New Planning Development and Infrastrucutre Act

New Planning, Development and Infrastructure ActFrom 1 April 2017 the State Government will implement the first stage of the reforms brought about by the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 (PDI Act).This supports the Government’s economic priority to establish the most efficient and certain system of development control in the nation. The current planning system under the Development Act 1993 will be repealed in stages, and progressively replaced by the new system. Significant elements of the PDI Act to be commenced from 1 April 2017 include:the establishment of the new State Planning Commission, which will be established to act as the state’s principal planning advisory and development assessment bodythe framework to develop a new Community Engagement Charter, which is the first of its kind in Australia, putting consultation and participation at the forefront of the planning processestablishment of the Minister’s statutory advisory committees, to support the implementation of the new systemcommencement of basic infrastructure scheme provisions and pilot general scheme provisions to provide new tools to ensure new infrastructure can be funded and delivered in-line with developmentthe Environment Food Production Areas to preserve our vital food and agricultural lands and ensure our growth is sustainable and supports better service deliverycapacity for multiple councils to establish joint planning agreementsthe first stage of ePlanning via the SA Planning Portal to provide better information that is accessible 24/7.BackgroundThe Statutes Amendment (Planning, Development and Infrastructure) Act 2017 passed by Parliament on 15 February 2017 is the transitional legislation that will enable the seamless transition between the current Development Act and the new PDI Act to establish the new planning system for the State in stages, over a five year implementation program. For further information on the planning reforms and the new planning system, please visit the SA Planning Portal: www.saplanningportal.sa.gov.au/our_new_system