Consultation on a draft 30-year plan for greater Adelaide

This 30-year plan delivers a planning vision for greater Adelaide, shaping Adelaide’s growth, addressing areas like housing, infrastructure, population and economic growth and sustainability.

LGA South Australia Chief Executive Officer Clinton Jury acknowledged this was a key opportunity for all South Australians to contribute to the draft plan for greater Adelaide and acknowledged several areas where LGA and sector advocacy has led to positive outcomes.

“We welcome the government’s level of consultation, as the plan needs to align with the economic agenda, leverage local knowledge while also meeting the challenges of the here and now,” Mr Jury said.

"It's clear that for best outcomes, we need close alignment of state government plans across portfolios like water, health, infrastructure and education to ensure planning targets, housing and population growth set out in the GARP are met and support strong, connected communities.

"The plan is an opportunity for councils to give feedback and put forward ideas about how this can be achieved, to strategically prepare for growth in their area and ensure planning and infrastructure are aligned so development is well-informed in the greater Adelaide region."

LGA acknowledges a key challenge facing councils in relation to the draft GARP is the strategic land use planning obligations it places on them, which can be particularly difficult with a shortage of skilled planners.

"We're aware councils have two years to undertake planning to meet the targets set by the state government but it is important the focus is on improved development outcomes, not just speed," Mr Jury said.

“The draft GARP’s urban greening target, focus on strategically located employment land and housing growth are positive steps for future liveability.

“However, we need practical considerations to measure the cost of low-scale infill development, ways to better plan land for community use, and consider future public transport corridors."

LGA will work with the State Government to develop integrated infrastructure planning to prevent gaps in essential services​ and tailored strategies for different contexts across greater Adelaide.

“We need bold action on housing affordability and infrastructure gaps while recognising in the future there must be diversity in where we live including locations, housing types, and the way we finance different tenure options," Mr Jury said.

“All South Australians have a right to quality housing that is well-located and accessible.

“The aim should be to create well-planned neighbourhoods that provide the necessary facilities a community needs to thrive, along with access to local employment opportunities."

LGA will work with members to formulate a sector-wide response to the draft plan and encourages broad engagement with the government’s consultation process.

Review of draft GARP

LGA’s submission to the State Government’s discussion paper in November 2023 made several recommendations which align with the draft GARP.

We are now considering areas which may require further clarification and consideration to ensure the final plan fully reflects the local government sector's input.

Successful implementation of the GARP depends on strong collaboration between the State Government and local councils.

We strongly advocate for close engagement with local government to ensure local knowledge and expertise are fully leveraged to shape the future of greater Adelaide.

Get involved

LGA will be putting forward a sector-wide submission on the draft GARP and will work with members to support the consultation process.

Feedback on the Greater Adelaide Regional Plan is open until 4 November 2024.

We encourage all councils to participate in the consultation directly and send any feedback or comments to James Holyman, LGA Manager Policy.

We look forward to working collaboratively with the State Government to finalise a plan which delivers for all South Australians.

Find out more

A series of online briefing sessions are available and can be booked at plansaevents.eventbrite.com.

Learn more by visiting regional.plan.sa.gov.au.