Development Applications
There are about 50,000 development applications lodged in South Australia every year. These range from simple extensions to residential homes through to major projects, such as the expansion of the Olympic Dam mine.
'development' is defined in the Development Act to include:
- A change in the use of land or buildings
- The creation of new allotments through land division (including Strata and Community Title division)
- Building work (including construction, demolition, alteration and associated excavation/fill)
- Cutting, damaging or felling of significant trees
- Specific work in relation to State and Local Heritage Places
- Prescribed mining operations
- Other acts or activities in relation to land as declared by the Development Regulations
The Development Act and Development Regulations detail the processes for making and assessing development applications.
No development can be undertaken without an appropriate Development Approval being obtained from the relevant authority after an application and assessment process.
Further information about assessment processes can be found on the Assessment processes page.
