{"id":"northern-parklands-regulations-2026","name":"Northern Parklands Regulations 2026","slug":"northern-parklands-regulations-2026","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"sa","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":236231,"registerId":"sa-northern-parklands-regulations-2026-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-06","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Northern Parklands Regulations 2026","content":"South Australia\nNorthern Parklands Regulations 2026\nunder the Northern Parklands Act 2025\n\nContents\nPart 1—Preliminary\n1\tShort title\n2\tCommencement\n3\tInterpretation\nPart 2—Northern Parklands Trust\n4\tAnnual business plan\n5\tPayment of contributions by councils\n6\tImposition of levy by councils\nPart 3—Statutory trusts\n7\tDamage etc to property of statutory trust\nPart 4—Conduct of users of trust parklands\n8\tBehaviour in trust parklands\n9\tRestricted activities\n10\tAnimals\n11\tUse of motor vehicles\nPart 5—Miscellaneous\n12\tAuthorisations and permissions\n13\tRecovery of costs of certain acquisitions\nPart 6—Transitional provisions\n14\tMembers of the Northern Parklands Trust\n15\tFirst plans and agreements\nLegislative history\n\nPart 1—Preliminary\n1—Short title\nThese regulations may be cited as the Northern Parklands Regulations 2026.\n2—Commencement\nThese regulations come into operation on the day on which section 11 of the Northern Parklands Act 2025 comes into operation.\n3—Interpretation\nIn these regulations—\nAct means the Northern Parklands Act 2025;\ncamping includes sleeping overnight in a motor vehicle parked in the trust parklands;\nmotor vehicle has the same meaning as in the Road Traffic Act 1961.\nPart 2—Northern Parklands Trust\n4—Annual business plan\nFor the purposes of section 15(15) of the Act, the approval of the Minister is required in relation to a variation of an annual business plan of the Northern Parklands Trust in circumstances in which contributions by constituent councils under Part 4 are varied.\n5—Payment of contributions by councils\nInterest accrues under section 17(1) of the Act from the date on which the instalment was payable under that section at the Reserve Bank of Australia Cash Rate Target on 1 July in the financial year in which the instalment was payable, as published on the Reserve Bank of Australia website, calculated in respect of each month (or part of a month) for which the relevant amount remains unpaid.\n6—Imposition of levy by councils\n\t(1)\tPursuant to section 19(5) of the Act, the following purposes for which rateable land is used are prescribed:\n\t(a)\tResidential comprising the use of land for a detached dwelling, group dwelling, residential flat building, row dwelling or semi‑detached dwelling within the meaning of the Planning and Design Code;\n\t(b)\tCommercial—Shop comprising the use of land for a shop within the meaning of the Planning and Design Code;\n\t(c)\tCommercial—Office comprising the use of land for an office within the meaning of the Planning and Design Code;\n\t(d)\tCommercial—Other comprising any other commercial use of land not referred to in the categories specified in paragraph (b) or (c);\n\t(e)\tIndustry—Light comprising the use of land for a light industry within the meaning of the Planning and Design Code;\n\t(f)\tIndustry—Other comprising any other industrial use of land not referred to in the category specified in paragraph (e);\n\t(g)\tPrimary Production comprising—\n\t(i)\tfarming within the meaning of the Planning and Design Code; or\n\t(ii)\thorticulture within the meaning of the Planning and Design Code; or\n\t(iii)\tthe use of land for horse keeping, animal keeping or intensive animal husbandry within the meaning of the Planning and Design Code; or\n\t(iv)\tin respect of a dairy situated on a farm—the use of land for a dairy within the meaning of the Planning and Design Code; or\n\t(v)\tcommercial forestry within the meaning of the Planning and Design Code;\n\t(h)\tVacant land comprising the non‑use of vacant land;\n\t(i)\tOther comprising any other use of land not referred to in a previous category.