Learning and support

On 31 July 2020, the new planning system became operational in rural parts of South Australia.

Use this learning material to help understand the new system and how to complete tasks online.

Who should use this material

Applicants submit applications to gain approval for a development proposal in South Australia.

An applicant may be a:

home owner who submits applications that are low cost and low complexity
investor who submit applications that are high cost and high complexity
lodging agent who submits applications on behalf of an investor, home owner or state agency.

Some applicants are lodging for the first time to improve their home while other applicants lodge many times in a year on behalf of others.

Member of South Australia's community may be interested in new development activity happening across the state.

Visit the events calendar for full details and to register for learning and support sessions.

Planners are responsible for ensuring development is appropriately located, designed and considered across the state.

Under the new system, planners will:

be accredited as Planning Level 1, 2, 3 or 4
assess developments requiring planning consent under the new Act
work for state government, local government or independently
help applicants to prepare a development application and provide expert advice.

Land surveyors help facilitate the division of land that is involved in development. Under the new system, surveyors will:

be accredited as a Surveyor
help applicants prepare and submit land division development applications
survey land in PDI Act areas to assist with a land division application.

System Fundamentals for Planners - November and December 2020

The PlanSA Training Fundamentals (PDF, 1493 KB) sessions are designed to provide you with the essential foundational knowledge of the new planning and development system prior to more indepth training scheduled for early in the new year. This course will be delivered online due to COVID-19 restrictions.

You can register for these sessions on Eventbrite.

Building professionals are responsible for ensuring compliance and structural integrity of building work aross the state.

A building professional may be a:

building surveyors who assess development requiring building consent
building inspector who conducts mandatory inspection of building work
building contractor who undertakes building processes in a compliant manner.

Under the new system, building surveyors and inspectors must be accredited at Building Level 1, 2, 3 or 4 to undertake statutory assessment functions.

System Fundamentals for Builders - November and December 2020

You can register for these sessions on Eventbrite.

State agencies are responsible for providing expert advice during the assessment of a development application, to help steer its decision-making.

They also help evolve state-level policy and lodge development applications on behalf of a Department.

Under the new system, state agencies:

receive, assess and respond to referrals on development applications as a referral body
submit crown development applications on behalf of the state
comment on code amendment proposals by Councils and other entities.