We’ve made a submission on the South Australian Draft Engineering Requirements for Land Division.
The draft Design Standard 1 – Engineering Requirements for Land Division provides technical guidance, building on existing planning rules to deliver more transparent and consistent design standards, construction specifications and infrastructure costs for land divisions.
View our submission.
We felt compelled to submit a response regarding the design standards presented. Our concerns relate to the apparent misalignment between the proposed standards and the broader goals of creating walkable, healthy, and liveable communities. Instead of fostering active, people-focused neighbourhoods, it is viewed that the draft Design Standards risk entrenching carcentric development that contributes to unhealthy and unsustainable urban environments in South Australia.
This direction is deeply concerning and appears inconsistent not only with Walking SA’s vision (stated below) but also with the State’s strategic objectives for integrated planning, health, sustainability, and transport choice, as well as other State government guidance.
Our vision is for a world-class, walkable South Australia, where cities and communities are designed to encourage more people to walk more often. This vision is supported by the four pillars outlined in our Walking SA Strategic Plan (2023–2025): walkability, walk experiences, socially responsive and sustainable growth.
Our submission provides a high-level response based on a brief review of the material; however, it is strengthened by insights from conversations with other key stakeholders who share serious concerns about the future of new developments should this design standard be endorsed in its current form:
- Misalignment with DIT’s Active Travel Design Guide
- Misalignment with State Planning Policies
- Walking SA expectations
Walking SA urges that the Design Standards be revised to support integrated, healthy, walk-first neighbourhoods that are better aligned with the State’s own Active Travel Design Guide and relevant State Planning Policies.