New laws giving SA developers green light for shared bathrooms
Housing is topping the list of pollie promises this week. The Liberal Party wants a multimillion-dollar fund for builders and the state government is introducing new planning laws making private bathrooms and kitchens optional in ‘co-living’ apartment buildings.
Two policy announcements aimed at lowering costs for developers of accommodation in South Australia have landed this week, with the Liberal Party promising a new finance and grants program for builders and the Malinauskas Government changing planning laws.
The State Government announced today it had adopted changes to planning laws that would give developers the option to scrap private balconies in favour of more communal spaces.
Its Accommodation Diversity Code Amendment would change planning laws for building apartment-style homes and retirement living across the state – City of Adelaide Lord Mayor Dr Jane Lomax-Smith warning the devil was in the detail.
Developers can now add more communal amenities like rooftop gardens and barbecue areas instead of balconies, the government said, in a bid to reduce costs for developers.
Balconies require waterproofing, which could add thousands of dollars to the build per apartment, the government said.
Aged care retirement facilities and supported accommodation buildings can now go up to six stories for larger developments under the amendments.
And a new form of ‘co-living’ accommodation would be allowed that enabled developers to create shared facilities such as common kitchens or bathrooms.
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Lomax-Smith said she had raised concerns with the government during the consultation on the amendments.
“We will take a close look at how the changes impact city development and raise any concerns directly with the Minister, noting that in our submission during consultation we raised concerns about bedroom dimensions, shared toilet facilities and waste management,” Lomax-Smith said.
“Like all changes to the planning system, the devil is in the detail.
“The City of Adelaide has an ambitious population growth target and supports housing diversity to achieve it. We recognise that living in the city requires some obvious compromises due to pressures for valuable space, however it shouldn’t be at the cost of quality of life. That’s why we support greening and further provisions for gardens and city cooling, areas where we are already implementing our own initiatives.”
The government claimed the new practice guidelines would encourage developers to provide a better product to buyers, ensuring shared facilities were well-designed and well-located.
Planning Minister Nick Champion said he would write to impacted councils asking where the new overlay could best be applied.
Champion said the changes “give developers more options to sell to a more diverse range of buyers”.
“We are giving South Australians real choice and flexibility in how and where they want to live,” he said.
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“Our population is changing and our housing options need to change with it.
“These reforms will support higher quality, more diverse and more affordable housing options right across South Australia.”
Meanwhile the state Liberals announced another policy ahead of next March’s State Election, with Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia announcing his Party would commit $40 million via a Build Better Fund if elected to provide low-interest finance and grants for builders that invest in emerging technology.
Tarzia hoped the fund would “supercharge modern methods of construction” like investing in AI-supported equipment or machinery for modular home products.
“Housing affordability is spiralling out of control and the dream of home ownership is fast slipping away,” Tarzia said.
“Helping construction businesses to invest in equipment that makes building homes more efficient and affordable is a key part of solving this crisis.
“We want to help those businesses work smarter and get more people into homes sooner, by embracing new and innovative ways of building homes.”
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Opposition spokesperson for housing Michelle Lensink said the policy would address workforce shortages in the construction industry.
“This policy will support our current workforce to build the homes we need for the future of South Australia, because at the moment, we simply can’t keep up with demand,” she said.
The new pre-election policy adds to a growing list of promises from the Liberal Party ahead of the March 2026 state election, including scrapping stamp duty for first-home buyers on existing homes valued up to $1 million, unlocking land not suitable for farming for development and accelerated three-year building apprenticeships.
