Answers to Questions

ePlanning System

162 Ms STINSON (Badcoe) (21 July 2020). With regards to the new ePlanning system:

(a) What training has been offered to industry?

(b) What sort of training was offered (e.g. inperson, online)?

(c) Where was the training located?

(d) How many people participated in the training?

(e) When was the training held?

(f) Is any more training scheduled?

(g) Are there any plans to arrange further training?

(h) Has the department or minister received any feedback from industry about the quality, frequency or usefulness of the training, or any suggestions for changes?

(i) When will the new ePlanning system go live?

(j) Will industry have access to the complete ePlanning system, populated with accurate data, ahead of the system going live? If not, why not? If yes, when will access be available?

(k) Has the minister or department assisted industry groups such as the HIA or MBA to run training sessions on the ePlanning system? If not, why not? If so, can you please provide details?

(l) What notification about the commencement of the ePlanning system has been delivered to builders, architects, developers and others in the industry? When was this distributed?

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning and Local Government): I have been advised that:

(a) Industry specific training has been provided in line with an agreed approach with each of the relevant peak industry groups including—

Housing Industry Association

Master Builders Association

Australian Institute of Building Surveyors

Spatial Sciences and Surveying Institute

Planning Institute of Australia

This industry training has consisted of—

Live and interactive demonstrations of the ePlanning system and tailored to audience requirements.

Availability of training videos and guides on PlanSA.

Access to the planning system training environment.

A series of ongoing webinars covering the various functions of the system.

(b) Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the vast majority of training has taken place over video conferencing. A series of videos were produced that were made available via the SA planning portal and a dedicated industry collaboration site.

(c) As per above, most training has occurred online with some sessions taking place face to face in various Adelaide locations.

(d) Approximately a thousand industry members have participated in training across the various groups to date.

(e) The training program began in March 2020 and continued post going live.

(f) The phase 2 training schedule included a series of webinars that invited members of the community, as well as industry groups and councils to participate in training sessions.

A training syllabus was made available on the SA planning portal (PlanSA) and included training videos, guides and webinars.

(g) Training for industry was focussed close to phase two launch for regional groups. Training is best done four-six weeks before the new system commenced. Training will continue throughout the year, with a focus on the needs of phase three councils and industry groups, now that the phase two program has been implemented. However, regional visits are planned over the coming months to deliver supplementary training to councils.

(h) The Attorney-General's Department (AGD) receives regular feedback in regards to the sessions held and necessary adjustments are made accordingly.

(i) Phase 2 (rural areas) of the ePlanning system went live on Friday 31 July 2020.

Phase 3 (Urban Areas) will go-Live next year, a specific date is yet to be set.

(j) On 29 June 2020, the Planning and Design Code was made available to the general public for familiarisation purposes ahead of the go-Live date of 31 July 2020. A training system was also made available for users to become familiar with the development application process ahead of going live.

(k) Training sessions with peak bodies have been held, recognising that applicants and builders need an operating knowledge of the new system. This was timed to occur close to phase two going live to ensure that the knowledge learnt can then be applied and remembered. Ongoing support past going live was available through a professionally staffed help desk.

(l) Regular communications have been issued to key stakeholders in the form of correspondence from the Chair of the State Planning Commission and via various newsletters and social media campaigns.