Consultation open on updating the Community Engagement Charter

Share your feedback on proposed improvements to the Community Engagement Charter and have your say on how stakeholders and community are involved in key planning decisions across the state.

The Community Engagement Charter guides public participation in preparing and amending designated planning policies, strategies and schemes. It was established in 2018 as part of South Australia’s new planning system to help build community trust and confidence in the planning system by providing an engagement framework that is robust and adaptable.

The proposed changes, which follow the Commission's inaugural 5-year review (PDF, 899 KB), aim to:

• ensure engagement is inclusive and respectful for all South Australians by highlighting the need to consider appropriate opportunities for the following communities to influence planning decisions that affect or interest them:
  • First Nations
  • youth
  • culturally and linguistically diverse communities
  • people living with disability and neurodiverse communities
  • businesses, workers and employers
• streamline delivering changes to planning rules such as rezoning land, where the community has had an opportunity to give their views and influence the decision as part of the regional planning process; these changes, referred to as ‘complying changes’, would be subject to a streamlined engagement process where it is clear the change was anticipated in the relevant regional plan
• better reflect that the Community Engagement Charter is now a well-established part of the South Australian planning system and the mandatory engagement requirements outlined in the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016.

A more in-depth review of the Community Engagement Charter will be carried out following the conclusion of the Regional Planning Program.

The Kangaroo Island community is encouraged to get involved in the Kangaroo Island regional planning process, taking place alongside the Community Engagement Charter consultation, to ensure they have their say on future planning policies such as rezoning land for future development.

For more information about proposed changes to the Community Engagement Charter and submit your feedback, visit the YourSAy website.