This has included finalising a number of DPAs initiated by the Minister, including the Inner and Middle Metropolitan Corridor Sites and Design DPAs and the Repatriation General Hospital and Surrounding Areas DPA.

In 2018, there will be a very strong collaborative focus on development of the Planning and Design Code - a new single clear planning rule book for our whole state. While we still operate under the existing development assessment system, running under current Development Plans, this will allow us to reflect on what works in the current system and what we should improve.

Significant work is already underway including:

• a review of the South Australian Planning Policy Library
• council led reviews of Development Plan policy
• a review of development definitions
• analysis of areas of commonality in planning policy across the 72 Development Plans.

All this work will help build the Code under the State Planning Commission’s leadership.

As evidence is gathered the State Planning Commission and DPTI will make this progressively available, as well as providing many opportunities for people to share their first hand experiences and ideas for an improved future. A work program for 2018 will be released shortly that will identify opportunities to get involved, stay informed and learn. Our first step is to release a discussion paper on the proposed Professional Accreditation Scheme. We welcome your feedback on this document, which will help inform the drafting of the regulations later in the year for further consultation. The consultation runs until the end of April, during which time sessions will be run to hear your ideas.

Yesterday we opened a new planning space on the ground floor of our building at 50 Flinders Street, Adelaide. We hope this space will be of great value for the sector to come together as we implement the new planning system. For those that can’t easily get to Adelaide, we are exploring ways to better connect, including live steaming and more videos to name a few.

Best wishes for 2018

Sally Smith
General Manager, Planning and Development

Lately I have been meeting with local councils to explain more about the role of the new State Planning Commission and our major work, and talking with local planners.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Southern and Hills Local Government Association in Stirling and, over the coming month, I will be visiting Whyalla, Mount Gambier and Mallala. I hope to see some of you there and I look forward to working with many organisations and people to continue to modernise our planning system for South Australia.

2018 is shaping up to be a busy year – if you haven’t done already, to learn more about the State Planning Commission please take a look at our website. There is also a range of information about South Australia’s new planning system and how we will be working to make our state more liveable, affordable, sustainable and prosperous on the SA Planning Portal.

Tim Anderson QC
Commission Chair

Discussion has opened on a proposed new scheme to accredit professionals who assess developments.

This will help provide complete confidence in professionals making development decisions and will mean better decisions, better recognition for professionals and more choice for applicants.

We are seeking a range of thoughts on proposed requirements for a new code of conduct, improved complaints and investigations management, and a program for continuing professional development.

Your point of view is also sought on requirements for qualifications, experience and knowledge for the type of work professionals are performing.

Please have a read of the discussion paper and tell us what you think – it is now open for comments until 30 April 2018.

State Government and local councils will be working together over the coming months on potential parking solutions in Adelaide’s residential areas.

Leaders will meet in April at a Car Parking Summit to examine metropolitan street parking and hear from transport experts from across the country.

The aim is to find solutions that balance and cater to residents’ current needs, while designing for the city of the future.

A YourSay survey is open until Friday 16 February to hear valuable suggestions and views from Adelaide residents, and we will keep you updated on progress.

We are currently working with groups of local councils to help them come together to prepare plans for land use, transport infrastructure and public spaces in their regions or areas.

Across South Australia, at the moment some 40 councils have formed 8 groups, and are now participating in work to form a Joint Planning Board with nearby councils in their regional area.

These Joint Planning Boards will then prepare Regional Plans setting a robust long-term vision for the region or area.

To support the preparation of Regional Plans, DPTI is developing guidelines to support councils, with the assistance of two groups of councils – the Yorke Peninsula and the Riverland groups.

In addition, a range of tools and templates will be ready mid this year to support the formation of Joint Planning Boards in South Australia.

We’ll be sure to keep you updated as the new guidelines, tools and templates for regional planning become ready.

Following a consultation which attracted a range of views, a number of sites and areas along important inner and metropolitan transit corridors across Adelaide have had planning controls amended.

