FINDING a balance between protecting agricultural land and allowing residential development is the challenge Planning Minister Richard Wynne confronted during his visit to Mildura on Wednesday.
Mr Wynne met landholders who are unable to build homes on small lots in the Mildura Older Irrigation Area (MOIA) because of an amendment he signed off in 2016.
His decision to halt development on small blocks has frustrated an estimated 500 to 600 Sunraysia landholders.
Mr Wynne said on Wednesday he was aware of the number of people affected, but his visit in Mildura would simply be a "fact-finding" exercise.
"There are a significant number of landholders affected -- it's not in the small numbers, so this is a serious decision to make and one that I need to be properly informed of," he said.
Mr Wynne confirmed his visit was partly motivated by Member for Mildura Ali Cupper's call in State Parliament in June for him to see the issue first-hand.
"Ali Cupper approached me about this in parliament and she sees this as being an issue that requires further resolution," he said.
"She suggested that I come and actually physically look at it and get a real sense of it before making any further decisions."
As part of his visit, Mr Wynne met Ms Cupper, who pitched an idea that would boost the local economy through a planning revision to allow houses to be built on blocks between 0.2 hectares and 1.2 hectares.
The aspirations of landholders and Mildura Council's strategic housing plan were considerations to balance, Mr Wynne said.
"Ultimately, it's about striking that balance and recognising the council has a housing strategy in place," he said.
"You have to strike a balance between understanding the need to protect productive agricultural land and some people's aspirations that they would like to build residential properties."
In 2009, the Victorian Government halted all housing development in the MOIA to protect horticultural land from residential encroachment.
Mildura planning consultant Roy Costa says many Sunraysia landholders have been affected by the amendment. Picture: Krystal Torney But since Amendment C89 was passed two years ago, Sunraysia landholders have faced numerous setbacks, according to Mildura pl...
