Infrastructure schemes

Delivering enabling infrastructure in the right place, at the right time, is critical in unlocking land supply for new housing and businesses.

A range of infrastructure is needed to support future communities, such as roads, energy and water supply, sewerage, schools and health facilities. It is important to confirm what infrastructure is required, who’s responsible, the standard and timing of the infrastructure needed early in the growth planning process.

As part of the modernisation of South Australia’s planning system, infrastructure delivery schemes under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 have been introduced as a more equitable and transparent process for coordinating, funding and delivering infrastructure.

About infrastructure schemes

Infrastructure schemes are a new planning mechanism that will supplement existing arrangements such as planning conditions, deeds and bonding arrangements.

They will help facilitate clarity around infrastructure projects by providing planning practitioners, developers, councils, infrastructure providers and landowners with a new legislative mechanism and suite of financial tools to assess their infrastructure requirements and delivery options.

Infrastructure schemes will further benefit the planning system by:

  • ensuring that new infrastructure is suitably scoped, costed, timed and financed before works commence
  • enabling infrastructure to be delivered when and where it is needed
  • enabling stakeholders to agree on, and commit to, quality standards and areas of responsibility ahead of time
  • ensuring that the cost of new infrastructure is spread fairly across all financial beneficiaries
  • replacing the need for numerous infrastructure agreements between individual landowners, which can slow the process down
  • enabling new growth areas to be unlocked for the benefit of the community
  • enabling new infrastructure to be delivered in a more simple, transparent and expedient manner
  • enhancing coordination and quality of decision-making around infrastructure via the appointment of a suitably qualified Scheme Coordinator for each infrastructure scheme.

This process can currently be realised through two types of infrastructure scheme: a basic infrastructure scheme and a primary infrastructure acheme. Both of these schemes are set out in the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016.

There are currently two active types of infrastructure schemes under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016: a basic infrastructure scheme and a primary infrastructure scheme.

The PDI Act also refers to general infrastructure schemes, however this section is not currently enacted within the legislation.

General infrastructure schemes cannot be implemented until the State Planning Commission has conducted an inquiry into the provision of essential and prescribed infrastructure and lodged a report to the Minister. This is a requirement of the PDI Act.

Basic infrastructure schemes

Basic infrastructure schemes will apply to defined ‘designated growth areas’ and provide the mechanism to ensure the delivery of infrastructure that is immediately needed to make a neighbourhood liveable, such as water, sewerage, gas, electricity, telecommunications, roads, bridges and stormwater management.

Specifically, basic infrastructure schemes can support the following types of infrastructure:

  • roads or causeways, bridges, culverts associated roads
  • stormwater management infrastructure
  • embankments, wells, channels, drains, drainage, earthworks connected with infrastructure
  • water infrastructure and sewerage infrastructure (Water Industry Act 2012)
  • communications networks
  • electrical and gas infrastructure.

Basic infrastructure schemes will provide enhanced transparency and certainty around infrastructure funding arrangements for investors and communities by setting down what type of infrastructure will be provided within an area, who will fund it and when it will be delivered.

Through this type of scheme, basic infrastructure will be provided in step with the pace of development and delivered when actually needed, not at some time in the future.

Basic infrastructure schemes will also be useful for the coordinated delivery of infrastructure where there are complex land ownership arrangements or multiple landowners, thereby precluding the need to use infrastructure deeds.

For more information, view the fact sheet for infrastructure schemes for growth areas (PDF, 80.0 KB).

Primary infrastructure schemes

Primary infrastructure schemes will help deliver a wider range of infrastructure than basic infrastructure schemes and can include open space, local sport and recreation facilities, libraries and local community buildings or other multi-use local community facilities.

The types of infrastructure which can be supported by primary infrastructure schemes can include the following:

  • roads or causeways, bridges, culverts associated roads
  • stormwater management infrastructure
  • embankments, wells, channels, drains, drainage, earthworks connected with infrastructure
  • water and sewerage infrastructure (Water Industry Act 2012)
  • communications networks
  • electrical and gas infrastructure
  • open space, including parks, playgrounds, nature reserves, cycling and pedestrian paths
  • local community sporting or recreation areas or facilities
  • libraries, local community buildings or other multi-use local community facilities.

The Minister, Coordinator General’s Office or a person or body interested in the provision or delivery of primary infrastructure (a proponent) may initiate a scheme in relation to the provision of primary infrastructure in a declared project area or designated growth area.

Infrastructure schemes will be overseen by a suitably qualified Scheme Coordinator.

