LGA calls for enabling infrastructure to unlock housing supply
In its submission to the Federal Productivity Commission’s Housing Supply Regulation Interim Report, LGA supported a range of proposed reforms to improve housing delivery but notes that many are already reflected in South Australia’s planning system or are being implemented.
South Australia has established a dynamic and fully digitised planning system which enables efficient and regular improvements to policy and PlanSA interface. When compared with other states, 90% of planning consents are issued within statutory timeframes with greenfield assessment timeframes reduced by up to 18 months.
South Australia recorded 15,308 dwelling approvals in the 12 months to July 2026, an increase of 4.6% on the previous year.
LGA’s submission identifies infrastructure funding and delivery as a major constraint on housing growth.
While significant areas of land have been identified for future housing, many cannot be developed at the scale or speed required without coordinated investment in water, sewerage, transport, energy, schools, open space and community facilities.
LGA’s submission supports reforms that strengthen integrated land use strategic planning, review of assessment timeframes for certain types of development, improve coordination between referral agencies and better align infrastructure delivery with housing growth.
However, LGA cautions against a one-size-fits-all approach to planning reform.
It does not support proposals such as allowing three-storey development across most residential land, removing minimum lot sizes or broadly reducing car parking, heritage and neighbourhood character protections without considering local conditions and wider impacts.
LGA also highlights the need to consider housing diversity, affordability, environmental impacts, infrastructure capacity and community liveability when changing planning controls.
Councils play a critical role in planning through zoning, development assessments and approvals. They also assume ongoing responsibility for infrastructure associated with new housing, including roads, open space and wastewater infrastructure.
The submission calls for greater Federal and State Government investment in infrastructure to support housing growth, alongside better coordination of infrastructure planning and delivery to ensure essential services and facilities are in place as new housing is developed.
To read the submission, visit: LGA submissions | LGA South Australia