February 2025

A message from the Chair of the State Planning Commission - Craig Holden

And speaking of community input, this month we also released our updated Community Engagement Charter. The Charter guides how the community should be engaged when there is a proposed changed to planning policy in SA – it’s central to how planning works in our State.

Engaging and involving the community early, when planning policy is being developed and determined, is critical to successful planning outcomes.

The Commission is responsible for reviewing and maintaining the Charter, as well as determining compliance with the Charter principles - engagement that is, genuine, inclusive, fit for purpose and transparent.

You can read more about the draft regional plans and updated Charter in the articles below.

Message from the Deputy Chief Executive, Department for Housing and Urban Development - Sally Smith

Work also continues on our key Housing Roadmap commitments. And while I hate to let the *cats* out of the bag, our new code amendment tracking system (CATS) is almost ready for deployment. CATS will make submitting and tracking code amendments easier and more transparent – a key roadmap commitment.

The public facing CATS dashboard will provide a clear and accessible overview of all code amendments currently in the system. And for those submitting code amendments, the proponent dashboard will be a ‘one stop shop’ for submitting and tracking the amendments.

Also nearing release is the new Development Application Processing (DAP) dashboard for all users. The new DAP dashboard will, similar to CATS, enable all users to easily track, view and amend their applications. It’s another way we are increasing efficiency and transparency in our planning system.

More information on both the CATS and the new DAP dashboard will be available soon.

Country regional plans – consultation now open

Be part of shaping your region’s future

Public consultation is now open for the Eyre and Western, Yorke Peninsula and Mid North, and Far North Regional Plans. This is your opportunity to help shape the long-term vision for some of South Australia's most unique regions.

These comprehensive regional plans outline strategies for land use, infrastructure, and environmental management over the next 30 years, supporting sustainable growth and addressing the unique challenges each region faces. 

The Plans focus on:

• enhancing connectivity for remote communities
• building resilience for a sustainable future
• futureproofing the economy by growing industries such as energy, mining, agriculture, tourism, agriculture and aquaculture
• safeguarding the region’s unique biodiversity
• ensuring there is the infrastructure and housing needed to support thriving communities.

Why your voice matters

Collaboration is at the heart of these Plans. Input from stakeholders including industry, government, and the community, is essential to ensure the Plans reflect the specific needs of each region.

This is the chance to contribute to the future of these regions. Whether you’re passionate about the environment, the economy, or have ideas about housing and infrastructure, your feedback is important.

Join our online information sessions to hear directly from our team about the Plan and learn how you can have your say.

To register for a session, explore the Plan, or submit your feedback, visit:

• Yorke Peninsula and Mid North Regional Plan
• Far North Regional Plan
• Eyre and Western Regional Plan

Consultation closes at 5:00pm on Wednesday 7 May 2025. 

Updated Community Engagement Charter now live

Following a review by the State Planning Commission, and then public consultation, we’ve updated our Community Engagement Charter.

The Charter guides how the community should be engaged when there is a proposed change to planning policy in South Australia - it’s a central to how planning works in our State.

Key updates include reference to the importance of engaging diverse demographic groups, as well as improved processes for regional planning engagement.

To find out more about the Charter and the changes we’ve made to improve it, visit the Community Engagement Charter page on the PlanSA website.

Assessment Improvements Code Amendment – consultation now open

Consultation is now open on the draft Assessment Improvements Code Amendment, which proposes technical amendments to South Australia’s Planning and Design Code.

This code amendment is an opportunity to improve the Code’s general performance, interpretation and consistency, which can lead to better planning outcomes for the benefit of all South Australians.

The proposed amendments have been informed by feedback received from local council, planning industry professionals and other users of the Code. It also forms part of the State Government’s response to the Planning System Implementation Review, implementing recommendations of the Expert Panel.

Monitoring and reviewing the Code and identifying where adjustments may be required in response to stakeholder feedback is an ongoing activity of the State Planning Commission and Planning and Land Use Services.

The draft Assessment Improvements Code Amendment builds upon the Miscellaneous Technical Enhancement Code Amendment, which came into effect on 1 June 2023, and similarly focused on addressing technical and operational elements within the Code, as opposed to changing policy intent or outcomes.

Consultation on the draft Assessment Improvements Code Amendment is open until midnight Tuesday 4 March 2025.

Your feedback is important and will help to shape the final Code Amendment presented to the Minister for Planning for a decision.

Further information on the draft Code Amendment and how to provide feedback is available on the PlanSA and YourSAy websites.

Have your say on the draft Vehicle Parking Amendment Bill

The South Australian Government is seeking your feedback on a draft a Bill to establish minimum car parking requirements for new residential developments in Greater Adelaide.

The draft Planning, Development and Infrastructure (Vehicle Parking) Amendment Bill 2025 proposes to establish a Vehicle Parking Scheme, which will set:

• the minimum number of car parks that must be provided for new dwellings based on the number of bedrooms
• larger minimum dimensions for single vehicle off-street parking areas, capable of accommodating the top ten selling vehicles in South Australia
• a Vehicle Parking Fund for developers to pay offset fees in limited circumstances where the minimum requirements cannot be met.

The Bill has been introduced in recognition that car parking on residential streets has become a contentious issue amongst the community, especially in those areas where substantial infill development is occurring.

The changes proposed in the draft Bill follow an extensive review by an expert panel into the state's planning system.

The Scheme will only apply to residential development within the Greater Adelaide Area in the first instance, but its scope may be increased by designating further classes of development in the scheme in the future.

Areas or classes of development can be excluded from the operation of the scheme by Ministerial notice on the SA Planning Portal.

