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.
Guides | |
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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 |
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Development Assessment Regulations on consultation
Completed 1 March 2019
- Draft Planning, Development and Infrastructure (General) (Development Assessment) Variation Regulations (PDF, 859 KB)
- Guide to the draft Development Assessment Regulations and Practice Directions (PDF, 4316 KB)
- Draft Practice Direction - Conditions (PDF, 203 KB)
- Draft Practice Direction - Deemed Planning Consent Standard Conditions (PDF, 566 KB)
- Draft Practice Direction - Notification of Performance Assessed Development Applications (PDF, 652 KB)
- Draft Practice Direction - Restricted and Impact Assessed Development (PDF, 1036 KB)
- Fact Sheet: Development Assessment: What is changing and how will this affect me as a resident? (PDF, 864 KB)
- Fact Sheet: Proposed Assessment Timeframes (PDF, 315 KB)
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Practice Direction #2 issued by the State Planning Commission
Completed August 2018
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Practice Direction #1 issued by the State Planning Commission
Completed November 2017
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Further aspects of the new PDI Act 2016 came into operation
Completed August 2017
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The Statues Amendment Act 2017 came into operation to support implementation of the PDI Act 2016
Completed July 2017
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The Planning, Development and Infrastructure (General Regulations) 2017 and Planning, Development and Infrastructure (Transitional Regulations 2017) were made to provide more detail on new legislative changes.
Completed April 2017
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The new PDI Act 2016 came into operation
Completed April 2017
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The new PDI Act 2016 was passed by Parliament
Completed April 2016
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The South Australian government released its response to the Expert Panel reports
Completed March 2015
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The Expert Panel for Planning Reform delivered its final report to the Minister for Planning
Completed December 2014
A record of public consultation relating to this planning tool is listed below.
Consultation is now open on the 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.
Downloads
- Draft Planning, Development and Infrastructure (General) (Development Assessment) Variation Regulations (PDF, 859 KB)
- Guide to the draft Development Assessment Regulations and Practice Directions (PDF, 4316 KB)
- Draft Practice Direction - Conditions (PDF, 203 KB)
- Draft Practice Direction - Deemed Planning Consent Standard Conditions (PDF, 566 KB)
- Draft Practice Direction - Notification of Performance Assessed Development Applications (PDF, 652 KB)
- Draft Practice Direction - Restricted and Impact Assessed Development (PDF, 1036 KB)
- Fact Sheet: Development Assessment: What is changing and how will this affect me as a resident? (PDF, 864 KB)
- Fact Sheet: Proposed Assessment Timeframes (PDF, 315 KB)
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.
Practice Directions issued by the State Planning Commission so far include:
- Practice Direction #1 - State Planning Commission Practice Direction (Environment and Food Production Areas - Greater Adelaide) 2017 – Issued 21 November 2017 (PDF, 43 KB)
- Practice Direction #2 - Consultation on the Preparation or Amendment of a Designated Instrument – issued 9 August 2018 (PDF, 128 KB)
- Draft Practice Direction - Conditions (PDF, 203 KB)
- Draft Practice Direction - Deemed Planning Consent Standard Conditions (PDF, 566 KB)
- Draft Practice Direction - Notification of Performance Assessed Development Applications (PDF, 652 KB)
- Draft Practice Direction - Restricted and Impact Assessed Development (PDF, 1036 KB)