South Australia is set for a major housing boost, with landmark legislation passed by the State Government unlocking the potential to develop tens of thousands of new homes across the state.
Variations to Environment and Food Production Areas (EFPA) to align with the recently released Greater Adelaide Regional Plan (GARP) will help South Australia meet both current and future housing demand while maintaining the integrity of South Australia’s most productive agricultural areas.
The variations will allow for the potential to accommodate approximately 61,500 new dwellings in greenfield land supply in various areas North and South of Adelaide as well as in Murray Bridge.
The potential expansions for each area are:
- Roseworthy and Two Wells: 43,800 houses
- Murray Bridge: 10,400 houses
- Victor Harbor and Goolwa: 7,000 houses
The changes are an amendment to the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016. When this legislation was drafted and the EFPAs created, the Government’s priority was for 85% of growth to occur through infill development, which is inconsistent with current objectives.
The revision of the EFPA will still ensure that the key agricultural lands surrounding Greater Adelaide are protected, with the variations representing a loss of less than 1% of agricultural lands in Greater Adelaide.
The GARP, as well as the State Government’s Housing Roadmap, announced June 2024 will ensure there is an appropriate supply of serviced land to meet both current and emerging housing demand.
Over the next 30 years, South Australia will need approximately 315,000 more homes to accommodate an extra 670,000 people so our state can reach its full potential.
Since coming into Government, the State Government has approved and implemented 41 code amendments and rezoned almost 530 hectares of land to create almost 8,800 dwellings.
The government is also updating policies surrounding the urban-rural interface to support ongoing agricultural activities while addressing issues like bushfire protection, dust, and noise between farms and residential areas.
Under the new legislation, land removed from the EFPA will be subject to a Limited Land Division Overlay, preventing unplanned fragmentation and ensuring rezoning occurs in a staged, infrastructure-ready manner.
The State Planning Commission will continue to review EFPA boundaries every five years, ensuring ongoing protection for areas of rural, environmental, and food production significance while supporting sustainable urban growth.