Once a scheme is initiated, a Scheme Coordinator will be appointed by the Chief Executive of the Department, and will assume responsibility for preparing, consulting and overseeing the delivery of the scheme.

The Minister has adopted a Code of Conduct for Infrastructure Scheme Coordinators that sets out standards of professionalism to be observed by all Scheme Coordinators.

For more information on the responsibilities of a Scheme Coordinator, view the Fact Sheet – Infrastructure Scheme Coordinator Role (PDF, 87.3 KB).

The Department is working with state agencies, councils, landowners and service providers on the preparation of the first basic infrastructure schemes under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 to support future housing and employment land in several designated growth areas.

This work on the first schemes will refine and embed the processes for the initiation, establishment and implementation of infrastructure schemes to coordinate and deliver the infrastructure needed to support future growth.

Read more about the schemes that have formally commenced preparation in the Initiated Infrastructure Schemes section below.

Draft infrastructure schemes

Infrastructure scheme type: Basic Infrastructure Scheme

Scheme reference: TBC

Draft Outline approval date: 21 May 2026

Draft scheme consultation dates: TBC

Scheme Coordinator: TBC

Status: preparing draft scheme

Overview

The Murray Bridge Residential Growth Areas Code Amendment, led by the Rural City of Murray Bridge, was adopted by the Minister for Planning on 5 February 2026.

The code amendment rezones about 97.5 hectares of rural land across 3 sites west of Murray Bridge to allow for low to medium density housing, expanding local housing options in the region.

The code amendment sets clear planning rules to guide how the area will be developed. The Coordinated Development Overlay has been applied to this area to ensure new housing cannot proceed until essential infrastructure planning for the growth area is finalised through the completion of the infrastructure scheme.

The Murray Bridge Residential Growth Areas Basic Infrastructure Scheme will provide for the coordination, funding and delivery of basic infrastructure projects that meet the needs of the township’s expansion.

Draft outline for the infrastructure scheme

After considering the State Planning Commission’s advice, the Minister for Planning has determined to proceed with initiating the proposed basic infrastructure scheme for the Murray Bridge Residential Growth Areas.

The Murray Bridge Residential Growth Areas Basic Infrastructure Scheme – Draft Outline (PDF, 1.2 MB) provides the Minister’s approval, and identifies the scope of work and investigations required to develop the funding arrangements for the infrastructure and work program.

The Rural City of Murray Bridge, landowners and persons intending to undertake development within the growth were consulted on the draft outline and helped to shape the final version.

Next steps

The South Australian Government will appoint a Scheme Coordinator to oversee the infrastructure scheme’s development in-line with the draft outline.

The Scheme Coordinator will:

  • prepare scoped and costed proposals for the scheme
  • develop the work program
  • develop the funding arrangements
  • undertake consultation on the draft scheme in-line with the Community Engagement Charter.

The Scheme Coordinator will then develop a final scheme report for the Minister to determine whether to adopt the scheme.

Draft outline documents

Adopted infrastructure schemes

Infrastructure scheme type: Basic Infrastructure Scheme

Scheme reference: B1.2025.1

Draft Outline approval date: 13 June 2025

Draft scheme consultation dates: 16 October to 26 November 2025

Final scheme approval date: 19 December 2025

Scheme Coordinator: Mr Iain McPhillips

Status: Finalised

Overview

To support the Concordia Code Amendment, the Concordia Basic Infrastructure Scheme has been developed to ensure critical infrastructure is planned, funded and delivered in step with development of the Concordia growth area.

The scheme outlines the types of basic infrastructure that will be provided, such as roads, bridges, stormwater management, water and sewerage.

It also details who will fund the infrastructure and when it will be delivered, to ensure infrastructure is available in-line with development of the land.

The scheme was finalised in consultation with affected landowners and key government and industry stakeholders. The Scheme Report (PDF, 1.4 MB) outlines the consultation activities, feedback received, how it was considered and changes made in finalising the Concordia Basic Infrastructure Scheme.

Mr Iain McPhillips, Executive Director Housing Infrastructure at the Department for Housing and Urban Development, was appointed as the Scheme Coordinator to oversee preparation of the Concordia Basic Infrastructure Scheme in-line with the Draft Outline.

Policies for establishing and delivering basic infrastructure have also been finalised and are now included in the scheme.

Practitioner guidelines for establishing and delivering basic infrastructure schemes in South Australia, including Concordia, will be finalised in the coming weeks.

This is the first infrastructure scheme to be adopted in South Australia.

Draft Outline documents

Consultation documents

Final documents

Documents

If you can't find a document, try searching PlanSA's resources library.