Planning and Design Code

The South Australian planning system is established under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016.  A cornerstone of the planning system is the Planning and Design Code (the Code).  The Code sets out a comprehensive set of policies, rules and classifications which, when combined with mapping, apply in the various parts of the State for the purposes of development assessment in South Australia.

Information about zoning and application pathways is available online via a “ePlanning” system. The Code is a user-friendly online ePlanning system which allows planning rules to be stored, retrieved and maintained. The digital storage of the Code’s policies and rules in a central online database means:

• All rules and maps are held in the ePlanning system and can be easily accessed.
• The Code can be readily maintained and updated.

While the Code exists in a digital format, the full Code or parts thereof, can still be downloaded and printed as a hard copy. For example:

• Council can retrieve and print all parts of the Code that apply to their area. (a small fee may apply)
• Developers can retrieve and print the content of selected zones.
• Homeowners considering undertaking development (e.g. building a new shed or a dwelling addition) can print the rules that are applicable to their proposed development.

Further information regarding the planning system and the Planning and Design Code can be found on the PlanSA website.

PlanSA portal link The Code Guide to Planning and Design Code

Development Advice

Council can assist you with enquiries regarding development within the Regional Council of Goyder.  All initial enquiries should be directed to the Council office and subsequently a qualified and experienced town planner or building surveyor can provide you with further and more detailed advice if/as required.

Should you wish to discuss a proposed development or a current development application with a town planner, an online meeting can be arranged at a mutually convenient time with MasterPlan, Council’s planning consultants.  Council has an online meeting platform available within the office for meetings with MasterPlan, who are available on Tuesday and Thursday mornings or at other times as arranged.  Whilst not located in the Council office, our planners frequently visit the Council area and are available by phone, email or online meetings to provide professional advice as required.

Heritage SA officers are also available for online meetings on Tuesday and Friday mornings in combination with MasterPlan, should the matter relate to a development within the State Heritage Area of Burra or other heritage properties within the Council area. Meetings can be arranged via the Council office.   Like MasterPlan, officers from Heritage SA frequently visit the Council area and would be pleased to meet with you to discuss a proposed development. Further information regarding the Burra State Heritage area and guidelines for development can be found on the Heritage SA website:

Heritage SA – Burra State Heritage Area

Guidelines for development – Burra State Heritage Area

Should you require advice regarding a building matter, Tecon Australia provide building surveying advice to Council and can assist with specific enquiries.

Council has prepared, and collated useful information to assist with the development matters, including:

• Burra State Heritage Areas – Guidelines for Development
• Example Site Plan and Elevations
• Development application checklist
• Planning consent pathways
• Development Assessment timeframes
• Solar Panels within the Burra State Heritage Area
• Fencing within the Burra State Heritage Area
• Caravans and Shipping Containers

PLEASE NOTE: The majority of the Regional Council of Goyder region is not serviced by an SA Water sewer system. Therefore should your proposal require this disposal of wastewater then a wastewater application is likely to be required. Please contact Council's Environmental Health Officer to discuss this prior to lodging a development application on the  ePlanning Portal via eho@goyder.sa.gov.au

Do I need to Lodge an Application?

A significant benefit of the ePlanning system is the availability of online information.  The system allows you to:

• View the zoning of a property via the South Australian Property and Planning Atlas (SAPPA) By entering your address, or searching via the mapping tool, you can see what zones and overlays of the Planning and Design Code apply.
• Look up the Code to see what policies apply to a property.
• Provides a guide to whether an application is required via an “approval wizard”

These tools provide good background information and can assist in understanding the relevant planning policies.  However, there will be occasions that further detailed information is required.  Council would encourage you to discuss the proposed development prior to lodging a development application, particularly as many forms of development that maybe exempt in other areas of the State require approval due to the application of the State Heritage Area policies.

Lodging a Development Application

All development applications in South Australia are lodged electronically via the planning system.  Information about how to lodge a development application, including setting up an account can be found on the PlanSA portal:

Frequently Asked Question -  SA New Planning System

Frequently Asked Questions -  Development Applications

Fact Sheet - Development Application Checklist – Planning

Fact Sheet -Development Application Checklist – Building

Pay online

Guide to create an online account

Create an online account to lodge an application

Guide to submit a development application

Apply for a Certificate of Occupancy

Resources - Find lots more operational instruments and other documents supporting PlanSA planning and development system.

Mid North Regional Assessment Panel

The Mid North Regional Assessment Panel includes Clare & Gilbert Valleys Council, Regional Council of Goyder, Wakefield Regional Council and Northern Areas Council. Meetings are scheduled monthly on the fourth Thursday of the month at 6pm, with the venue dependent on the items up for consideration for that month (in the event that multiple Councils have items, the meeting will be held at the Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council Chambers). If the agenda lacks content, the meeting will be postponed to the following month.

Details on how to connect to the Meeting webinar will be provided by email upon request.

Please note:

1. This request must be received by Clare & Gilbert Valley Council by Noon on the day of the meeting
2. You must request by email to admin@cgvc.sa.gov.au to join the public meeting as an attendee
3. Attendance via Zoom can be made available upon written request. Please note points 4 and 5 should you wish to attend via Zoom
4. The webinar will open to the public at 6.00pm start
5. The public access session will be ended if Council resolves to consider an item in confidence

There will be no public access to the Council Chambers. This does not impact the ability for the public to participate by those means allowed for in the Local Government Act eg: deputations see below for further information.

Agenda & Minutes for Mid North Regional Assessment Panel