Listening to Greater Adelaide: what we heard

As Chair of the State Planning Commission, I am pleased to share the Greater Adelaide Regional Plan: What We Heard Report (PDF, 134 KB), which captures the topline insights provided by South Australians during the recent consultation period. The What We Heard Report is a precursor to the detailed and responsive Engagement Report to be released in Q1 2025.

The What We Heard Report represents an important milestone in shaping the future of Greater Adelaide. It reflects the priorities shared by residents, councils, industry leaders, and community groups across the region. Your feedback is not just heard—it’s pivotal in informing the final version of the Greater Adelaide Regional Plan.

The consultation on the draft Plan took place over six weeks, engaging people from across Greater Adelaide, from Cape Jervis to Port Wakefield and Murray Bridge. We received 673 submissions and survey responses, and over 680 participants joined our online workshops and briefing sessions. This diverse input has provided rich perspectives to guide our collective vision for Greater Adelaide’s future.

What we heard

Through this process, several key themes emerged:

• People, Housing and Liveability: South Australians have highlighted the importance of ensuring affordable, diverse housing and creating liveable neighbourhoods with well-maintained green spaces. Concerns around infrastructure keeping pace with development and the impact of high-rise buildings on neighbourhood character were also raised.
• Productive Economy: The feedback reinforced the need for strategic infrastructure investments to unlock employment lands, support local jobs, and protect Adelaide’s prime agricultural land.
• Natural Resources, Environment and Landscapes: There was strong advocacy for preserving biodiversity, enhancing the tree canopy, and integrating First Nations knowledge into environmental planning.
• Transport and Infrastructure: Participants called for improved public transport options, better integration of land use with infrastructure, and expanded rail services to key areas like Mount Barker and Victor Harbor.
• Delivery and Implementation: Collaboration between government, councils, industry, and the community was seen as critical to the Plan’s success, with many stressing the importance of transparent processes and accountability.

Next steps

The What We Heard Report provides a snapshot of the feedback we’ve received. The next step is to carefully review all submissions and incorporate relevant insights into the final version of the Greater Adelaide Regional Plan.

Following the publication of the What We Heard Report, a more detailed Section 73 Engagement Report will be produced, illustrating the updates made to the Plan following a thorough review and analysis of all submissions.

We anticipate releasing the final Plan in early 2025, ensuring it reflects the voices and priorities of our communities. Once finalised, the Plan will be accessible through the Regional Planning Portal.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this process. Your insights and ideas are helping to shape a sustainable, liveable, and vibrant future for Greater Adelaide.

For more information, visit regional.plan.sa.gov.au or contact PlanSA directly at plansa@sa.gov.au.

Craig Holden
Chair, State Planning Commission