The South Australian Government has reclassified retirement villages co-located with aged care facilities as “essential infrastructure” – a nation-first policy shift designed to fast-track approvals and boost investor confidence.
Under the change to the state’s Planning, Development and Infrastructure (General) Regulations 2017, new integrated development applications will now be assessed directly by Planning Minister Nick Champion with support from the State Commission Assessment Panel (SCAP), bypassing local councils.
Retirement Living Council (RLC) Executive Director Daniel Gannon welcomed the move, calling it a “policy no-brainer.”
“Given retirement villages contribute to 14,000 avoided hospitalisations across the country every year, these changes make perfect sense,” Daniel said.
By classifying aged care as essential infrastructure – and explicitly including co-located retirement villages – the government has signalled that housing and care for older South Australians are “core priorities, not optional extras.”
Developments with construction costs above $10 million will still require public notification, but the streamlined process is expected to cut approval timelines significantly.
“This policy shift is designed to cut red tape, fast-track approvals, and give investors and operators greater confidence to deliver age-friendly homes and services quickly in the areas they’re needed most,” Daniel said.
“This is a nation-leading change that removes planning grey areas and paves the way for smarter, faster development. It’s a practical step to ramp up supply and ramp down hospital pressure.”
Why now?
South Australia faces a demographic crunch, with residents aged 75+ projected to surge 64% by 2040 to more than 282,000.
“The need for future-ready planning is critical,” Daniel said. “The ‘silver tsunami’ is coming, and we can’t afford to be stuck in yesterday’s planning mindset. In today’s climate, it’s not possible to talk about aged care without retirement villages – they’re a critical part of the solution.”
The RLC says it will continue working with the SA Government on further policy changes to unlock supply across retirement villages, hospitals, and aged care facilities.
