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Planning and Development - Assessment Authorities

Under the Act, there are several designated authorities who are responsible for assessing development and planning applications.

Relevant authorities

Under the new Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 (SA), a number of ‘relevant authorities’ will be able to make decisions about development and planning applications. These ‘relevant authorities’ include:

  • The Minister for Planning
  • The State Planning Commission
  • an assessment panel
  • an assessment manager
  • accredited authorities
  • local Councils

The Minister for Planning and Local Government

The Minister for Planning (or a delegate) is primarily responsible for assessing major development applications for infrastructure in South Australia. These include development associated with power, water, waste, education and ports (sea and air). A list of current major development projects in South Australia is on the Plan SA – Major projects webpage (opens new window).

The State Planning Commission (SPC)

Under the Act the State Planning Commission (SPC) was established as South Australia’s main planning and development assessment authority [s 17, s 22 Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 (SA)]. No members of parliament or local government may sit on the State Planning Commission. The State Planning Commission is comprised of experts from economics, urban design, construction, social and environmental policy and public administration [s 18(2)] to promote transparency and accountability for planning decisions, outside of political influence.

The State Planning Commission is responsible for assessing applications for restricted development outside of local council areas, or as directed by the Minister from time to time. The State Planning Commission may also prepare state planning policies to establish South Australia’s long term planning and development goals and requirements.

The State Planning Commission is responsible for establishing the State Commission Assessment Panel. The State Commission Assessment Panel (SCAP) has various functions and duties, including:

  • assess and determine development applications where the State Planning Commission is the relevant authority
  • act as the concurring authority for non-complying development applications that are approved by a council or regional assessment panel
  • assess and report on crown development and public infrastructure applications.
  • act as the lodgement authority for all land division applications

Assessment Panels

The SPC may also establish other assessment panels [s 29(1)(a)], specialised assessment panels [s 82] or specialised committees [s 29(1)(b)] to assist in making decisions on complex development.

There are different types of assessment panels:

  • Council Assessment Panel: appointed by local council to replace the council’s Development Assessment Panel.
  • Regional Assessment Panel: established by the Minister comprising representatives from two or more councils
  • Joint Planning Board Assessment Panel: appointed by Joint Planning Board to assist with carrying out the objectives of a joint planning agreement. For more information see the on ‘Joint Planning Board ‘ in this chapter.
  • Combined Assessment Panel: established by the Minister to assess development applications which involve different legislation (i.e. planning and mining)
  • Local Assessment Panel: constituted by the Minister upon recommendation of the Commission following an inquiry into an existing Council Assessment Panel

Building Technical Panel

The Building Technical Panel is a committee of four qualified individuals, with experience in building design, construction, engineering services, surveying and fire safety operations. The panel is authorised to perform some functions of the State Planning Commission, including:

  • Provide concurrence on applications seeking to vary requirements of the Building Rules
  • Provide expert opinion on whether the performance requirements of the Building Rules have been met
  • Provide concurrence on applications granting consent for specific types of building work as required,

The Building Rules are used to assess development applications were building work is required.

Joint Planning Board [s 35, s 36]

After seeking approval from the State Planning Commission (SPC) the Minister may enter a planning agreement in relation to development relevant to a specific area of South Australia (s 35(1)). The planning agreement may be between the Minister and:

  • Any council or council that has its area ( or part of) within the specific area
  • Any other Minister who has requested to be party to the agreement
  • If the Minister agrees, any other entity that has requested or agreed to be party to the agreement.

In connection to the planning agreement, the Minister may establish a joint planning board [s 36]. The joint planning board oversees the implementation of the planning agreement, and may establish specific committees to assist with carrying out the objectives of the planning agreement [s 38]. The joint planning board can be abolished by the Minister if the planning agreement is terminated [s 36(3)].

Assessment Managers

Each assessment panel or committee is managed by an Assessment Manager, who is a professional member of the development industry and has technical skill and expertise to advise and coordinate the Assessment Panel.

Complaints

Complaints against assessment panels must be lodged with the State Planning Commission. Complaints should be lodged within six months of when the incident is believed to have occurred. More information about complaints can be found on the SA Planning - Complaints About Assessment Panels webpage (opens new window).

Accredited Professionals

The Planning, Development and Infrastructure (General) Regulations 2017 (‘the regulations’ set out certain Accredited Professionals [r 22, r 25]). Examples of accredited professionals who are permitted to assess some development applications include assessment managers, some planning officers, surveyors and independent technical experts.

Examples of development applications that may be assessed by an Accredited Professional include (but not limited to) developments that:

  • are a ‘deemed to satisfy development’ with minor variations
  • are no more than 3 storeys high
  • have a floor area of less than 2 000 square metres
  • are no more than two storeys high
  • have a floor area of no more than 500 square metres
  • involve an encroachment across or on a public place (i.e. street, road, square, lane footway, public watercourse etc.)

Councils

Local Councils are the relevant authority for making decisions about certain building-related development applications. Otherwise, a council-appointed assessment panel and assessment manager is the relevant authority for development applications within that Council zone. The Council Assessment Panel (CAP) is appointed by local council, and replaces the council’s Development Assessment Panel under the old Development Act 1993 (SA).

The CAP and assessment manager are considered a relevant authority in their own right and are not considered a delegate of the Council. Council areas are defined under the Local Government Act 1999 (SA). For more information on local councils generally, see the ‘Local Government’ section of the Law Handbook.

Development applications that may be determined by Council, the Council Assessment Panel or Assessment Manager include:

  • Accepted Development (where Building Consent only is required)
  • Deemed to Satisfy Development (i.e. a house on residential block) (assessed by Assessment Manager of Council Assessment Panel)
  • Performance Assessed Development (assessed by Assessment Manager or Council Assessment Panel may assess applications).
Planning and Development - Assessment Authorities  :  Last Revised: Mon Mar 15th 2021
The content of the Law Handbook is made available as a public service for information purposes only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for legal advice. See Disclaimer for details. For free and confidential legal advice in South Australia call 1300 366 424.