Wednesday, 30 October 2019

Mildura older irrigation area

Ms CUPPER (Mildura) (19:12): (1372) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Planning. The action I seek is for the minister to provide an update to our community about the progress of deliberations about refining the planning rules in the Mildura older irrigation area (MOIA). Earlier this year, not long ago, the minister accepted our invitation to visit our electorate and meet with key stakeholders to hear their case. We discussed how a slight relaxation of the MOIA rules could stimulate an estimated $50 million of private investment without compromising the aims and objectives of the MOIA policy, which is to protect arable farmland from residential encroachment and to keep farmland at farm prices.

The minister heard from stakeholders, who were quick to point out that for the most part the MOIA policy had been highly successful. They acknowledged the value of ensuring the government’s substantial investment in modernising our irrigation infrastructure is not wasted and that horticulture is the lifeblood of our local economy. But experience has shown that while the MOIA scheme has resulted in larger blocks of land being brought back into production, the same cannot be said for the smallest blocks of land, between 0.2 and 1.2 hectares in size. Blocks of land in this category were originally sold and purchased as house blocks and as such have had all irrigation infrastructure removed. People who purchased these blocks of land did so, at the time, for the purpose of building dream homes and often paid, at the time, in the vicinity of $80 000 or more for these lots. Those blocks of land are now worth well less than $10 000 and, due to their size and lack of infrastructure, are simply not an attractive or viable investment option for growers.

Since the minister’s visit, Mildura Rural City Council has been able to confirm that the number of blocks of land that fall within the category of 0.2 to 1.2 hectares number approximately 268, with the likelihood that only 165 would be the subject of building permit applications. But even if all 268 applied for and were granted a permit, that would represent less than 1 per cent of the entire MOIA. It would in no way, I would suggest, undermine the overarching goals of the MOIA policy, which is widely supported by most stakeholders in our community. This issue is an example of how the planning minister and the Andrews government could make a big difference to local families and our local economy without having to spend a cent. We look forward to receiving an update from the minister.