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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-02-19 Daily Xml
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PLANNING APPROVALS

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN (14:39): I do not have a question about the long ship led recovery, but I direct my question to the Leader of the Government. Will the minister provide details of any changes to the planning approvals process that have made it easier for home renovators to improve their properties?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (14:39): I thank the honourable member for his very important question, because this government is in the—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: The big issues? I would have thought reducing red tape and saving many millions of dollars—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! There is an old song, I think, As Time Goes By, and that is what is happening to members' question time.

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: It is an important question, because the changes that have been made to the planning approvals process to make it easier for home renovators will contribute significantly to the economy of this state as well as making things easier for its residents. That is what I think good government is all about. Home renovators in South Australia now face a lot less red tape when doing some work around their properties.

The new planning rules to remove many home improvements from the local council approval system came into force from 1 January. This, of course, makes a lot of basic home renovation work exempt from building and planning approvals, to save both time and money for South Australians. Home renovators should be aware that, from 1 January, items such as pergolas, sheds, shade sails and decks in most circumstances will no longer require prior approval from their local council. This expanded list of exempt developments delivers stage 1 of this government's sweeping planning reforms.

Further reforms will be rolled out throughout 2009, including a new residential development code that will dramatically reduce waiting times for planning and building approvals. Most building work in South Australia requires council assessment and approval. However, exempt development requires no prior development assessment or approval at all.

The list of exempt development was expanded to include minor residential development matters that are commonly undertaken by home owners to improve their property. This expanded list includes small sheds of less than 15 square metres floor area which meet certain conditions; pergolas which meet certain conditions, including not having a hard roof; decks which meet certain conditions such as not being more than 50 centimetres above the ground; small shade sails to 20 square metres and no more than three metres in height which meet certain other conditions; solar panels, with certain conditions relating to the weight and position; water tanks of less than 10 square metres which meet certain other conditions; roller doors within specific conditions; certain fences to 2.1 metres in height; and retaining walls to one metre in height with certain conditions.

A more efficient approval system should translate into substantial savings in time and money for South Australians. This government is committed to ensuring that South Australia is one of the most attractive places in the world in which to live, work and do business, and to achieve this we are embarking on the broadest range of urban development and planning initiatives seen in South Australia in decades. The complete list of exempt development and the conditions that apply appears in schedule 3 of the Development Regulations 2008. They can be found online through links on the website of the Department of Planning and Local Government.

Exempt development applies in relation to all types of dwellings, be they standard detached homes, semi-detached homes, townhouses or even apartments. However, it is important to note that, where strata or community titles exist—for example, many townhouses or group dwellings such as retirement villages—special approval relating to those titles may need to be obtained from the body corporate to undertake any development. This is a significant change, and it will be accompanied very shortly by the next round of planning reforms. They are all designed to do one thing: to make it easier and cheaper for South Australians to upgrade and own a home.

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