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$50,000 for Mildura Housing & Settlement Strategy

Thursday, 23 February 2012

Mildura Rural City Council will prepare a strategy to guide the community's future housing and settlement needs beyond 2030 with the help of a $50,000 grant announced by the Acting Premier and Minister for Regional and Rural Development Peter Ryan today.

Mr Ryan said the funding would help the Mildura Rural City Council develop a new housing and settlement strategy that would support the strategic planning of the city, which is growing at an annual rate of 1.2 per cent.

"The strategy will contribute significantly to the future prosperity and wellbeing of Mildura by promoting sustainable residential development and protecting the agricultural base of the local economy," Mr Ryan said.

Member for Mildura Peter Crisp said the Mildura Housing and Settlement Strategy would help long-term planning for Mildura and the surrounding settlements.

"The strategy will help identify new opportunities and develop a strategy for future long-term residential and rural living development in Mildura and its surrounding areas," Mr Crisp said.

"The strategy will identify future long-term consequences of drought and climate change scenarios on Mildura's Older Irrigation Area (MOIA).

"The strategy will plan for appropriate rural and urban land use in the Mildura region having regard to agricultural adjustment and the long-term security of the MOIA.

"It will also investigate the socio-economic impacts and opportunities of current and projected climate conditions, particularly in relation to retired horticultural land."

Mr Ryan said funding for the $170,000 Mildura Housing and Settlement Strategy was from the Coalition's $1 billion Regional Growth Fund.

"The Regional Growth Fund is the Coalition's flagship program supporting growth, development and greater quality of life for people living in regional and rural Victoria," Mr Ryan said.

"This important project will help Mildura Rural City Council in strategic, long-term economic, infrastructure and land-use planning that will meet the needs of this vibrant and growing regional centre," Mr Ryan said.

The Mildura Housing and Settlement Strategy is expected to be completed in mid-2013.

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