November 2022

Message from the Chair of the State Planning Commission

On a separate note, the summary of discussion from the recent development industry roundtable on progressing an urban greening strategy for metropolitan Adelaide has now been published. This event facilitated wide-ranging conversations and new ideas for practical action to protect and enhance Adelaide’s mature trees and green space as part of our Open Spaces and Trees Project and partnership with Green Adelaide.

Finally, thank you to Commission member Stephanie Johnston who spoke at the SA School Geography Photo Competition awards earlier this month. The theme of the competition was “South Australia: A Liveable State” and the photos reflected a beautiful and diverse array of subjects. Congratulations to all the students who entered and thank you to the Geography Teachers Association of SA for all the work they do in inspiring students to appreciate and care for our natural and built environment.

Craig Holden
Chair, State Planning Commission

Message from the Executive Director, Team PLUS

Bradley’s keynote presentation not only detailed our current work at PLUS but also encouraged young people to consider a career in Surveying or Geospatial Sciences. Bradley provided an insight into the role of the Office of the Surveyor-General and the future of surveying SA. I’d like to thank Bradley for the work he does not only as the Surveyor-General of South Australia but also as a role model and mentor to the next generation.

Sally Smith
Executive Director, Planning and Land Use Services

New scheme to help with cladding replacement

Last week the Minister for Planning Nick Champion announced that the South Australian Government would support the replacement of combustible panel cladding on eligible private buildings, including residential apartment buildings.

The Combustible Aluminium Composite Panel Cladding - Limited Loan Scheme will accept applications from early 2023 and provide support for owner corporations to do cladding remediation work on buildings with an extreme or high South Australian Life Safety Assessment risk rating.

Buildings identified with a moderate risk will be considered on a case-by-case application.

Eligible owner corporations will be able to apply for a concessional loan with:

• A fixed interest rate at the cost of government borrowing, which is currently 4.93 per cent.
• A loan repayment period of 10 years, which begins when works are complete.
• No application fees.
• Individual loans generally up to $15 million per owners’ corporation.

Further details about the scheme including the application process will be available in early 2023.

In the meantime, you can register your interest in the Limited Loan Scheme by completing this form.

Since 2016 Planning and Land Use Services has been working with local councils, the MFS and the CFS on an audit of Aluminium Composite Panels (ACP) used in buildings across SA. To find out more about the audit process, visit the dedicated page on the PlanSA portal.

For additional information, please call PlanSA on 1800 752 664 or email plansa@sa.gov.au

Preserving character 

As part of the Expert Panel’s review of the planning system, the State Planning Commission put forward a proposal to better preserve SA’s valuable character streetscapes.

The proposal includes:

1. Elevating Character Areas to Historic Areas
   Support and facilitate councils to undertake Code Amendments to elevate existing Character Areas to Historic Areas (where appropriate justification has been provided). This option will allow demolition controls to apply across a broader area of the state, while still maintaining the integrity and consistency of the Planning and Design Code. Councils would be required to consult with their communities on any proposed Code Amendments to elevate character areas to historic areas.
    
2. Character Area Statement Updates
   Support and facilitate councils to review and update their Character Area Statements (and Historic Area Statements) to address identified gaps or deficiencies. This might include updating themes of importance, incorporating additional design elements, and including illustrations where appropriate. These enhanced Statements will provide a stronger focus on design which is bespoke to local character and heritage areas and will provide better tools for assessment of character and heritage values.

In addition, current heritage and character guidance material will be updated by the Department to assist councils in undertaking character and heritage Code Amendments and the assessment of development in character and historic areas.

Importantly, the Expert Panel and the Minister for Planning are fully supportive of the Commission’s proposal to better protect SA’s character areas and have agreed to implement two aspects: the elevation of Character Areas and updates to Character Area Statements.

The community’s views on further changes to Character and Historic Areas will be sought during the Expert Panel’s formal consultation period which closes on 16 December 2022.

Partnership key to Regional Planning Program

Image: (L-R) Clinton Jury, Chief Executive Officer LGA; Mayor Angela Evans, LGA President; Sally Smith, Executive Director Planning & Land Use Services; Craig Holden, Chair State Planning Commission.

The State Planning Commission and the Local Government Association of South Australia (LGASA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the preparation of the Regional Plans for South Australia. 

State Planning Commission Chair Craig Holden said the MoU establishes the framework for a collaborative relationship between the LGASA and the Commission throughout the Regional Planning Program.

“The MoU will see the State Planning Commission and the LGASA establish and maintain an effective and constructive working relationship that will enable the LGASA to collaborate with and provide input to the Commission on the Regional Planning Program.”

LGA Chief Executive Officer Clinton Jury acknowledged the strong working relationship with the Commission and the ability for the sector to continue to work closely on the Regional Planning Program, which helps shape the vision for planning and development needs of regional SA. 

“The LGA will work alongside councils and the Commission on the development of regional plans which give greater understanding of the Regional Planning Program at the local level and importantly will enable councils to provide ideas for their local communities into the plans.”

The Regional Planning Program consists of seven planning regions, covering the entire state of South Australia, and provide long term visions of 15 to 30 years including provisions about the integration of land use, transport infrastructure and the public realm. 

Public consultation now open - Expert Panel for the Planning System Implementation Review

On Monday 17 October 2022, the Expert Panel for the Planning System Implementation Review (the Panel) released its three Discussion Papers and commenced its period of formal public consultation.