\n\t(2)\tPursuant to section 19(3)(d) of the Act, the operation of section 152(2) of the Local Government Act 1999 is modified—\n\t(a)\tas if it extended to a separate rate as well as a fixed charge; and\n\t(b)\tas if—\n\t(i)\tsection 152(2)(c) provided that if a separate rate is a fixed charge based on a factor referred to in section 19(3)(a)(ii) or (iii) of the Northern Parklands Act 2025 and is imposed in respect of 2 or more pieces of contiguous rateable land (being land that is owned by the same owner and occupied by the same occupier), then only 1 fixed charge may be imposed against the whole of the land; and\n\t(ii)\tsection 152(2)(d) provided that if a separate rate is a fixed charge based on the factor referred to in section 19(3)(a)(ii) of the Northern Parklands Act 2025 and is imposed in respect of land constituting a single farm enterprise, then only 1 fixed charge may be imposed against the whole of the land.\n\t(3)\tPursuant to section 19(3)(d) of the Act, the operation of section 159(9) of the Local Government Act 1999 is modified—\n\t(a)\tso as to not require a council that grants to a person or body a rebate of general rates under section 166 of the Local Government Act 1999 to grant a comparable rebate of a Northern Parklands levy to the person or body; and\n\t(b)\tso as to allow a council to grant to a person or body a rebate of a Northern Parklands levy under section 166 of the Local Government Act 1999 that is different to a rebate of general rates granted to the person or body.\n\t(4)\tIn this regulation—\nPlanning and Design Code means the Planning and Design Code under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016.\nPart 3—Statutory trusts\n7—Damage etc to property of statutory trust\nFor the purposes of section 38(b) of the Act, the following periods are prescribed:\n\t(a)\t21 days; or\n\t(b)\tif another period is authorised by the statutory trust—that period.\nPart 4—Conduct of users of trust parklands\n8—Behaviour in trust parklands\nA person must not, while in trust parklands—\n\t(a)\tbehave in a disorderly or offensive manner; or\n\t(b)\tuse threatening, insulting, abusive or indecent language; or\n\t(c)\tcreate a disturbance or nuisance; or\n\t(d)\twilfully obstruct, disturb or harass another person engaged in the proper use of the trust parklands.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $160.\n9—Restricted activities\nA person must not, without the permission of the responsible statutory trust, while in trust parklands—\n\t(a)\tcarry, use or discharge a firearm, airgun or other weapon; or\n\t(b)\tdeposit litter or other waste except in an area or receptacle provided for that purpose; or\n\t(c)\tcamp in an area other than a clearly designated camping area; or\n\t(d)\tlight, maintain or use a fire other than in a clearly designated fire place; or\n\t(e)\tleave a fire without effectively extinguishing it; or\n\t(f)\tleave property unattended for more than 24 hours; or\n\t(g)\terect a marquee, booth, gazebo or other similar structure that is not intended solely for camping or other personal use; or\n\t(h)\tuse a sound amplification device or other noisy equipment; or\n\t(i)\tdistribute printed matter; or\n\t(j)\tpost, paint or otherwise display an advertisement, bill, sign, poster, placard, banner or flag; or\n\t(k)\tsell anything or offer anything for sale, conduct a business or provide a service; or\n\t(l)\tsell raffle or lottery tickets or take up a collection.\nMaximum penalty: $1 250.\nExpiation fee: $160.\n10—Animals\n\t(1)\tA person must not, without the permission of the responsible statutory trust, bring an animal other than a dog into trust parklands.\nMaximum penalty: $750.\nExpiation fee: $105.\n\t(2)\tIf a person brings a dog into trust parklands, the person must—\n\t(a)\tensure that the dog does not enter or remain in an area of trust parklands indicated by signs or markings or a combination of signs and markings (erected or displayed with the authority of the responsible statutory trust) as an area in which dogs are not permitted; and\n\t(b)\texercise effective control over the dog at all times while it is in trust parklands.\nMaximum penalty: $750.\nExpiation fee: $105.\n\t(3)\tFor the purposes of this regulation, a dog is under the effective control of a person if—\n\t(a)\tthe person is exercising effective control of the dog—\n\t(i)\tby means of a chain, cord or leash that does not exceed 2 m in length restraining the dog; or\n\t(ii)\tby command, the dog being in close proximity to the person and the person being able to see the dog at all times; or\n\t(b)\tthe person has effectively secured the dog—\n\t(i)\tby placing it in a cage, vehicle or other object or structure; or\n\t(ii)\tby tethering it to a fixed object by means of a chain, cord or leash that does not exceed 2 m in length.\n\t(4)\tSubregulation (2)(a) does not apply to an assistance dog within the meaning of the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995.