TWO councillors are calling for a review of Mildura’s planning zones to correct “anomalies” in the system and open up farming land for the development of caravan parks.
Councillors Ian Arney and Glenn Milne will put forward a notice of motion at tonight’s council meeting over concerns that “many parcels of land are being used for purposes not aligned with their current zoning”.
The second part of their motion calls for the council to identify and zone land for RV-friendly caravan parks.
It coincides with a proposal for a caravan park on Benetook Avenue, between Sixteenth and Seventeenth streets, that councillors will make a determination on tonight.
Landowner Dom Ietto’s plan to build 10 self-contained cabins and 13 powered sites, targeting the lucrative RV market, has been recommended for refusal by the council’s planners because it’s on “valuable agriculture land”.
However, Mr Ietto says it has been vacant for “many, many years”.
First-term councillor Ian Arney said he wanted to sit down with council’s planners to find out “what can be done” to improve the local zoning rules.
“A lot of people have been ringing me with their concerns about this,” Cr Arney said on Monday.
“This is about trying to have a conversation around the little bits and pieces that seem to be all over the shop.
“That’s just my opinion, and I openly admit that I don’t know enough (about the Mildura planning system).
“Some of things we look at seem so straightforward but the legislation says we can’t do it. There seems to be a little flexibility in the system, but it depends on how you go about it.
“I think we need to explore this more.”
Cr Milne also called for the council to look at land options for the development of caravan parks.
“In my view, (caravan parks) need to be where the edge of town is going to be in 20 or 30 years,” he said.
“When the town catches up to where they are, they’ll be sold off for another purpose and the process will go again.
“It’s a natural progression of the city, and this needs to be recognised in the planning system.”
