The South Australian Government will implement the first stage of reforms brought about by the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 (PDI Act), from 1 April 2017.
This supports the Government’s economic priority to establish the most efficient and certain system of development control in the nation.
The current planning system under the Development Act 1993 will be repealed in stages, and progressively replaced by the new system.
Significant elements of the PDI Act to be commenced from 1 April 2017 include:
- Objects, principles, and general responsibilities under the Act
- The establishment of the new State Planning Commission, which will be established to act as the state’s principal planning advisory and development assessment body
- The framework to develop a new Community Engagement Charter, which is the first of its kind in Australia, putting consultation and participation at the forefront of the planning process
- Establishment of the Minister’s statutory advisory committees, to support the implementation of the new system
- Commencement of basic infrastructure scheme provisions and pilot general scheme provisions to provide new tools to ensure new infrastructure can be funded and delivered in-line with development
- The Environment Food Production Areas to preserve our vital food and agricultural lands and ensure our growth is sustainable and supports better service delivery
- Capacity for multiple councils to establish joint planning agreements
- The first stage of ePlanning via the SA Planning Portal to provide better information that is accessible 24/7
South Australian Planning Minister John Rau said, “Implementation of the PDI Act will provide a modern and competitive planning system to help unlock the State’s additional economic potential.
“The transitional legislation will help to support the transfer of processes and rights granted under the current system, as each stage of the new system goes live.
“It also provides for the staged introduction of new planning tools and governance frameworks in a way that maximises the benefits of the reform program, while minimising disruption for the people using the system.”
