Planning Reform Gets Green Light

New laws that reform South Australia’s planning system and unlock investment potential that will create jobs have passed Parliament today.

This will mean two key issues have also passed, as amended in the Legislative Council.

An Environmental and Food Protection Area will now be created and up to one elected members from local councils will be on Development Assessment Panels.

Whilst the Government was steadfast in its belief that assessment panels should not be dominated by the vagaries of local politics, it has decided on balance to accept the amendment made in the Legislative Council for now to allow the benefits of these significant reforms to be realised sooner.

Two new Infrastructure Schemes will also form part of the legislation, together with an entirely new planning system oriented to deliver certainty and clearer and faster planning assessment pathways.

Another significant reform to the planning system that this Bill will now deliver is a new planning system, oriented to provide any developer with an early ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to their proposed development, and not an infinite and costly ‘maybe’. Delays will be shortened, red tape reduced and investment encouraged.

Background

The Planning, Development and Infrastructure Bill 2015 was introduced on 15 September, 2015. The Bill passed the House of Assembly on 17 November, 2015. The Legislative Council passed the Bill on 26 March, 2016.

The aim was to make the planning process much easier for all South Australians by removing unnecessary red tape, streamlining decision making and simplifying regulations the Government believed would unlock employment opportunities.

Quotes attributable to Planning Minister John Rau

We can now realise the State’s development potential, manage our future growth and put people at the centre of planning decisions.

Source: News Release, Government of South Australia, 12, April, 2016

http://www.premier.sa.gov.au/index.php/john-rau-news-releases/382-planning-reform-gets-green-light