Skip to main content
State Planning Commission State Commission Assessment Panel PlanSA Portal

Role of the Building Committee

The Building Committee was established by the State Planning Commission under Section 29(1)(c) of the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016.

The Committee has assumed the functions, powers and duties of the former Building Advisory Committee and the Building Rules Assessment Commission under the Development Act 1993.

Role of the Committee

The Building Committee considers technical matters referred to it relating to compliance with the performance provisions of the Building Code of Australia in the National Construction Code series. The approved Terms of Reference detail the objectives, principles, membership criteria, roles and responsibilities, meeting procedures and reviews to which the Committee are subject.

The role of the Committee is to:

  • consider matters referred to it under the Development Act 1993 (Development Act) and the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 (PDI Act);
  • administer as appropriate any delegated functions of the State Planning Commission; including to:
    • provide concurrence on applications seeking to allow a variance with the performance requirements of the Building Rules;
    • provide expert opinion, when requested by a relevant authority, on whether the performance requirements of the Building Rules have been met by a particular performance solution;
    • provide concurrence on applications granting consent for specific types of building work as required;
    • report to the Commission on such matters as determined by the Minister or referred by the Commission;
    • administer the Development Act and PDI Act in regard to design, construction and maintenance of buildings;
    • advise on the adequacy and application of the Building Rules;
    • provide advice to the South Australian representative on the Australian Building Codes Board as requested;
    • endorse building-related Practice Guidelines and Practice Directions issued under the PDI Act; and
    • provide advice on Advisory Notices Building issued by the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure.

The Building Committee does not have the legislative power to accredit building products.

Information about lodging an application for concurrence or an opinion, the documentation to be submitted and meeting procedures can be found in the information for applicants section.

Committee Members

The Committee comprises members with widespread expertise in building surveying, building fire safety, structural engineering, fire-fighting operations, access for people with a disability, architecture, regulations and compliance and building engineering services.

Members are appointed by the State Planning Commission.

The Building Committee's Chair, Mr Gavin Leydon, was appointed on 8 November 2018 replacing Mr Alan Taylor, the Committee's inaugural Chair. Prior to this appointment, Mr Leydon had been an inaugural Committee member.

Detailed information about the members is available in the Committee Members section.

Code of Conduct

The Minister for Planning has adopted a Code of Conduct (PDF, 173 KB) to be observed by members of the State Planning Commission. The Code of Conduct sets out standards of conduct and professionalism that are to be observed by all members of the State Planning Commission.

The Building Committee is also subject to the Code of Conduct as a delegated authority (or in the performance of statutory functions) under Schedule 3 of the PDI Act. 

The Committee is also subject to the Public Sector Code of Ethics and the Independent Commission Against Corruption.