Implementation of the PDI Act and Planning and Design Code
LGA have been providing ongoing advocacy, support and advice on the Planning Reforms and the new Planning and Design Code from the beginning of the planning reform process in 2013.
The support services developed will include training for Accredited Professionals and elected members. Training for elected members will cover ongoing review of delegations, advice on legislative matters and ongoing advocacy to support amendments to the legislation and Code.
There's also an opportunity to identify further areas of support to local government through establishing a planning support service when planning professionals are on leave.
This project's final report and evaluation was completed on March 2022.
Project achievements
The South Australian Government has significantly reformed the state-wide planning system over recent years following the 2013 expert panel review.
Throughout this process, the Local Government Association of South Australia (LGA) has sought to make advice, support, and advocacy available to all South Australian councils through the Planning Reform Program.
The Planning Reform Program has specifically sought to achieve:
- A consistent understanding amongst councils of the operation of the new system and their responsibilities within it.
- Increased capacity of councils to implement the system.
- Where possible, influence upon the system in the interest of best practice outcomes for councils and their communities.
Project outputs and outcomes
Resources from the project have been made available on our planning and building page.
The resources include:
- delegation templates for use by relevant authorities
- information and fact sheets
- template letters
- Terms of References for Assessment Panels
- Policies, Procedures and Guidelines.
Project evaluation
An external evaluation of the R&D funded planning reform projects was undertaken which included an independent survey of councils and one on one interviews. A copy of the Evaluation report has been provided to the LGR&DS Advisory Committee and the LGA Board of Directors.