Planning
Our role
The EPA’s input into the planning system helps ensure that development is designed and located to prevent or minimise impacts on the environment, human health, and amenity.
If you wish to undertake development that requires approval under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016, your application may be referred to the EPA for assessment. The relevant authority (local council or the State Commission Assessment Panel) will advise whether this is the case.
The EPA will examine how air quality, noise, radiation, site contamination, waste, wastewater and water quality are addressed through planning policies or in development applications that are referred to us.
This approach is supported by the objects of the Environment Protection Act 1993 (EP Act) which promote the principles of ecologically sustainable development (ESD) and seek to ensure that all reasonable and practicable measures are taken to protect, restore and enhance the quality of the environment.
When assessing planning matters the EPA must have regard to, and seek to further, the objects of the EP Act, and have regard to the general environmental duty, relevant environment protection policies, and South Australia’s Waste Strategy.
The EPA has an interest in planning policy documents including state planning policies, regional plans and the Planning and Design Code.
Further information on the South Australian planning system can be found at the SA Planning Portal.