\n11—Use of motor vehicles\nA person who drives or rides a motor vehicle in trust parklands must not, unless authorised by the responsible statutory trust—\n\t(a)\tdrive or ride at a speed greater than 15 kph unless otherwise indicated (with the authority of the responsible statutory trust) by signs or markings or a combination of signs and markings; or\n\t(b)\tdrive or ride at a speed greater than 15 kph unless otherwise indicated (with the authority of the responsible statutory trust) by signs or markings or a combination of signs and markings; or\n\t(c)\tfail to pay a parking fee indicated (with the authority of the responsible statutory trust) by signs or markings or a combination of signs and markings; or\n\t(d)\tfail to comply with any other speed, parking or other traffic restriction or direction indicated (with the authority of the responsible statutory trust) by signs or markings or a combination of signs and markings; or\n\t(e)\tdrive or ride except on roads, tracks or areas that are set aside by the responsible statutory trust for that purpose; or\n\t(f)\tdrive or ride in such a manner as to cause undue noise to be emitted from the vehicle; or\n\t(g)\tpark or leave the vehicle in a position that obstructs access to or use of trust parklands or a place in trust parklands; or\n\t(h)\tdrive or ride in a dangerous or careless manner or without reasonable consideration for others; or\n\t(i)\tfail to comply with any reasonable speed, parking or other traffic direction of an authorised officer (within the meaning of section 40 of the Act).\nMaximum penalty: $750.\nExpiation fee: $105.\nPart 5—Miscellaneous\n12—Authorisations and permissions\nAn authorisation or permission granted by a statutory trust under these regulations—\n\t(a)\tmust be in writing or, if given orally, must be confirmed in writing as soon as practicable; and\n\t(b)\tmay be granted to persons of a specified class; and\n\t(c)\tmay be subject to conditions (including a condition requiring payment of a fee) specified by the statutory trust.\n13—Recovery of costs of certain acquisitions\nFor the purposes of section 46(1) and (2) of the Act, an amount determined by the Minister under either of those subsections must be paid—\n\t(a)\tby means of—\n\t(i)\telectronic funds transfer to an account nominated by the Minister; or\n\t(ii)\ta credit card; and\n\t(b)\tin the instalments, and at the times, determined by the Minister.\nPart 6—Transitional provisions\n14—Members of the Northern Parklands Trust\n\t(1)\tPursuant to section 47(3)(c) of the Act, the persons holding office as chief executive officers of the Town of Gawler and the City of Playford will be taken to be members of the Northern Parklands Trust (ex officio) until 30 June 2028 (and the Town of Gawler and the City of Playford will be taken to have nominated each such person (respectively) for the purposes of section 12(1)(a) of the Act).\n\t(2)\tThe Minister may appoint a suitable person to be a deputy of a person taken to be a member of the Northern Parklands Trust under subregulation (1) and to act as a member of the Northern Parklands Trust during any period of absence of the relevant member.\n\t(3)\tThe first member of the Northern Parklands Trust under section 12(1)(c) of the Act may be appointed by the Minister even if they have not been nominated by the Minister responsible for the administration of the Landscape South Australia Act 2019.\n15—First plans and agreements\nPursuant to section 47(3)(c) of the Act—\n\t(a)\tthe first annual business plan of the Northern Parklands Trust under section 15 of the Act—\n\t(i)\twill relate to the financial year commencing on 1 July 2027; and\n\t(ii)\tmust specify that the constituent councils for the Northern Parklands region include the Town of Gawler and the City of Playford; and\n\t(b)\tthe first performance agreement in respect of the Northern Parklands Trust under section 41 of the Act need not take effect until 1 July 2027; and\n\t(c)\tthe first long‑term strategic plan of the Northern Parklands Trust under section 42 of the Act need not be adopted until 1 July 2027.\nLegislative history\nNotes\n\t•\tFor further information relating to the Act and subordinate legislation made under the Act see the Index of South Australian Statutes or www.legislation.sa.gov.au.\nPrincipal regulations\nYear\nNo\nReference\nCommencement\n2026\n5\nGazette 15.1.2026 p34\n15.1.2026: r 2\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"These regulations primarily operationalise and detail powers given in the Northern Parklands Act 2025 (finance, levies, permitted uses, enforcement, and transitional arrangements). They do not, on their face, expand the statutory scheme beyond the Act’s core purposes. The main substantive effects are specification and qualification of how those powers are exercised (prescribed land‑use categories for levies, interest method for unpaid instalments, permissions and fee procedures, and short transitional appointments). Those are implementation choices rather than a significant change in scope beyond the Act."