July 2021

Message from the Chair of the State Planning Commission

Councils in the regions will be able to use these plans as framework for more detailed statutory planning, infrastructure delivery and project implementation.

As a pre-cursor to this, we know there are groups of councils exploring how a Joint Planning Board might work for their region and we are looking forward to working with such boards as they are established in the delivery of these important plans.

The State’s regions are an integral part of our South Australian community and economy and the Commission is aware that the planning system must work equally well for regions and the Greater Adelaide Area. 

To ensure the Commission maintains a focus on the regions it is purposefully making its way to various parts of the state to get a first-hand appreciation of regional issues and opportunities. In line with this, the Commission recently visited Kangaroo Island where it held its June meeting.  

The new financial year signalled three months of the Planning and Design Code coming into full operation. The Commission remains committed to continual improvement. Regular technical updates have and will continue to occur.

The Local Design Review Code Amendment, which was initiated by the Commission in May will need to be finalised before we see Local Design Review in operation in South Australia. Consultation on this draft Amendment will occur in the coming months. 

Australia has seen very significant natural disaster events over the recent years, with South Australia having itself experienced 3 significant bushfires over the past two summers.

With this in mind the Commission is looking at strengthening the Planning and Design Code to provide protection in the event of bushfire and flood.

Finally, the 8-week public consultation for the inaugural statutory review of Environment and Food Production Areas (EFPAs) is wrapping up at the end of the month.

Noting there has been some confusion as to the scope of this review, an explanatory statement is available on the PlanSA website. 

We’re encouraging all South Australians to submit their feedback online, with submissions invited until 5.00 pm, 30 July 2021.

The Commission will consider all submissions and release the outcomes of the review later this year.

Regards

Helen Dyer
Chair, State Planning Commission

Message from the Acting Executive Director

We have already implemented a significant number of enhancements and have developed a future enhancement roadmap.

Recent determinations of the State Commission Assessment Panel (SCAP) include some particularly high profile projects including a development on the Le Cornu site – after 30 years of sitting vacant and several failed development attempts.

The development is seen to assist with the transformation of O’Connell Street and the wider locality by increasing the residential population and invigorating the activation of O’Connell Street through new commercial offerings.

On 16 June SCAP gave Southern Launch permission to fire 3 rockets from the site at Whalers Way on Eyre Peninsula before the end of 2021. It is a big step as Australia strives to realise its full space market potential whilst proceeding under strict environmental protections.

At the national level, we work closely with the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) on the topic of building resilience, particularly habitable buildings. This topic has been on the ABCB’s radar for some time but given the changing climate and increased threat levels, the ABCB is now taking a renewed focus on this key issue.

To continue to improve accessibility for all into the planning system – especially early in the process where key directions are set – the system has been enhanced to enable people to use an online map viewer to access information about all proposed Code Amendments. Now anyone who wishes to provide feedback, can do so online.

As we work to enhance South Australia’s status as one of the world’s most liveable cities, funding is now available under the 2021-22 Open Space Grant Program. The grants play an important part in ensuring our state remains liveable, healthy and sustainable.

Mike Burdett
Acting Executive Director, Team PLUS

Code Amendments portal

In a South Australian first, members of the public can view the status of all proposed amendments to the Planning and Design Code (the Code) through an online map viewer and provide feedback online.

The new planning system was designed to achieve greater community involvement in planning, and use technology to assist the community to interact with the planning system. 

The Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 places the emphasis on engaging communities early, when the rules such as the Planning and Design Code and other regulatory instruments, are being developed rather than at the later stages of the planning process when it may be too late to influence outcomes.

This new Code Amendment Map Viewer is designed to make information about proposals to amend the Code easily accessible and to support the community participation early in the planning process. 

This ensures that communities have a greater opportunity to have their say in developing planning policy for our state.

Use the online map viewer to monitor the status of all Code Amendments that have been initiated or that are on public consultation.

Planning and Design Code review

The State Planning Commission (the Commission) is commencing its inaugural review of South Australia’s Planning and Design Code (the Code) this month, with a focus on technical amendments to improve the general performance, interpretation and consistency of the Code. The scope does not include substantial policy reform.

The Commission is undertaking a preliminary engagement process to help inform the scope of the amendment and call for issues on potential technical matters to be addressed through a Code Amendment; including:

• improving policy clarity and interpretation
• procedural matters – such as assessment pathways and public notification
• system improvement/efficiency – reviewing classification tables/assessment pathways, particularly for common/minor forms of development.

