The draft Kangaroo Island Regional Plan (KIRP) has been released today by the State Planning Commission for a 12-week public consultation period.
To support the launch of the KIRP, Planning and Land Use Services (PLUS) have developed Australia’s first 100 per cent digital, dynamic and interactive Regional Planning Portal.
The KIRP is the first of seven new regional plans for South Australia, to be developed in the innovative platform. Allowing for real-time updates which will ensure the plan remains contemporary and provides users easy access to the regional plans via the accessible interface.
The KIRP is a visionary 30-year roadmap for Kangaroo Island, aimed at fostering a resilient, prosperous, healthy, and connected future for the island’s communities. Climate change mitigation, convenient transport infrastructure, and diverse housing options will be integral to achieving this vision of sustainable growth and community well-being.
The KIRP addresses key priorities for the region, such as preserving the island’s pristine natural environment, promoting economic prosperity and ensuring there is enough housing.
The KIRP maps out the South Australian Government’s long-term vision for sustainable growth across the state and plays a significant role in identifying appropriate land for future housing, employment, commercial uses, and the necessary supporting infrastructure.
Key highlights in the Kangaroo Island Regional Plan include:
- Population growth projections estimate 6,876 residents by 2054. (4,894 residents in 2021 census)
- The need to address housing challenges, including seasonal worker accommodation.
- Emphasis on sustainable growth that is resilient to natural disasters such as bushfires, and the protection of primary production land by focusing residential development in the established towns of Kingscote, Parndana, American River and Emu Bay.
- Kingscote, Penneshaw and American River are identified as key employment and service centres.
- Climate change considerations are integrated into planning to safeguard against natural hazards.
- Infrastructure improvements across the island, including transport connectivity, are prioritised.
The ground-breaking Regional Planning Portal will give all South Australians unprecedented access to state-wide planning and infrastructure framework that will:
- Provide a long-term vision for the region, with supporting targets and actions for land use, transport infrastructure and the public realm through interactive maps, dynamic data and spatial plans.
- Increase the availability, accuracy, and relevance of data to inform integrated land use and infrastructure decisions, including current and forward projections, statistical data, and analysis.
- Facilitate deeper up-front engagement with community, landowners, agencies, and other stakeholders, about plans for their area and how it will affect their land, neighbourhood or townships.
- Allow fast implementation of planning strategies to respond quickly to housing demand or employment growth by streamlining zoning changes.
All feedback received during the 12-week consultation period will be reviewed and considered for inclusion in the draft KIRP, before final amendments are made ahead of the plan’s formal endorsement and adoption in late 2024.
To view the regional planning portal and for more information about the Kangaroo Island Regional Plan, visit
As put by Nick Champion
I’m excited to announce the launch of Australia’s first 100 per cent digitised Regional Planning Portal which showcases the draft Kangaroo Island Regional Plan.
This innovative platform offers real-time updates and a user-friendly interface, revolutionising stakeholder engagement in shaping Kangaroo Island’s future.
The Kangaroo Island Regional Plan aims to ensure there is an appropriate pipeline of land supply and housing diversity over the next 15 to 30 years to improve availability, accessibility, and affordability for the benefit of all Island communities.
Meeting housing demand is vital for the Island’s future prosperity and liveability, and I look forward to hearing the communities’ views on the future growth areas identified in the draft KIRP.
As put by Craig Holden, State Planning Commission Chair
Communities on Kangaroo Island, now and in the future, are relying on us to make responsible, equitable and economically sound planning decisions while recognising and addressing the many challenges they and their Island face.
The Kangaroo Island Regional Plan acknowledges the strong sense of identity the Island has a whole and within each of its thriving towns.
The Commission’s work on developing these regional plans is aimed at future-proofing our state’s wonderful regions, to be sustainable and connected communities, resilient to the impacts of climate change and other challenges.
Underpinning our regional plans is our desire to align integrated planning, housing diversity, economic growth, environmental stewardship, and improved infrastructure to ensure a prosperous future for all.
I want to thank those stakeholders who played a key role in developing the draft Regional Plan, and the Commission look forward to engaging with you once again during the 12-week public consultation period.
With consultation on the Community Engagement Charter taking place alongside consultation on the Kangaroo Island Regional Plan, I particularly encourage the Kangaroo Island community to share their feedback on the draft regional plan and ensure they have their say on future planning policies such as rezoning land for future development.