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple cross‑references to other statutes (Northern Parklands Act 2025, Local Government Act 1999, Planning and Design Code, Road Traffic Act 1961, Dog and Cat Management Act 1995)","Several regulatory choices that modify existing Local Government Act provisions (reg 6(2)–(3)), creating layered interactions","A list of nine land‑use categories with sub‑items for primary production that rely on external definitions (reg 6(1))","Conditional delegation and discretion points (Minister approval for plan variations reg 4; trust permissions reg 9 and reg 12; Minister‑determined instalments and payment methods reg 13)","Multiple offence classes with differing penalties and expiation fees (regs 8–11) requiring enforcement framework","Transitional provisions that temporarily alter board composition and timing of plans (regs 14–15)","Administrative requirements for written/confirmed permissions and authorised signage (regs 11–12)","Interest calculation method tied to a moving external rate applied pro rata monthly (reg 5)","Minor drafting duplication in reg 11(a) and reg 11(b) (identical speed limit clauses), which can create interpretive ambiguity"],"plain_english_summary":"**What these regulations do (mechanically)\n\n- Set the rules that put the Northern Parklands Act 2025 into everyday operation. They specify how the Northern Parklands Trust and constituent councils must manage money, behaviour in the parklands, permissions, and early transitional arrangements.\n\n**Key practical points (who decides, who pays, what people must do)\n\n- Ministerial approval is required if the Trust’s annual business plan is varied because council contributions change (reg 4).\n- Councils that pay instalments or contributions and pay late will be charged interest calculated at the Reserve Bank of Australia Cash Rate Target on 1 July in the relevant financial year, applied monthly pro rata until paid (reg 5).\n- Councils may impose a Northern Parklands levy on rateable land. The regulations prescribe the land‑use categories for rating (residential, several commercial categories, light/other industry, primary production, vacant land, other) and modify how local government fixed charges and rebates interact with that levy (reg 6).\n  - The regulations allow a separate fixed‑charge rate to be applied and prevent multiple fixed charges for contiguous parcels owned/occupied as one (reg 6(2)).\n  - Councils are not required to grant the same rebates for this levy as for general rates; councils may give different rebate arrangements (reg 6(3)).\n- A short statutory timetable for dealing with damage to property held by statutory trusts is set at 21 days unless the trust authorises a different period (reg 7).\n\n**Rules for parkland users (behaviour and use)\n\n- Behavioural standards: disorderly, threatening, abusive or obstructive conduct is prohibited; penalty up to $1,250; expiation fee $160 (reg 8).\n- Restricted activities: many activities in the parklands require permission from the responsible statutory trust, including carrying weapons, littering (outside bins), camping outside designated areas, lighting fires outside designated places, leaving property unattended over 24 hours, erecting commercial structures, using sound amplification, distributing printed matter, posting advertisements, selling goods or services, or conducting collections/raffles (reg 9). Penalty up to $1,250; expiation $160.\n- Animals: no animals other than dogs unless the trust permits it. Dogs must be kept out of signed dog‑prohibited areas and be under \"effective control\" (leash ≤ 2 m, or voice control in close proximity, or secured). Assistance dogs are exempt from dog‑prohibited area rule (reg 10). Penalty up to $750; expiation $105.\n- Motor vehicles: driving/riding in parklands is restricted. Default speed limit 15 kph unless otherwise signed. Drivers must pay any parking fee indicated, keep to roads/tracks set aside, avoid excessive noise, not park causing obstruction, and obey authorised officers. Penalty up to $750; expiation $105 (reg 11).\n\n**Permissions, fees and payments\n\n- Permissions/authorisations must be in writing or, if given orally, confirmed in writing as soon as practicable; they may be class‑based and conditional (including fees) (reg 12).