Government Announces Comprehensive Review of Planning System — the Planning Improvement Project

LG Leader March 2013

On 18 February 2013, Planning Minister John Rau announced that the Government will undertake an extensive review of the planning system in South Australia. The review, known as the Planning Improvement Project, will be led by an independent five-member panel (the Expert Panel on Planning Reform).

The Panel consists of:

• Brian Hayes QC (Chair – an eminent planning and environment lawyer and the Premier’s envoy to India); and
• Stephen Hains (former CEO of the City of Salisbury and qualified planner); and
• Natalya Boujenko (a founder of Intermethod – consultants specialising in street design and transport planning and a committee member of Mainstreet SA); and
• Simon Fogarty (DAC member and qualified planner with significant experience); and
• Theo Maras (Chairman of Maras Group and Chairman of the Rundle Mall Management Authority).

“…the Government will undertake an extensive review of the planning system in South Australia.”

Under the Panel’s Terms of Reference, the Panel is required to:

1. review legislation relating to planning, urban design and urban renewal—including the Development Act 1993 and the Housing and Urban Development (Administrative Arrangements) Act 1995;
2. review the role and operation of all other legislation that impacts on the planning system;
3. review statutory and non-statutory governance and administrative arrangements relating to the planning system;
4. propose a new statutory framework, governance and administrative arrangements for the planning system, and
5. consider any matters referred to the Panel by the Minister for advice.

Further, recommendations made by the Panel must be directed towards:

…”realising the vision of —

1. a vibrant inner city for Adelaide—including the city centre, park lands and inner suburbs
2. liveable, affordable and healthy neighbourhoods, and
3. thriving, sustainable regional communities

as outlined in the 30-Year Plan for Greater Adelaide and the new strategic plans for regional areas of the State.”

The Panel will also have a role providing targeted advice to the Government on legislative reforms that can be progressed this year. We can therefore expect changes to the planning system in South Australia to be occurring both over the short term and the medium term.

During a speech given by Minister Rau at an Australian Institute of Urban Studies luncheon held on 1 March 2013, the Minister confirmed that:

• the Panel’s Terms of Reference are deliberately broad so that the Panel may identify and examine any areas of the Development Act 1993 which require reform; and
• the Panel will be consulting with, and calling for submissions from councils on all aspects of the planning system that require reform; and
• that issues relevant to country and rural councils are able to be considered by the Panel as part of the Project.

We will be monitoring the activities of the Panel and any progress concerning the Project over the next 20 months or thereabouts and will keep you updated in this regard.