South Australia cuts red tape on homebuilding

Australians are screaming for housing relief and now one state has cut back planning requirements to make it easier to build.

As national Cabinet meets to discuss Australia’s escalating housing stress, one state has moved to cut back red tape and make it easier for builders to bring in new stock.

South Australia, led by Labor Premier Peter Malinauskas, will cut out local councils from planning consent requirements for new homes within master-planned greenfields zones, meaning builds that meet basic criteria can bypass the council process and go directly to the building consent and final development approval phases.

Port Lincoln Mayor Diana Mislov said stripping away a layer of bureaucracy was a “great move” and a “really good start” to fixing the sharp imbalance between housing supply and demand that has engulfed the country.

“Anything that reduces red tape is a good move,” she said.

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas announced changes to planning schemes for new homes on August 16, 2023. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

The changes, announced on Wednesday, set out the minimum planning requirements for new homes to be assessed as “accepted developments” and include one dwelling on an allotment, minimum building setbacks, a maximum building heights of two levels or nine metres, carparking and connection to water supply and wastewater removal.

The state government said the requirements were assessable by a building certifier so that basic planning matters could be decided at the building consent stage instead of an earlier planning consent process, which could chew up weeks of time.

The changes apply to new master planned zones will not apply to established suburbs, or infill areas, because of the greater level of design that is needed to integrate a new house into an existing streetscape, the government has stated.

Premier Malinauskas said the housing crisis demanded “urgent action”.

“These immediate changes allow South Australians to realise their dream of home ownership sooner and cuts down the lengthy approval process involved,” he said.

The changes apply to master-planned greenfields developments and do not apply to established suburbs. Picture: NCA NewsWire /Brenton Edwards

“This gives confidence to new homebuyers and industry that we are increasing supply in key growth areas as quickly as possible, with planning safeguards in place.”

Housing Minister Nick Champion said fast-tracking new homes in planned communities would deliver the housing boost South Australia needed.

“A more streamlined and efficient planning system means better outcomes for South Australians wanting to build their own home, easing pressure on a tight market,” he said.

“As we unlock vital supply through a record land release, our Government wants to remove barriers for new homebuyers while ensuring long-term planning requirements are met.”

At the federal level, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has locked horns with the Greens over the government’s proposed $10bn Housing Australia Future Fund, which would invest the $10bn figure and then build out more affordable housing from the returns thrown off by the fund.

The Greens are pushing for a nationwide rent freeze to reduce pressure on renters and have withheld their support for the proposal.