This will help to support vibrant neighbourhoods with more housing choices close to transport services. There will be an emphasis on high quality design and building heights have also reduced for some sites to ensure they integrate well with nearby residential areas.

The proposed new sites and areas are in Norwood, Payneham and St Peters, Unley and West Torrens. This will also be a catalyst for the redevelopment of the vacant former Le Cornu site on Anzac Highway Forestville and the previous TAFE SA site at Richmond.

More information is available on the SA Planning Portal.

Provisional development approval has now been granted to help pave the way for a new $20 Million world class golfing and tourism experience near Robe, following a wide ranging consultation and rigorous assessment process.

The new coastal resort is planned to comprise two 18-hole ‘links style’ golf courses, a clubhouse, wellness, tourism and function centres and a range of accommodation including exclusive 7-star retreats.

It will be a major tourism drawcard for overseas and interstate visitors to both the Limestone Coast and South Australia, and will complement nearby attractions including the Coonawarra wine region and Naracoorte caves.

It is expected to increase tourism spending by $4.5 million each year, and create an additional 170 full time jobs in South Australia with 147 of these located in the coastal region.

More information is available on sa.gov.au.

This year’s South Australian conference - Respond, Adapt, Grow - will take place on Friday 23 March at The Rydges on South Terrace in Adelaide and will look at a new wave of creative urban planning to help cities evolve and become recognised globally.

We hear on that grapevine that keynote speakers will include Megan Antcliff, Deputy Chief Executive of Investment Attraction South Australia and Jessica Christiansen – Franks, Co-founder & CEO @ Neighbourlytics.

The Master of Ceremonies will be Tim Horton, national host for ‘Australia by Design’ – a 9-part series on contemporary architecture airing nationally on Network Ten.

More info is on the conference website.

Come and see the Department's booth at the conference.

The Urban Development Institute Australia 'Knowledge Series' has kicked off for 2018, discussing a range of hot topics.

This month, Anita Allen - Manager, Planning Reform at DPTI - hosted a session on the biggest modernisation of our planning system in over 20 years.

The session unpacked and pieced together upcoming planning system improvements for 2018, how to get involved and the road to modernising our planning system by 2020.

If you missed it you can find more information about the modernisation of our planning system on the SA Planning Portal.

More UDIA knowledge events are planned across the rest of the year in South Australia, and you can get more information about the topics and how to register on the UDIA website.

Did you know that South Australia has a strong and growing relationship with the Shandong province in eastern China, with the help of the State Government’s China Engagement Strategy centred on this region.

China is South Australia’s largest two-way trade partner and now accounts for over a quarter of South Australia’s total exports – about five years ago it was less than eight percent.

And our relationship continues to go from strength to strength with the third annual government led low carbon training program for Shandong leaders, here in South Australia.

11 County Mayors from the province arrived just before Christmas to gain more understanding of urban planning and renewal, smart cities, and environment protection in our state.

As part of this, the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure showcased a range of planning projects, initiatives and new developments underway in South Australia which are contributing to low carbon living.

In particular, highlighting our 21st century modernisation of South Australia’s planning system and our new legislation that protects our environment and globally renowned food, wine and tourism regions.

The visit and program was a great success and it was fantastic to be able to share with this important region how, in South Australia, we are using planning and development to make a big difference to developing a low carbon state.

See the Engagement and Consultation section on the SA Planning Portal.

• Car Parking in Local Streets in Adelaide survey open until Friday 16 February 2018
• Character Preservation Acts Review open for submissions until Wednesday 28 February 2018
• Accredited Professionals Scheme open for comments until Monday 30 April 2018.

Look out for the redesigned SA Planning Portal which includes restructured, simplified information and new features such as a resource library and a virtual house to guide you through types of developments at home.

Thanks to the community, industry and practitioners who told us what they need, and are helping us to deliver online information and tools that makes planning and development easier in our state.

DPTI through the Planning Ahead newsletter would love to hear from you about any stories or news they may have in the planning and development space – you are invited to submit any news which could be of interest generally to the Engagement, Education and Communication team.