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Legislation, Practice Directions and Guidelines

Providing clear and up-to-date guidance on the planning system

The Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 (the PDI Act) legislation helps modernise South Australia’s planning system and builds upon important recommendations made by the Expert Panel on Planning Reform in 2014.

The planning system is complex and can often require experienced professionals to make procedural judgement calls. To support them, section 42 of the new PDI Act includes the ability for the State Planning Commission to issue practice directions and guidelines.

On 1 July 2019,  Phase One of the new planning system became operational in outback areas, including the PDI Act, five new sets of Regulations and five new Practice Directions.

 

Current downloads

You can access historic downloads from the Resources Library

Legislation

 
Planning, Development and Infrastructure (Accredited Professionals) Regulations 2019 Jul 19
Planning, Development and Infrastructure (Fees, Charges and Contributions) Regulations 2019 Jul 19
Planning, Development and Infrastructure (General Regulations) 2017 Jul 19
Planning, Development and Infrastructure (Swimming Pool Safety) Regulations 2019 Jul 19
Statutes Amendment (Planning, Development and Infrastructure) Act 2017 Jul 17
Planning, Development and Infrastructure (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2017 Apr 17
Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 Apr 16

Practice Directions and Guidelines

 
Draft Practice Direction - Council Inspection Policies (PDF, 256 KB)Oct 19
Draft Practice Direction - Site Contamination Assessment (PDF, 372 KB)Oct 19
Draft Practice Guideline - Interpretation of the Local Heritage Places Overlay, Historic Area Overlay and Character Area Overlay) 2019 (PDF, 421 KB)Oct 19
Practice Direction - 8 - Swimming Pool Inspection Policy 2019 - Version 1 (PDF, 120 KB)Sep 19
Practice Direction - 7 - Out of Council Areas Inspection Policy - Version 1 (PDF, 141 KB) Jul 19
Practice Direction - 6 - Scheme to avoid conflicting regimens - Version 1 (PDF, 114 KB) Jul 19
Practice Direction - 5 - Appointment of additional members to an Assessment Panel - Version 1 (PDF, 129 KB) Jul 19
Practice Direction - 4 - Restricted and Impact Assessed Development - Version 1 (PDF, 781 KB) Jul 19
Practice Direction - 3 - Notification of Performance Assessed Development - Version 1 (PDF, 467 KB) Jul 19
Practice Direction - 2 - Preparation and Amendment of Designated Instruments (PDF, 198 KB) Nov 19
Practice Direction - 1 - Environment and Food Production Areas - Greater Adelaide (PDF, 43 KB) Nov 17

Publications

 
Development Assessment Regulations and Practice Directions - What We Have Heard Report (PDF, 572 KB) May 19

Guides

 
Comparison chart between the Development Regulations 2008 and the PDI Regulations (PDF, 457 KB) Jul 19
Guide to the draft Development Assessment Regulations and Practice Directions (PDF, 4316 KB) Jan 19
Guide to the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 (PDF, 441 KB) Dec 16

Fact Sheets

 
Development Assessment: What is changing and how will this affect me as a resident? (PDF, 864 KB) Jan 19
Proposed Assessment Timeframes (PDF, 315 KB) Jan 19
A brief overview of the new Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 (PDF, 248 KB) Dec 16
Practice Directions Flow Chart (PDF, 77 KB) Nov 16
Practice Guidelines Flow Chart (PDF, 77 KB) Nov 16

Implementation progress

Completed In progress Pending

Overview of legislation

In 2016, the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 (PDI Act) was passed by the South Australian Parliament. The PDI Act is being “switched on” in stages, and will be fully operational by 2020. The PDI Act sets out a new way in which development applications will be assessed across the state.

The Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 became operational for outback areas on 1 July 2019. Five new sets of Regulations also became operational for these areas on this date.

Downloads

Overview of Practice Directions

A practice direction may specify procedural requirements relating to any matter under the legislation. Practice directions will likely address a range of matters currently covered by the Development Regulations 2008.

Throughout the new Act there are many specific instances where the State Planning Commission is allowed to issue a practice direction. They are issued by the Commission by a notice in the Government Gazette and must be published on the SA Planning Portal. The Commission also has the power to revoke or vary a practice direction through the same process of notification and publication.

In accordance with the provisions of the Act, the following elements may require the establishment of a practice direction:

  • preparation of a regional plan
  • assessment pathways
  • the establishment and appointment of assessment panels.

Practice Directions issued by the State Planning Commission

Consultation

A record of public consultation relating to this planning tool is listed below.

Inspection Policies Practice Direction

CLOSED: Inspection Policies Practice Direction

Consultation close date 18 December 2019

The draft Inspection Policies Practice Direction has been issued under section 144 of the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 (PDI Act) and has been informed by expert advice from the State Planning Commission’s Building Committee and other industry stakeholders.

The draft practice direction outlines proposed inspection levels and is intended to set minimum mandatory requirements that councils must comply with under the PDI Act.

Consultation is now open on the draft Inspection Policies Practice Direction until 18 December 2019.

This practice direction will apply to all councils.
To support the phased introduction of the PDI Act the practice direction will initially apply only to regional councils (Phase Two councils). However, from 1 July 2020, the practice direction will then apply to all councils (to include Phase Three councils).

Downloads

Development Assessment Regulations and Practice Directions

CLOSED: Development Assessment Regulations and Practice Directions

Consultation closed on 1 March 2019

The draft Development Assessment Regulations and Practice Directions set out how the new development assessment framework will operate in the new planning system.

Your input is being used to inform the draft Regulations and Practice Directions to help set out the new framework for planning and development in South Australia.

A What We Have Heard report based on feedback received has been circulated to all engagement participants and published on this page.

Submissions received

Page last modified Friday, 10 January 2020