Rural City of Mildura

History

The Rural City of Mildura was formed in 1995 from the amalgamation of the City of Mildura, Shire of Mildura and Shire of Walpeup.

Geography

The Rural City of Mildura covers most of the Mallee region of Victoria. Before the less infertile soils were fertilised and developed for the production of wheat and barley the whole region was covered in a dense mallee scrub of deep-rooting eucalypts that regenerated after the frequent bushfires in the region. Many of the soils are so sandy that clearing is impractical, and Murray-Sunset National Park covers almost a third of the area of the LGA. Other protected areas include Hattah-Kulkyne National Park and Murray-Kulkyne Park on the Murray River.

The climate of the region is the driest in Victoria, and Neds Corner in the remote northwest has the lowest average annual rainfall in the state at 240 mm. In the south at Ouyen the average is 335 mm. In all the areas of the LGA there can be considerable variation in annual rainfall: the range historically has been from 110 mm in 1967 to 605 mm in 1973. Temperatures in the LGA are the hottest in Victoria and the average summer maximum is 32 °C, but it often exceeds 40 °C. Winter can be very pleasant with a maximum of 16 °C, but frosts are common in the morning and can sometimes be severe.

The southeast of the LGA is used primarily for grain growing; however yields are erratic and often poor due to drought. In the north irrigated fruit growing (primarily oranges and grapes) is highly productive and supports Mildura and nearby towns; however, salinity in the Murray River is a major threat to the long-term sustainability of these activities, as is competition from overseas citrus growers.

Council

Current composition

The council is composed of nine councillors elected to represent an un-subdivided municipality. Represented in Order of Election. Council Composition as of September 2022:

Administration and governance

The council meets in the council chambers at the council headquarters in the Mildura Municipal Offices, which is also the location of the council's administrative activities. It also provides customer services at both its administrative centre on Madden Avenue in Mildura, and its service centres in Ouyen and on Deakin Avenue in Mildura.

Townships and localities

At the 2021 census, the rural city had a population of 56,972 up from 53,878 in the 2016 census

^ - Territory divided with another LGA

Sister cities

Mildura has sister city relations with the following cities:

• Dali, Yunnan Province of China (established 2006)
• Kumatori, Japan (established 2001)
• Upland, California, United States of America (established 1969)

Notes

References

References

1. {{Census 2021 AUS
2. Victoria Government Gazette – Online Archive. (1837–1997). "S4 of 1995: Order estg (Part 10) the Rural City of Mildura". State Government of Victoria.
3. Census QuickStats. (2011). "Mildura (SS) – SSC20893". Government of Australia.
4. (2020). "Mildura Rural City Council election results 2020". [[Victorian Electoral Commission]].
5. (2022). "Council Elections". Mildura Rural City Council.
6. "Our Councillors".
7. (11 January 2023). "Census {{!}} Australian Bureau of Statistics".
8. Mildura Rural City Council. "Sister Cities".