The Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 (PDI Act) allows for a range of entities, including private developers, to initiate a code amendment. This means a developer can propose changes to the Planning and Design Code that affect their land or a particular area of interest.

Each step relies on the previous step being approved. If this does not occur, the process ends at that point.

The developer is responsible for undertaking the investigations, preparation of the draft Code Amendment and consulting with the community and stakeholders.

The process is set out in the PDI Act. A key aspect in this process involves inviting the community to have their say. The process in the Act is as follows:

1. Pre-initiation investigations
2. Proposal to Initiate Code Amendment submitted to the Minister
3. Minister approves or declines the Code Amendment Proposal to Initiate
4. Developer prepares draft Code Amendment and prepares Community Engagement Plan
5. Developer liaises with Council and other infrastructure providers regarding Infrastructure Deeds
6. Developer undertakes community engagement
7. Developer prepares an Engagement Report and the final Code Amendment
8. Minister considers final Code Amendment and Deeds of Agreement and can approve, vary or refuse the Code Amendment
9. If approved, the Code Amendment is reviewed by the Environment, Resource Development Committee.

What is a Code Amendment?

The Planning and Design Code (the Code) is a statutory instrument under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016, for the purposes of development assessment and related matters within South Australia. The Code contains the planning rules and policies that guide what can be developed in South Australia. Planning authorities use these planning rules to assess development proposals.

A code amendment is a proposal to change the policies, rules, or mapping within the Code.

Who is responsible for leading the current Code Amendment process and undertaking the investigations?

The developer Amberleigh.

What stage are the Golden Grove Code Amendments at?

Stage 1 – Land north of One Tree Hill Road (Golden Grove Neighbourhood – Plan SA ID 10169)

Amendments were approved with alterations by the Minister for Planning on 9 January 2026.

What information is provided following community engagement?

After each stage of community engagement, the developer reviews and summarises all submissions received and prepares an Engagement Report which includes:

• details of the engagement which has occurred on the Code Amendment
• the issues identified through the engagement and any outcomes arising following consideration of those issues
• information about any change to the original proposal that the designated entity considers should be made
• an analysis and evaluation of the engagement undertaken against the principles of the Community Engagement Charter.

Will the community have an opportunity to have their say and when?

For these Code Amendments, community engagement is a legal requirement (under the Planning Development and Infrastructure Act).

The developer is responsible for undertaking community engagement and presenting the feedback in an Engagement Report that will be presented to the Minister for Planning.

Stage 1 – Land north of One Tree Hill Road (Golden Grove Neighbourhood – Plan SA ID 10169)

Community Engagement occurred from 28 July 2023 until 5pm Friday 8 September 2023.

For more information see the PlanSA website

Stage 2 - Land south of One Tree Hill Road (Golden Gove Master Planning – Plan SA ID 10128)

Community engagement on Stage 2 occurred in mid-2025. For more information, see the PlanSA website.

Why have there been so many different versions of the Stage 1 Proposal to Initiate a Code Amendment?

The Code Amendment has been initiated by developers and they have adjusted the scope as circumstances have changed. Each of the adjustments have triggered a formal change which needs to be approved by the Minister for Planning. In summary there have been 5 versions:

1. Golden Grove (Rural Living Zone to Neighbourhood-type Zone) Code Amendment (Council-led and withdrawn)
2. Golden Grove Commercial/Retail Code Amendment (Developer-led and withdrawn)
3. Golden Grove Neighbourhood and Commercial Code Amendment (Developer-led and withdrawn)
4. Golden Grove Neighbourhood (Stage 1) Code Amendment (Developer-led) affects land north of One Tree Hill Road.
5. Golden Grove Master Planned (Stage 2) Code Amendment (Developer-led)  affects land south of One Tree Hill Road.

What are the conditions that the Minister for Planning imposed on the current Stage 1 Proposal to Initiate?

The key stage 1 conditions imposed by the Minister are summarised as follows:

The scope of the proposed Code Amendment does not include the creation of new planning rules, and is limited to the spatial application of zones, subzones, overlays, or technical and numerical variations provided for under the published Planning and Design Code (the Code) on the date the Amendment is released for consultation.

• The Code Amendment is prepared by a person with qualifications and experience that is equivalent to an Accredited Professional - Planning Level 1 under the Act.
• Prior to adoption of the Code Amendment, the Designated Entity must demonstrate to my satisfaction, as Minister for Planning, that all necessary agreements or deeds are fully executed as required to secure the funding and/or delivery of all infrastructure required to accommodate the development of the affected area, as proposed by the Code Amendment (to the satisfaction of all relevant infrastructure providers).
• The previously initiated Golden Grove Neighbourhood and Commercial Code Amendment must be formally withdrawn.
• For the land within 300-500 metres of the quarry boundary, the Designated Entity must undertake the following investigations to the satisfaction of the Environment Protection Authority: 
  - Air quality monitoring 
  - Noise monitoring.

Traffic issues

These issues are being considered, along with other important issues, as part of investigations.

• Investigations have identified that the proposed development will have an impact on One Tree Hill Road beyond the property boundaries. As such, there will be requirements to upgrade One Tree Hill Road from the site of the development to Golden Grove Road.

What are the conditions that the Minister for Planning imposed on Stage 2 Proposal to Initiate?

