Mildura Rural City Council

**Mildura Rural City Council** operates as a **growth-supportive regional council** with a pragmatic approach to development, reflecting their ambitious target of 8,500 new dwellings by 2051. The planning department is generally **developer-friendly**, particularly for subdivision and residential projects within designated growth areas like Mildura, Irymple, and Merbein. **Processing times** are typically reasonable for a regional council, with pre-application meetings encouraged and generally productive. Standard residential applications often take 8-12 weeks, though complex subdivisions may extend to 4-6 months depending on infrastructure requirements and referral authority involvement. **Common delays** stem from infrastructure capacity assessments and referrals to authorities like VicRoads and water authorities, rather than council-imposed bottlenecks. The department shows **flexibility** in working with applicants on staging and infrastructure contributions, recognizing the council's concern about ratepayer burden for growth-related infrastructure costs. The planning team is **adequately resourced** for a regional council and takes a **strategic view** of development, actively supporting projects that align with their Housing and Settlement Strategy. They're particularly receptive to developments that strengthen Mildura's role as the major regional centre for Sunraysia, while maintaining firm boundaries around rural and irrigation district protection.