Based on current feedback it is expected to include a review of public notification, streamlining assessment pathways for common development types, improving the application of relevant policies for specified classes of development, and general policy refinement to improve clarity and consistency of code policies and definitions.

The Commission welcomes feedback on potential matters to be addressed through a proposed amendment.

To suggest an improvement to the Code, please submit using the Request a Change to the Code page by 5.00 pm Friday 13 August 2021.

Supporting high quality design in SA 

The Scheme provides a consistent state-wide approach for councils to provide Design Review for locally assessed development proposals with the aim of:

• supporting high-quality design
• improving access to independent and expert advice early in the planning and design process
• supporting consistent and informed planning decisions
• facilitating collaboration between allied professionals
• supporting the State’s planning system to meet objects and principles in the Planning Development and Infrastructure Act 2016.

ODASA prepared the draft Scheme on behalf of the Minister for Planning and Local Government in collaboration with the State Planning Commission and other stakeholders.

Find out more on the PlanSA portal.

Open Space Grant Program launched

There is no minimum or maximum grant amount, however councils must be able to match the requested funding.

The new grant round has a revised set of guidelines. Unlike previous rounds the funding categories of ‘open space’ and ‘places for people’ are now combined.

This change means proposals can demonstrate alignment with all objectives under the highly competitive program; in turn improving the quality of selected projects.

If you have any questions about this grant round contact the Open Space Team at OpenSpace@sa.gov.au or call 8402 1852. The team is also available to support councils through the application process.

To learn more about the 2021-22 Open Space Grant Program, please download your copy of the guidelines.

PlanSA working groups and user forums

The PlanSA team have established 2 user group forums and 4 working groups.

The user group forums provide professionals using the system with technical support and advice. They provide learning opportunities that enable users to raise technical questions and be informed about technical enhancements to the system.

The forums are held electronically:

• Building User Group Forum – 9.00 to 9.45 am on Teams.
• Planning User Group Forum – 10.00 to 10.45 am on Teams.

The 4 working groups have been set up to regularly meet and discuss the prioritisation of planning and building related enhancements.

The working groups actively review any items in development, provide feedback and make sure items are considered ready for inclusion in the working of the PlanSA system.

These groups include the Planning and Building Working Groups, the Reporting Working Group and the Building Accredited Professionals Sub-Committee.

The Building Accredited Professionals Sub-Committee includes both planning and building accredited professionals on a rotational basis, to raise system and process related issues.

Accredited planning and building professionals interested in joining a working group or user group forum can contact the PlanSA Service Desk via 1800 752 664 or by email: PlanSA@sa.gov.au

PlanSA: Trending topics and resources

Nearly four months on from the official launch of our new State-wide planning system here are the top three enquiries raised with our PlanSA Service Desk – and links to the resources to help address them.

1. How to deal with a request for additional documentation for applications and how to upload mandatory documentation – in order to verify consent (planning, land division or building) the relevant authority will check if all ‘mandatory’ documentation has been provided and will issue a request for any missing documentation.
    
2. How to mark a Building Rules Consent Stage as not required – the applicant is required to provide a Building Consent Not Required letter.
    
3. How to apply for the next consent – when the Relevant Authority grants the first consent, an email is sent advising a Decision Notification Form (DNF) has been granted and this email is the prompt to submit the next consent, i.e. building consent.

For more resources related to the planning system, please visit the PlanSA Support Library 

Municipal services infrastructure in Aboriginal communities

In 2020 the SA government committed $9 million to upgrade a wide range of municipal services infrastructure in Aboriginal communities across the state, to be administered by AGD's Office of Local Government.

Projects to date include:

• upgrading wastewater systems in Dunjiba (Oodnadata) and Yarilena (near Ceduna)
• partnering with the SA Housing Authority to repair septic tanks
• resealing the roads at Point Pearce, Yorke Peninsula
• clearing illegally dumped waste at Davenport, Port Augusta
• drilling a new water bore at Iga Warta in the northern Flinders Ranges
• coordinating with Commonwealth funding programs to reseal roads in Nepabunna, 70 km east of Leigh Creek.

Road and other service upgrades in Umoona and Coober Pedy are being delivered by the District Council of Coober Pedy, providing value for money and local employment for Umoona community members.