\n- If the Minister determines amounts payable under the Act for acquisition costs, those amounts must be payable by EFT or credit card and may be paid in instalments/times the Minister determines (reg 13).\n\n**Transitional arrangements\n\n- Until 30 June 2028, the chief executive officers (CEOs) of the Town of Gawler and the City of Playford are taken to be ex officio members of the Northern Parklands Trust; the Minister can appoint deputies for absences (reg 14).\n- The first business year and first plans are delayed so the first annual business plan covers the year starting 1 July 2027; that first plan must name Gawler and Playford as constituent councils; first performance and long‑term plans need not commence until 1 July 2027 (reg 15).\n\n**Why the regulations matter (stated purpose and quick assessment of trade‑offs)\n\n- Stated purpose: to provide the detailed rules needed to operate the Parklands Trust (money, levies, parkland use rules, authorisations and transitional membership).\n\n- Who pays: ultimately ratepayers and users. Councils collect levies on rateable land categories (reg 6) and can set conditions/fees for permissions (reg 12). Councils that delay instalment payments bear interest at the RBA cash rate (reg 5).\n\n- Who decides: the Minister retains approval power over material variations to the Trust’s business plan tied to council contributions (reg 4). Responsible statutory trusts control permissions, place‑specific rules (signs, designated camping areas, parking fees, dog‑prohibited zones) and enforcement (regs 9–12). Councils decide levy design within the categories prescribed (reg 6).\n\n- Behavioural and commercial constraints: the regulations place many activities in parklands into a permissioned regime (selling, advertising, amplified sound, erecting structures, camping), which centralises discretion with statutory trusts and introduces compliance costs for anyone wanting to carry out those activities (reg 9, reg 12).\n\n- Fiscal and incentive effects: prescribing levy categories and allowing separate fixed charges (with limits on multiple charges for contiguous land or single farm enterprises) gives councils flexibility to structure revenue recovery (reg 6(1)–(2)), while allowing rebates for the Parklands levy that differ from general rates gives councils discretion to target relief (reg 6(3)). That discretion changes incentives for lobbying and for how costs are allocated between land classes.\n\n- Implementation and administrative burden: trusts and councils must erect authorised signs/markings to give effect to local speed limits, dog‑prohibited areas and fees (regs 10–11). Permissions must be written/confirmed (reg 12). The Minister sets instalments and payment methods for acquisition cost recovery (reg 13). These features create predictable administrative tasks (signage, written authorisations, systems for fee payment and interest calculation) and enforcement workload (issuing expiation notices and pursuing breaches).\n\n- Potential trade‑offs and risks to watch for: concentrated revenue benefits to the Parklands Trust are paid by a broad base of ratepayers across multiple land‑use categories — this allocative choice will influence development and use incentives. The allowance for councils to give different levy rebates than for general rates can concentrate benefits on particular groups; that creates administrative discretion and potential for targeted relief or lobbying. Transitional appointment of local government CEOs as ex officio members centralises local representation in the Trust at least until mid‑2028 (reg 14), which may affect local governance dynamics. The interest rule (reg 5) ties penalties for late payment to a moving monetary policy indicator, which could increase short‑term financing costs for councils that miss instalments.\n\n**Relevant sections cited in this summary:** regs 2–3 (start and definitions), 4–6 (finance and levies), 7 (statutory trust timeframes), 8–11 (behaviour, restricted activities, animals, motor vehicles), 12–13 (permissions and payment mechanics), 14–15 (transitional arrangements)."},"summary":{"complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"No scope assessment is possible. The submission contains no legislative text — only a 'Page Not Found' error from the South Australian legislation website. Any analysis of scope or intent would be speculation without the actual regulatory content."