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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-03-04 Daily Xml
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RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT CODE

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN (14:48): We have wasted half an hour listening to those guys, so I will not be too quick to get going.

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS: On a point of order, the honourable member has been here long enough to know that, if he gets the call, he should stand up and seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question and not give commentary.

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN: That was a regular Henry V contribution. I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Urban Development and Planning a question about the process for gaining planning and building consent for residential developments in South Australia.

Leave granted.

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN: South Australia's planning and development system was subjected to a thorough and comprehensive review, with the results and recommendations published by the government in June last year. The review found that there is an opportunity to unlock significant economic benefits for the state by introducing a more streamlined planning approval system for residential development. What action has the government taken to implement the recommendations of the review and deliver those economic windfalls to home buyers and renovators?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (14:49): Earlier this week I had the great pleasure of launching a revolutionary new era in planning approvals for South Australia with the introduction of a residential development code. The code, which came into force from Sunday, makes planning and building approvals for residential housing in this state simpler, faster and cheaper.

Many homebuyers and renovators will be able to save both time and money when lodging development applications with their local council. A more efficient planning approval system should translate into substantial savings for home buyers and builders, which in turn should provide a significant boost to our state's economy. The first stage of the new code means South Australians can expect reduced waiting times for approvals on their home extension and other improvements. As long as applications meet certain requirements, waiting times for approval should be slashed to 25 days for many carports, larger sheds, large shade sails, verandahs and swimming pools, and to 35 days for alterations and additions to existing homes. That is a major improvement on waiting times under the previous system, which sometimes could stretch out to 12 months.

At the launch of the code in South Brighton on Monday, the home owners who provided their property—and I thank them for that—explained how they had to wait eight weeks for approval for what was basically a simple extension to the rear of their house. Such a long waiting time for a simple home renovation or a project home is just unacceptable in this day and age. We can speed up things and that is the aim of the new code.

There will be a twin track for the introduction of the code, with complying development applying initially to alterations and additions to existing homes. For new homes the code will initially apply only in areas nominated by local councils and only for detached and semi-detached dwellings. Local councils have until 31 March to nominate areas to be covered by the new code.

I also stress that this code does not just apply to metropolitan councils but, rather, all regions throughout the state. Many regional councils, which are expanding into new subdivisions due to our state's growing population, can benefit greatly by adopting this code. It will also free up their often stretched planning departments, allowing them to focus on the more complex and difficult development applications. I urge councils across the state to ensure that their ratepayers and potential ratepayers are able to enjoy the benefit of these revolutionary changes to the residential planning system.

As members are aware, the code will not apply to local heritage places, state heritage places, state heritage areas, historic conservation zones and policy areas, and high risk bushfire protection areas. Also, the code will not apply to development that is subject to a referral, such as those referrals to the Country Fire Service or the Coast Protection Board.

A special process is now under way through which councils are being asked to nominate areas for character assessment that will define specific local variations to the code. This process will prevent new dwellings from having an adverse impact on an identified area's desired character. This government wants to deliver the most efficient planning system in the nation, but not at the expense of the characteristics that give Adelaide its essential character and charm.

In the months ahead, the Department of Planning and Local Government and my office will be working closely with local government and the community to identify the specific features that distinguish character within our suburbs. Some of this work is already being carried out. A recent development plan amendment approval for the City of Unley identified many of these character issues, such as setback and architectural style, which form part of a residential streetscape.

The Legislative Council was put in the unique position of being able to consider the regulations that gave effect to the code when debating recent amendments to the Development Act. Some variations of a technical nature have been made to those regulations since that legislation was approved by parliament. The regulations that give effect to the code were published in last week's Government Gazette, including those variations that involve exemptions from planning consent requirements, such as outbuildings, carports, verandahs and shade sails. All these are conditional on size, height and siting on an allotment and will require building rules consent to ensure minimum standards are met, especially in relation to the safety of occupants.

Furthermore, we have introduced a streamlined assessment provision that will take a maximum of 10 business days for planning consent and 20 business days for building consent. These new rules now apply to house additions and alternations where the addition or alteration is single storey in nature and does not affect the front facade of the existing dwelling: it is altering or adding. Of course, there is a range of particular rules that will apply to specific situations. Examples of these include rear setbacks, wall heights and open space.

In order for the code to work effectively, the government needs the support of local councils, and we have been working closely to road test these reforms. Only last week I had a very productive meeting with the Local Government Association to discuss the rollout of the code. At the same time, I appreciate that reforms of this magnitude will have some teething problems—that is to be expected—and I urge members of the public to bear with us during this transitional period.

However, the end result should mean a more efficient planning approval system for all South Australians—one that is simpler, faster and cheaper than ever before—which, in turn, should boost our state's economy and put dollars in the pockets of home buyers and renovators.

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