What The 2025 SA Community Engagement Charter Means In 2026

South Australia’s updated Community Engagement Charter (2025) is now in operation across the state’s planning system.

While the update followed a five-year review, 2026 is the first full year of implementation — making this a timely moment to revisit what changed and what practitioners should be aware of.

Where the Charter Applies

The Charter operates under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 and guides consultation on:

• State Planning Policies

• Regional Plans

• The Planning and Design Code

• Design Standards

• Infrastructure Delivery Schemes

Entities preparing or amending these instruments must comply with the Charter’s mandatory requirements and align engagement plans to its principles and performance outcomes.

The Five Principles Remain Central

The Charter sets five mandatory principles:

• Engagement is genuine
• Engagement is inclusive and respectful
• Engagement is fit for purpose
• Engagement is informed and transparent
• Engagement processes are reviewed and improved

These principles must be considered in both the design and delivery of engagement.

What The 2025 Update Strengthened

The 2025 revision sharpened three areas in particular:

Clearer Mandatory Requirements

The Charter outlines defined consultation requirements for specific proposal types, including direct notification obligations in certain circumstances.

Stronger Focus on Inclusion

Engagement planning must consider the needs of diverse groups, including First Nations people, young people, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people with disability and neurodivergence, and businesses and workers.

Performance and Reporting

Performance outcomes must be considered during planning and reported against at the conclusion of engagement. Evaluation planning is expected to begin early in the process.

What This Means for 2026

With the updated Charter now embedded:

• Engagement plans must clearly align to principles and performance outcomes

• Evaluation can’t be an afterthought

• Inclusion needs to be demonstrable, not implied

• Reporting must explain how input was considered

For practitioners working in statutory planning environments, the Charter reinforces structured, documented and accountable engagement.

Want to learn more?

The updated Community Engagement Charter (2025) is now available via the Plan SA website.