},"complexity_factors":["No actual legislative content was provided — only a website error page was submitted","Cannot assess legal complexity without access to the legislation itself","The 404 error suggests the document may have moved, been renamed, or not yet published"],"plain_english_summary":"## ⚠️ No Legislation Found\n\nThis is not actual legislation. The content provided is a **404 error page** from the South Australian legislation website (legislation.sa.gov.au).\n\nWhat this means for you:\n- The document titled *Northern Parklands Regulations 2026* could **not be retrieved** — the page no longer exists or the link is broken.\n- This may be because the SA legislation website was updated on **24 March 2026**, making older bookmarks or hyperlinks invalid.\n- The regulations themselves may exist, but their content is **not available** in this submission.\n\n**What to do:** Visit [legislation.sa.gov.au](https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au) directly and search for *Northern Parklands Regulations 2026*, or report the broken link to OPCWeb@sa.gov.au."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulations appear consistent with the original intent of the enabling Northern Parklands Act 2025. They establish operational details—funding mechanisms, conduct rules, and transitional arrangements—that are typical for regulations supporting a new statutory trust and parkland management scheme. No significant scope creep is evident; the provisions align with standard subordinate legislation functions."},"complexity_factors":["Moderate cross-referencing to parent Act (Northern Parklands Act 2025) and other statutes (Local Government Act 1999, Road Traffic Act 1961, Planning and Design Code)","Nested conditional logic in regulation 6(2) modifying another Act's operation with multiple sub-paragraphs and hypothetical scenarios","Defined terms rely on external instruments (Planning and Design Code under different Act)","Dual penalty structures throughout (maximum penalties plus expiation fees)","Specific technical measurements (2m leash length, 15 km/h speed limit, 21-day period)","Transitional provisions creating temporary governance arrangements with sunset dates"],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations set the rules for managing the Northern Parklands in South Australia—a large green space north of Adelaide. Here's what they do:\n\n**Who runs the parklands?**\n- The **Northern Parklands Trust** manages the area. Initially, the CEOs of Gawler and Playford councils automatically sit on this Trust until mid-2028.\n\n**How is it funded?**\n- **Council contributions**: Local councils must pay into the Trust, with interest charged if they're late (based on the Reserve Bank cash rate).\n- **Property levies**: Councils can charge property owners a special levy based on land use—residential homes, shops, offices, farms, vacant land, etc. The rules tweak how the Local Government Act applies to these levies, allowing different rebate rules than normal council rates.\n\n**What can you do (and not do) in the parklands?**\n- **Behaviour**: No disorderly conduct, offensive language, or harassment. Fine: up to $1,250 (or $160 on-the-spot fine).\n- **Activities needing permission**: Camping, fires, firearms, selling things, putting up structures, using loudspeakers, or posting signs. Fine: up to $1,250.\n- **Animals**: Dogs allowed but must be on a leash (max 2m) or under voice control, and kept out of signed exclusion areas. Other animals banned without permission. Assistance dogs are exempt. Fine: up to $750.\n- **Vehicles**: Speed limit 15 km/h unless signed otherwise. Must stay on designated tracks, pay parking fees, and follow authorised officers' directions. Fine: up to $750.\n\n**Other key points**\n- **Damage to property**: Statutory trusts can set their own timeframes (default 21 days) for certain actions.\n- **Authorisations**: Permissions from the Trust must be in writing and can include conditions and fees.\n- **Transitional arrangements**: First business plans and agreements don't need to start until July 2027, giving the new Trust time to get organised."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/northern-parklands-regulations-2026","history":"/api/acts/northern-parklands-regulations-2026/history","analysis":"/api/acts/northern-parklands-regulations-2026/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/northern-parklands-regulations-2026/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/northern-parklands-regulations-2026/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/northern-parklands-regulations-2026/documents"}}