Dublin South Employment Zone
In 2025, after expert investigations and engagement, the Minister for Planning approved the proposal by Leinad Land Developments (Dublin) Pty Ltd (Leinad) to rezone 436 hectares of land from 'Rural Zone' to 'Strategic Employment Zone'. Known as Dublin Green, the Strategic Employment Zone will help foster new employment opportunities, such as the green economy, manufacturing for renewable energy, defense and infrastructure, logistics, and agribusiness.
More information about Leinad’s vision for the employment land is available from Leinad and Dublin Green.
Strategic Employment Zone
The Strategic Employment Zone for Dublin Green has the same policies wherever the Zone applies across South Australia. Policies relevant to Dublin are shown on the below Concept Plan that was introduced into the Planning and Design Code by the Code Amendment.
Utilities Infrastructure
The regions water and power capacity were investigated by Leinad as part of the Code Amendment. This lead to Leinad proposing to establish water and sewer treatment facilities, and a cogeneration plant which generates power.
In approving the Code Amendment, the Minister for Planning took into account Leinad’s proposed facilities and advised Leinad “recognizing the significant constraints in existing systems, it should be noted that additional connections to SA Water will not be supported to facilitate the envisaged development.”
Anticipating Leinad will be seeking to subdivide the land into multiple allotments to suit employment land uses, it is anticipated development application/s to subdivide the land will be lodged.
The Planning and Design Code contains policies seeking that any proposed allotments and the land uses that could be reasonably expected, are adequately serviced by utilities and roads. The assessment authority can be anticipated to seek expert advice from Leinad that demonstrates how the proposed multiple allotments will be serviced regarding water, sewer and power.
It is in Leinad’s interests as land owners and proponents to ensure each allotment to be created is adequately serviced with utilities.
Traffic Infrastructure
Leinad entered into a Deed with Council to fund upgrading Thompson Road from Port Wakefield Highway to the Strategic Employment Zone. The upgrade will be to a standard determined by Council as suitable for the types of vehicles, such as trucks, anticipated to need access. Similarly, Leinad entered into a Deed with the Department of Infrastructure and Transport to upgrade the Port Wakefield Highway intersection with Thompson Road. Similar to the utilities infrastructure, these works need to be established prior to the titles being created.
Thompsons Beach Road may also be altered to enable several access points to the new zone. If needed, the Clonan Road corner will be altered to restrict truck movements heading north into Dublin’s residential areas, whilst allowing small vehicle movements.
Deciding Development Applications
Any party who wish to subdivide land, develop a land use or buildings, is required through the SA planning system to lodge development applications to seek planning consent. Development applications are assessed regarding the Planning and Design Code.
Depending on the specific nature of what is proposed, in the majority of cases, the decision maker is Council’s Assessment Manager or the Council Assessment Panel (CAP). In some case, decisions by the Assessment Manager/Panel need to be concurred with by the State Commission Assessment Panel (SCAP). For particular developments, the SCAP is the authority.
We anticipate proposed land division/s of the 436HA and proposed land uses/buildings will be determined by Council’s Assessment Manager or the CAP.
Planning and Building Information
Key Policies regarding Developments
Anticipating Leinad will be seeking to subdivide the land into multiple allotments, development application/s for land division will assess suitability of proposed roads and utilities to service the proposed allotments. Storm-water flows, native vegetation, potential for regeneration of the interface buffer, and the Concept Plan are considered amongst a wide range of topics and policies in the Planning and Design Code.
Assuming the land is divided into multiple lots, development applications for employment land uses, buildings, and associated parking, movement, and landscaping are anticipated. The Planning and Design Code contains policies enabling assessment of potential interface impacts, such as noise, odour, visual and traffic.
If a proposed development presents some risk of generating noise that may impact nearby sensitive uses, applicants will be asked to engage acoustic experts to ensure the proposal meets EPA noise standards. If particular proposed land uses trigger certain thresholds, the development will be referred to the EPA for formal comment. Risk of odour is an example.
Relationship to Future Housing
Council has supported Leinad to investigate and advocate for land between Clonan/Ruskin Roads and the Strategic Employment Zone for some 1300 houses. This residential growth was not included in the 2025 Greater Adelaide Regional Plan (GARP) or amendment to the Environment and Food Production Area.
This potential residential growth requires future inclusion in the GARP, lifting of the Environment and Food Production Area, extensive investigations, engagement, rezoning, and infrastructure planning.
Whilst a residential zone does not exist immediately north of the Strategic Employment Zone, it is in Leinad’s interests as land owners and proponents to ensure development within the Strategic Employment Zone is developed with regard to the potential for future housing.
Code Amendment
The amendment approved was the ‘Dublin Green Circular Economy Precinct (Employment Areas) Code Amendment’. More information is available on the PlanSA website.
Code amendments – PlanSA
Last updated 24 April 2026