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| Planning and Design Code | |
|---|---|
| Name | Planning and Design Code |
| Jurisdiction | South Australia |
| Introduced | 2017 |
| Status | Active |
Planning and Design Code
The Planning and Design Code is a statutory planning instrument introduced in South Australia to consolidate land use policy, zoning, and development assessment. It replaced multiple legacy planning schemes and integrated provisions for residential, commercial, industrial, and rural land across metropolitan and regional areas such as Adelaide, Barossa Valley, and Fleurieu Peninsula. The Code interacts with statutory bodies like the State Planning Commission (South Australia), local councils including the City of Adelaide, and agencies such as Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure.
The Code provides a consolidated framework aligning strategic plans like the 30-Year Plan for Greater Adelaide with statutory instruments such as the Development Act 1993 (South Australia), the Planning and Design Code (Administrative Arrangements) Act 2016 (contextual connection), and local policy statements used by councils including City of Port Adelaide Enfield and City of Tea Tree Gully. It sets vertical relationships between state-level strategic directions found in documents similar to the South Australian Planning Strategy and local design guidelines used by entities like the National Trust of South Australia and professional bodies such as the Planning Institute of Australia.
Origins trace to reform efforts after reviews involving inquiries like the Cole Commission-style investigations and policy reports by consulting firms and academic groups at institutions including the University of Adelaide and University of South Australia. Milestones include Cabinet decisions influenced by ministers such as John Rau and Stephen Mullighan and stakeholder consultations with industry groups like the Urban Development Institute of Australia and community organisations such as the Local Government Association of South Australia. The rollout paralleled national debates involving frameworks used in jurisdictions like New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia.
Administration sits with the State Planning Commission (South Australia) and operational delivery through the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure and delegated authorities including regional councils like City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters. The Code interfaces with legislation including the Development Act 1993 (South Australia), planning agreements governed by precedents akin to the Urban Renewal Authority Act 1993 (South Australia), and judicial review pathways via courts such as the Supreme Court of South Australia and tribunals exemplified by the Environment, Resources and Development Court. Stakeholder oversight involves organisations like the Australian Bureau of Statistics for demographic inputs and the Country Fire Service (South Australia) for bushfire provisions.
Content is organised into state-wide and local provisions, mapping layers used by spatial datasets from agencies like SA Power Networks and transport corridors aligned with projects such as the Adelaide Metro network and North–South Corridor (Adelaide). Zoning categories mirror international counterparts used in cities such as London, New York City, and Singapore while incorporating heritage provisions referencing registers like the South Australian Heritage Register and precinct controls used in places like Glenelg. Technical appendices include bushfire hazard mapping with standards akin to those from the Country Fire Authority (Victoria), stormwater management referencing guidelines from the International Water Association, and design codes comparable to those produced by the Design Council (UK).
Implementation required data integration with mapping platforms provided by vendors similar to Esri and compliance checks tied to assessment pathways used by planning authorities in jurisdictions like Canberra and Melbourne. Development assessment procedures involve referral agencies including SA Health for public health impacts and South Australian Tourism Commission where tourism-driven land uses occur in regions like the Kangaroo Island. Enforcement mechanisms draw on instruments akin to planning permits and infringement notices used by councils such as City of Onkaparinga and legal remedies adjudicated by the Adelaide Magistrates Court and appellate routes to the Court of Appeal of South Australia.
The Code influenced housing supply in suburbs across Adelaide Plains and growth corridors like the Northern Adelaide Plains, shaped infill redevelopment in precincts such as Thebarton and Norwood, and guided major projects including urban renewal schemes at Playford and infrastructure alignments for initiatives like Renewal SA projects. It affected stakeholders ranging from developers represented by the Property Council of Australia to conservation advocates including the Nature Conservation Society of South Australia, and informed academic research at institutions like the Flinders University and policy analysis by think tanks such as the Grattan Institute.
Critiques emerged from heritage groups such as the National Trust of South Australia, affordable housing advocates including the South Australian Council of Social Service, and local councils like City of Mount Gambier citing complexity, digital accessibility, and perceived erosion of local discretion. Reforms proposed by parliamentary committees and submissions from bodies like the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute called for amendments aligning assessment pathways with best practice seen in Scottish planning reforms and regulatory adjustments informed by case law from courts such as the High Court of Australia. Subsequent iterations involved stakeholder rounds with industry groups like the Urban Land Institute and community forums coordinated by the Local Government Association of South Australia.