Feedback, comments and questions can be made through the YourSAy survey, or submitted by email to plansasubmissions@sa.gov.au (subject line: Vehicle Parking Scheme).

All feedback is due by midnight Monday 10 March 2025.

Nuclear-Powered Submarine Construction Yard EIS – consultation now open

The Australian Government will begin building conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines by the end of this decade and the preferred site for construction is near the existing Osborne Naval Shipyard, about 19 km north-west of the Adelaide CBD.

Feedback is sought on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), for building and operating the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Construction Yard, associated launch and berthing facilities and other infrastructure needed on site to build the submarines.

The EIS, prepared by Australian Naval Infrastructure (ANI), identifies and considers potential impacts due to the development, operations, associated changes in land use and excavation or landfill, both on land and in coastal waters.

This includes considering impacts on plants, animals, heritage, community and the economy and how these impacts can be mitigated or minimised.

The proposed development was declared as an ‘impact assessed’ development under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016, which is the most rigorous level of development assessment in South Australia. It is reserved for major projects of economic, social or environmental importance to the state.

A key component of the ‘impact assessed’ process is developing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that addresses the development’s social, environmental and economic impacts.

The Australian Submarine Agency (ASA) is leading a separate strategic assessment process to consider and assess the impacts of the submarine construction yard’s development and operations on nationally and internationally listed plants, animals, habitats and places under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Consultation is open until midnight Monday 17 March 2025.

Draft Accommodation Diversity Code Amendment – consultation closing tonight

Don’t miss your chance to have your say on the draft Accommodation Diversity Code Amendment, with consultation closing at midnight tonight, 27 February.

The State Planning Commission has reviewed the planning rules for apartments, including student accommodation, residential flat buildings, supported accommodation and retirement living.

The draft Accommodation Diversity Code Amendment proposes improvements to enhance housing diversity and provide more flexibility for building apartment-style homes and retirement living across the state.

We are also seeking feedback on a draft practice guideline for co-living and student accommodation outlining the features of communal spaces and shared facilities that should be provided to meet residents’ needs, such as recreational spaces and kitchen, dining, bathroom and laundry facilities.

Providing greater flexibility and increasing the number of apartment-style homes that can be built is part of the South Australian Government’s Housing Roadmap to address the need for more homes for South Australians.

Visit the PlanSA and YourSAy websites for more information.

Festival Plaza Code Amendment approved

The Festival Plaza Code Amendment has now been finalised and adopted by the Minister for Planning.

The South Australian Government reviewed the planning rules for Festival Plaza to ensure this prime location in Adelaide’s city centre provides the greatest benefits for the state and our community.

The Code Amendment provides clear building height and design guidance to ensure the remaining development site is maximised and Festival Plaza remains a world-class hub for the arts, culture, tourism and entertainment.

A change was made to the draft Code Amendment following feedback received from community, industry, local and state government and advocacy groups, with greater detail now provided in the Concept Plan.

This includes:

• specifying a minimum setback of 9 metres from Parliament House's northern façade to preserve its visual integrity and heritage value
• additional detail to preserve view lines to the Parliament House balcony and Aedicular Corner of classical columns and pilasters to maintain heritage prominence within Festival Plaza.

The draft planning rules came into effect on an interim basis at the same time as being released for consultation to ensure that any undesirable development applications were not submitted for this important precinct while the rules were reviewed.

The approved Code Amendment is anticipated to come into effect on 30 January when published on the PlanSA Portal. 

The final Code Amendment and full engagement report can be viewed on the PlanSA website.

Local Design Review launch

On the 12 December 2024, the Office for Design and Architecture SA (ODASA) launched the Local Design Review Pilot Program in partnership with the City of Adelaide, Rural City of Murray Bridge and Town of Gawler.

The Pilot enables participating councils to leverage the knowledge and expertise of ODASA staff to ensure Local Design Review programs are well-established from the outset, successful and can be sustained.

The launch included an induction session for council staff to equip them with an understanding of the strategic context and tools needed for delivering best-practice Design Review. This was followed by South Australia’s first Local Design Review session.

Have your say on the proposal to rename Goat Island in the Riverland 

The Department of Housing and Urban Development is seeking feedback on a proposal by the Ruby Hunter Foundation to change the name of ‘Goat Island’ in the Riverland to ‘Ruby Hunter Island’, in recognition of the late Ruby Hunter’s public contribution and legacy.

Goat Island is a small island in the Murray River National Park near Renmark in the Riverland. Ruby Hunter was born in the Riverland in 1955.

A proud Ngarrindjeri woman, Ruby was born in 1955 near the River Murray and was a member of the stolen generation. She went on to meet her life partner Archie Roach, also a member of the stolen generation, and together they made music which was and still is recognised and celebrated worldwide.

Public consultation is open until midnight Monday 14 April 2025

What we heard: John Rice Avenue Elizabeth South Residential Code Amendment

Feedback is in on the draft John Rice Avenue Elizabeth South Residential Code Amendment, which was on public consultation from 21 October to 2 December 2024.

The draft John Rice Avenue Elizabeth South Residential Code Amendment, seeks to rezone a parcel of land in the City of Playford council area to enable the site to be developed for medium density housing in the future.

There were 38 submissions from community, councils, industry and government agencies during the consultation.

Overall, feedback from respondents demonstrated they were supportive of the Code Amendment or supportive with some concerns, recognising the benefits of the proposed rezoning and overlays, but raising issues or concerns to be considered or addressed if the land is to be developed for new housing.

All feedback is being considered. The finalised draft Code Amendment will be submitted to the Minister for Planning for decision, along with an engagement report which will include a summary of the submissions and how they were considered.

A short summary of the consultation feedback and next steps is now available on the YourSAy webpage.