Planning rules relaxed for expanded grain storage as record harvest gets underway
Friday 30 October 2026 Media release
The Malinauskas Government is cutting red tape to allow fast-tracked construction of additional grain storage facilities across South Australia, as growers prepare for a potentially record-breaking harvest.
New exemptions will allow temporary grain storage infrastructure to be installed in specified locations without getting development approval from planning authorities, helping the industry manage an anticipated surge in grain deliveries this season.
Regulations under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 have been amended to exempt grain storage bunkers and associated infrastructure from requiring approval to be installed on sites with existing grain storage and processing facilities, and within any other areas designated by the Chief Executive of the Department for Housing and Urban Development.
The changes are designed to ease pressure on storage capacity, with industry estimates suggesting this year's harvest could reach between 13 and 14 million tonnes, surpassing previous records.
Under the temporary measures, grain operators will be able to rapidly establish additional grain storage bunkers and associated portable weighbridges, staff facilities, internal roadways and drainage works without going through the usual planning approval processes.
These changes are expected to prevent $70 million worth of grain from spoiling due to a lack of available storage.
The move follows concerns from the grain industry that existing storage infrastructure may not be able to cope with the volume of grain expected this harvest.
Recent crop forecasts have continued to climb, with the latest official estimate from the Department of Primary Industries and Regions placing this year’s harvest at 11.6 million tonnes. However, industry is expecting the final result will exceed 13 million tonnes.
While infrastructure enabled by these changes must be removed within 12 months, there will be opportunities to maintain the expanded grain storage and associated infrastructure beyond that period by seeking development approval.