Local councils in Greater Adelaide and key regional areas will soon receive new data tools to support more accurate housing and infrastructure planning.
Developed by PointData in partnership with the Local Government Association of South Australia, the tool uses a geospatial-economic model to help councils identify where infill development is both technically possible and economically likely under existing zoning rules.
Launching at the end of July, the initiative will deliver two core datasets to participating councils:
- Theoretical Development Potential – flags every residential property in relevant zones that could be subdivided under the Planning and Design Code
- Market Realistic Development Potential – narrows this field using PointData’s Urban Policy Model to predict which sites are most likely to be developed, based on land value and economic feasibility
By quantifying potential infill supply, the model gives councils a consistent baseline to support local housing strategies, guide infrastructure planning, and inform decisions aligned with South Australia’s housing growth targets. It is already in use by the South Australian and Victorian state governments.
LGA SA President, Mayor Heather Holmes-Ross, said: “This project is about giving councils another tool to assist with preparing their local housing strategies and making decisions about housing and future growth in their communities.”
“Projects like this support councils to do that job well, by providing consistent, evidence-based insights that they can build on through housing strategies and engagement with their communities.”
While the model offers robust data, it excludes urban corridors, greenfield sites and prescriptive planning actions. Councils remain responsible for interpreting the outputs and determining next steps.
An introductory webinar will be held for councils, with tailored reports to follow in August.
The initiative is funded through the Local Government Research and Development Scheme.
More details are accessible here.
