South Australia’s suburban streets could soon see fewer parked cars under a proposed reform that would require larger garages and more off-street parking for new homes.
The Labor Government says the changes would ensure garages are built big enough to accommodate modern vehicles and that new homes include adequate parking, reducing congestion on residential streets.
If implemented, the plan would require one-bedroom homes to have at least one off-street car park, while homes with two or more bedrooms would need a minimum of two.
The proposal also includes increasing the minimum dimensions for off-street parking areas so larger passenger and utility vehicles commonly sold in Australia can fit comfortably, allowing drivers to open doors without hitting garage walls.
“Every South Australian who has watched their street turn into a car park knows exactly why we introduced these reforms,” Housing and Urban Development Minister Nick Champion said.
“Our reforms have been carefully crafted with significant input from industry.
“They will strike the right balance to ensure garages are big enough to fit cars while giving builders more flexibility,” he said.
The government says the policy was developed with input from the building industry and aims to balance practical garage sizes with flexibility for builders.
The reforms come after debate in Parliament over the issue, with the government arguing the current rules allow garages that are too small for many modern vehicles.
Labor says it plans to prioritise legislating the changes and will write to councils across the state to ensure local parking rules support the reforms if re-elected.
The proposal forms part of the government’s housing and planning agenda as the state heads into this week’s election.
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