South Australia has taken a major step in reshaping how new suburbs are planned and delivered, with a rezoning in Concordia, Barossa Valley, set to deliver 12,000 new homes for up to 30,000 residents over the next 30 years, realestate.com.au reported.
Located about 40km north of Adelaide’s CBD, the 984-hectare site was identified as a strategic growth area in 2023 and has now been rezoned from rural to residential under the Concordia Code Amendment, enabling development of one of the state’s largest masterplanned communities.
The project also feeds into South Australia’s broader housing goals. Over the next 30 years, the state will need around 315,000 new homes to meet demand, according to the government. Rezoning moves across the state have already unlocked about 61,000 sites, underscoring the scale of supply required.
The latest step in the process is the release of the Concordia Basic Infrastructure Scheme, a planning blueprint for the area’s roads, neighbourhoods, train station, and community facilities.
It also earmarks potential sites for schools, health facilities, recreation spaces, community centres, and a retail hub.
According to the state government, the scheme introduces a new approach for South Australia by ensuring infrastructure delivery occurs in parallel with housing development. Residential construction cannot begin until requirements, costs, and funding arrangements for essential infrastructure are finalised.
A key feature of the scheme is a new charging model that pre-defines how infrastructure will be funded, setting out cost-sharing arrangements between landowners and developers before rezoning and development begins.
The state government confirmed it will adopt this approach across future greenfield projects, replacing the older infrastructure deeds system.
“The Infrastructure Scheme model will become the new benchmark for how to plan and develop growth areas, replacing ineffective and inefficient methods of the past that delayed and made critical housing supply more expensive,” SA Premier Nick Champion (pictured) said.
Barossa Council mayor Bim Lange said the council had worked closely with stakeholders to make sure community needs were addressed.
“Council has partnered with stakeholders in planning for delivery of critical community and social infrastructure which complements the state’s Infrastructure Plan,” Lange said. “This includes extensive negotiations to ensure adequate provision of social infrastructure including recreation, sporting, administration, and cultural.”
With rezoning now in place, civil and landscape works are scheduled to begin by the end of 2027, with the first homes starting construction in late 2029, realestate.com.au reported.
For brokers, that means this is not an immediate lending pipeline — but it highlights the Barossa Valley as an emerging growth corridor that will drive demand for home loans and investment activity into the next decade.
The government has also confirmed the new funding model will be applied to future greenfield projects across South Australia, suggesting more large-scale housing developments may follow.
Get the hottest and freshest mortgage news delivered right into your inbox. Subscribe now to our FREE daily newsletter.
