The South Australian government is set to examine how its planning codes manage climate risks, including floods, bushfires and urban tree cover, alongside a long-awaited review of the state’s planning laws.
SA Premier Peter Malinauskas has now begun his independent implementation review of the state’s Planning and Design Code, which he flagged in the lead-up to the last state election in March.
As The Fifth Estate previously reported, a major focus will be how the state’s planning system balances the issues of heritage protection against densification and in-fill development.
Running in parallel to the implementation review, SA’s State Planning Commission is gearing up to review how the planning system manages four key areas related to climate resiliency over the next 12 to 18 months.
In its 2022-23 strategic plan, the commission flagged that it will look at making “targeted policy improvements to the Planning and Design Code” by:
- progressing a review of trees policy and regulation
- finalising the state-wide Bushfire Hazards Code Amendment
- progressing flood mapping and policy development
- developing policy to encourage new forms of housing while supporting heritage and character protection
More details on the flooding hazards mapping update, future living codes amendment, and the bushfire hazards overlay amendment are available on the PlanSA code amendments website.
These reviews are currently listed as “initiated”, which basically means the investigations have been approved, but they have not opened yet for public consultation.
The review of trees policy and regulation doesn’t appear to be listed on the planning code amendments website.
The commission’s strategy also shows it will review SA’s regional plans, including the controversial 30-year Plan for Greater Adelaide.
Submissions open for planning code review
Meanwhile, submissions are now open for the implementation review of the state’s new Planning and Design Code. It will look at the key areas of infill policy, urban tree cover, character, heritage protection and car parking.
The Planning and Design Code replaced all of the state’s previous 72 development plans with a single statewide planning scheme, alongside a new online platform for lodging planning applications. It was rolled out in three phases from July 2019 to March 2021.
However, the new code has faced opposition from groups, including Protect Our Heritage Alliance SA, who claim it “prioritises inappropriate development over heritage, history and community amenity”.
“We made a commitment during the 2022 election campaign to review the Code to enable “planning decisions that encourage a more liveable, competitive and sustainable long-term growth strategy,” SA Planning Minister Nick Champion said.
“The review draws on clear messages sent by the community since the code was established.”
The implementation review will also examine:
- the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016
- the ePlanning system, to ensure it is delivering an efficient and user-friendly process and platform
- the PlanSA website, to check usability and ease of community access to information.
The review is being led by a four-member expert panel that is made up of:
- John Stimson, presiding member, Planning System Implementation Review
- Lisa Teburea, executive group manager, planning and urban policy with the ACT Government,
- Cate Hart, president of the Planning Institute of Australia (SA) and executive director of environment heritage and sustainability for Department of Environment and Water
- Andrew McKeegan, executive director, transport property for the Victorian Department of Transport
The expert panel’s recommendations will be considered by the state government in 2023.
Submissions to the review can be made by email to DTI.PlanningReview@sa.gov.au, with more details on the state planning review website.