The Panel is open to receiving submissions on issues pertaining to the Review until Friday 16 December 2022. During this time, the Panel will be hosting 11 engagement events for stakeholders and the community, as well as a series of deputations for representative bodies.

To register for an engagement workshop, or to view the Panel’s Discussion Papers, visit the Panel’s webpage.

All South Australians are encouraged to participate in this important work by making a submission to the Panel and attending one of its engagement workshops. You can participate in this process and contribute to the Panel’s deliberations by providing a submission to the Panel:

• Via email: DTI.PlanningReview@sa.gov.au
• Via post: Attention: Expert Panel, GPO Box 1815, Adelaide SA 5001
• Via phone: 08 7133 3222
• Via YourSAy

The Panel will be delivering its final report and recommendations to the Minister for Planning in early 2023.

Environment and Food Production Areas Review Mapping Variations now operational 

Following the State Planning Commission’s inaugural 5-yearly review of South Australia’s Environment and Food Production Areas (EFPA), adjustments to the EFPA mapping are operational as of Thursday 27 October 2022.

As part of the review, the Commission endorsed 23 minor variations and/or technical corrections to boundaries, which have been highlighted in the EFPA Review 2021 Outcomes Report.

Following completion of the review process, the Minister for Planning tabled the Government Gazette Notice and Commission's Outcomes Report before both Houses of Parliament in accordance with the relevant legislative step to enable a 14-sitting day period for consideration.

The Parliamentary consideration period recently concluded, with no motion to disallow the variations. This now means the endorsed mapping variations have been brought into effect via publication of a notice on PlanSA.

To view the notice and the updated EFPA mapping you can visit PlanSA.

You can also view the updated EFPA Overlay mapping within the Planning and Design Code via the South Australian Property and Planning Atlas (SAPPA) mapping system.

The next 5-year Review of the EFPA is due in 2027.

Determination to establish a Linear Park from Semaphore Park to West Lakes Shore

The Minister for Planning has determined to establish a Linear Park along Adelaide’s coastline, from Semaphore Park to West Lakes Shore following public consultation.

The Linear Park will include a shared-use path and will be established through a 1.3km section between Third Avenue, Semaphore Park to the northern edge of the Wara Wayingga-Tennyson Dunes Conservation Reserve, West Lakes Shore.

The Linear Park aims to improve community access and enjoyment of our beaches for all users and encourage active lifestyles through the region. It will be similar to other completed sections of shared-use path along Adelaide’s coastline.

The establishment of the Linear Park follows extensive consideration and detailed review of all submissions and feedback provided following notification of the proposal pursuant to the Linear Parks Act 2006.

The Department for Infrastructure and Transport will manage the project delivery, working with the community, local residents and the City of Charles Sturt to ensure there are minimal local impacts. Construction of the path is expected to be complete in 2023.

For background on the Linear Park visit the PlanSA portal.
 

The Accredited Professionals Scheme Review is complete

In March 2022 PLUS initiated the review of the Accredited Professionals Scheme. The purpose of the review was to deliver a ‘health check’ of the Scheme and to identify and refine areas for improvement.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the review – especially those who attended one of the review workshops. Following consultation with key stakeholders, industry and the Accreditation Authority, the Consultation Report was released.

The Consultation Report captures and responds to the feedback received throughout the review and outlines 32 recommendations. Of the recommendations, 16 have been addressed, 12 are currently in progress and four are under investigation. In addition, the Accredited Professionals Scheme Review Summary was released, outlining the review process.

New modular pumptrack opens in the Barossa 

Stockwell Recreation Park Open Space Redevelopment Project - Photograph by The Barossa Council

The Barossa Council recently completed the Stockwell Recreation Park Open Space Redevelopment Project, which received State Government funding of $254,978 in the 2019-20 Open Space Grant Program.

The Grant Program is financed through the Planning and Development Fund and is administered by the Office for Design and Architecture SA. The grant funding supports local councils to implement open space and public realm projects that provide the community with a variety of uses. 

With the contribution of State Government funding, the Stockwell Recreation Park Project was designed to support the health and wellbeing of the community through outdoor and active play spaces. The completed Project includes a modular pump track, outdoor fitness stations, walking trail and picnic settings.
 

The high price of contravening the Act

Under section 225 of the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 (the Act), when a person has committed an offence that contravenes the Act, a designated entity may enforce a civil penalty through negotiation or by application to the Environment, Resources and Development Court. It is an alternative to criminal proceedings and a penalty of up to $120,000 may apply.

Last year, the State Planning Commission authorised councils to utilise civil penalties as an enforcement tool. This decision was made in recognition of the need to empower local councils to be able to more readily pursue and prosecute offences.

In a first for the state, a civil penalty of $10,000 for the unlawful removal of a regulated tree in the City of Mitcham has recently been negotiated. This penalty was offered as an alternative to criminal prosecution.

Further information about section 225 of the Act, the civil penalty process, and the enforcement tools available to local councils, can be found on the civil penalties page on the PlanSA portal. On this page you can also view a list of any current civil penalty proceedings.

We’ve moved office!

The Planning and Land Use Services teams previously located at 50 Flinders Street and 101 Grenfell Street, and the State Planning Commission have moved to a new office at 83 Pirie Street!

The Office of Design and Architecture (ODASA) will remain at their Leigh Street headquarters.