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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.

Consultation status

Consultation is now open on the draft Development Assessment Regulations and Practice Directions which set out how the new development assessment framework will operate in the new planning system. You are invited to provide feedback via the YourSAy website until 1 March 2019.
 

Legislation

Draft Planning, Development and Infrastructure (General) (Development Assessment) Variation Regulations (PDF, 859 KB)Jan 19
Statues Amendment (Planning, Development and Infrastructure) Act 2017 (Transitional Act)Jul 17
Planning, Development and Infrastructure (General Regulations) 2017Apr 17
Planning, Development and Infrastructure (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2017Apr 17
Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016Apr 16

Practice Directions

Draft Practice Direction - Conditions (PDF, 203 KB)Jan 19
Draft Practice Direction - Deemed Planning Consent Standard Conditions (PDF, 566 KB)Jan 19
Draft Practice Direction - Notification of Performance Assessed Development Applications (PDF, 652 KB)Jan 19
Draft Practice Direction - Restricted and Impact Assessed Development (PDF, 1036 KB)Jan 19
Practice Direction #2 - Consultation on the Preparation or Amendment of a Designated Instrument (PDF, 128 KB)Aug 18
Practice Direction #1 - Environment and Food Production Areas - Greater Adelaide (PDF, 43 KB)Nov 17

Guides

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

Completed In progress Pending

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 changes in the PDI Act are supported by the draft Planning, Development and Infrastructure (General) (Development Assessment) Variation Regulations 2019 (the draft Regulations), which are on consultation from 14 January to 1 March 2019.

The draft Regulations set out:

  • how the new development assessment framework will operate
  • the roles and responsibilities of applicants, state, local and other authorities in assessing applications
  • the process for managing disputes in the development assessment.

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.

Page last modified Wednesday, 6 February 2019