Under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016, the planning system is required to assess and manage risks posed by known or potential site contamination to enable the safe development and use of land.
Various instruments specify the procedures that apply to the assessment of potential site contamination when land use is proposed to change to a more sensitive use and to ensure land is suitable for use in circumstances where it is, or may have been, subject to site contamination.
Following feedback from key stakeholders, the State Planning Commission has approved changes to Practice Direction 14 to improve the function and consistency of the Site Contamination Assessment Scheme.
The following changes came into effect in June 2022:
- Site contamination assessment no longer required for:
- residential development on farming allotments
- changes of use within an existing building.
- Removal of agricultural activities from Class 3 (already Class 2).
- Preliminary Site Investigation valid for five years (same as audits).
- Wording made consistent with Regulations.
- Removal of auditor’s role from Site Contamination Declaration Form.
Documents
If you can't find a document, try searching PlanSA's resources library.
Further information
Contact the Environment Protection Authority on 8204 9075 or epa.planning@sa.gov.au for advice on development applications involving site contamination assessment. More information is also available on the Environment Protection Authority’s webpage.