The key stage 2 conditions imposed by the Minister are summarised as follows:

The Commission has, under section 73(6)(f) of the Act, resolved to specify the following further investigations or information requirements in addition to that outlined in the Proposal to Initiate:

• Further traffic modelling based on a future development scenario for the Affected Area for Stage 2 (300 – 450 allotments) including consideration of proposed uses in the Employment Zone.
• Investigate if there are any additional areas where a land management agreement may apply in the knowledge of the future location of extraction / quarrying activities proposed adjacent to the Crouch Road boundary.
• Consider interface impacts between future housing and the proposed Employment Zone.
• Investigate flora, fauna and trees assessment for Stage 2.
• Explore the preparation and use of a Concept Plan to show the following:
  • potential interface management treatment
  • details on future road networks and traffic measures, pedestrian and cycling pathways, any key aspects in the delivery of infrastructure, the proposed landscaping mounding and access to the quarry off Crouch Road.
• In undertaking the above additional investigations, consider and investigate those matters proposed as future commitments as part of the URPS Draft Commitments and Outcomes Report (and as a finalised document in due course).
• A search of the Register of Aboriginal Sites and Objects (Taa wika) be undertaken to identify relevant Aboriginal heritage considerations, including any identified cultural sites and objects.

What other investigations were covered?

Detailed investigations for both the Stage 1 and Stage 1 Code Amendment have been undertaken on the matters below:

• Bushfire
• Aboriginal and historical heritage
• Ecology and fauna
• Utility services
• Environmental due diligence
• Social infrastructure
• Demand for rural living land
• Infrastructure schemes
• Residential land supply and demand
• Environmental food production area
• Noise and air quality – the Minister for Planning has required specific investigations into air and noise quality over a 12-month period. A preliminary report has been undertaken and is provided as part of the Code Amendment documentation, with detailed investigations continuing to be undertaken.

Copies of the investigations can be accessed via the PlanSA website under documents.

July 2021: Council received a request from YAS Property and Development (YAS P&D) and Falkenburg Road Pty Ltd requesting that Council initiate and lead a Code Amendment that would rezone the Rural Living Zone at Golden Grove (excluding 53 and 99 Crouch Road) (Stage 1) to a Master Planned Neighbourhood Zone to enable the construction of approximately 1,500 new homes and approximately 3,900 residents over 10 to 15 years.

Council agreed to lead the investigations for rezoning and lodged a Proposal to Initiate a Golden Grove (Rural Living Zone to Neighbourhood-type Zone) Code Amendment with the Minister for Planning to be funded by YAS. At around the same time, YAS lodged a Proposal to Initiate a developer-led Golden Grove Commercial/Retail Code Amendment with the Minister for Planning relating to 53 and 99 Crouch Road Golden Grove, to rezone these parcels from Rural Living Zone to a commercial/retail zone.

15 March 2022: YAS advised Council that they had requested the Minister for Planning to merge the two Code Amendments into one and that this would be led by the developers rather than by Council.

22 March 2022: Council resolved to withdraw the original Proposal to Initiate the Golden Grove (Rural Living to Neighbourhood-Type Zone) Code Amendment if the Minister approved the developer-led Proposal to Initiate.

6 October 2022: The Minister for Planning, the Hon Nick Champion, advised Council that he had approved the Proposal to Initiate the developer-led combined Golden Grove Neighbourhood and Commercial Code Amendment with conditions. The developer responsible for undertaking the Code Amendment process is YAS Property and Development and Falkenburg Road Pty Ltd.

The original Council-led Proposal to Initiate the Golden Grove (Rural Living to Neighbourhood-Type Zone) Code Amendment has now been withdrawn.

March 2023: The developer submitted a new Proposal to Initiate a Golden Grove Neighbourhood Code Amendment to the Minister for Planning that only included properties north of One Tree Hill Road. This area would be stage 1 of a rezoning process. A future stage 2 would comprise properties south of One Tree Hill Road. As at March 2023, Stage 1 proposes 340 allotments and stage 2 proposes 160 allotments. (noting that these figures have now been revised as per the stage 2 proposal to initiate documentation on the PlanSA Website)

28 April 2023: The Minister for Planning approved the new Proposal to Initiate with conditions.

30 April 2023: In a Media Release, The Minister for Planning announced this land at Golden Grove would be unlocked for development to address the growing housing need in South Australia.

2 June 2023: The Minister for Planning issued variations to the conditions.

28 July 2023: The developer is commencing community engagement on Stage 1 of the Golden Grove Neighbourhood Code Amendment (land north of One Tree Hill Road only) in accordance with the Community Engagement Charter, The proposed Code Amendment, Engagement Plan and Fact Sheets prepared by the developer can be viewed on the PlanSA website

8 September 2023: Community Engagement closed. The outcomes of Community Engagement to be reviewed by the developer, with an Outcomes of Community Engagement Report to be prepared.

3 February 2025: Stage 2 (land to the south of One Tree Hill Road) proposal to initiate lodged with PlanSA.

9 April 2025: The Minister for Planning approved the stage 2 proposal to initiate with specified further investigations or information requirements. The proposal to initiate document can be accessed via the PlanSA website under documents (Code Amendment ID 10128).

July – August 2025: Community engagement was undertaken for Stage 2 Code Amendment.

9 January 2026: The Minister for Planning approved both Stage 1 and 2 Code Amendments with alterations.