to be opened up to cater for the growth.
“They have been told by developers, builders, architects and real estate agents for many years that Mildura was fast running out of land to develop, yet they didn’t act in areas like Irymple.
“The council uses out-of-town consultants for suburb plans, but you only need to talk with the local experts to find what’s going on, and what’s needed.”
At Nichols Point, major land owner Gus Clarkson has been trying to get the green light for a 50-lot subdivision for the past 15 years.
He said he had “lost count” of the number of planning delays caused by the council and State Government for his stage-one proposal to develop 25 half-acre blocks near Nichols Point Primary School.
“I’ve been back and forth to the council’s planning department for at least a decade,” Mr Clarkson said.
“They go round and round in circles and I walk out frustrated every time.”
The council says the proposed DCP change would include a “trigger mechanism” for when infrastructure is needed.
“In this way, the proposed amendment makes no change to the outcomes to be delivered by the DCPs or the costs involved,” the spokesman said.
“It only ensures the infrastructure will be provided as it is needed.”
But Mr Costa said there would be increased costs for the developers based on higher growth targets.
“The (DCP) already goes up every financial year, and the costs will naturally go up further under the proposed change,” he said.
“So yes, developers will be the ones paying the price if this is approved.”
Residents can find out more about the proposed DCP amendment by contacting the council at planning.services@mildura.vic.gov.au.
