RDSA Strategic Priorities 2026–28
Water key to unlocking regional SA’s $115 billion investment pipeline
Regional Development South Australia (RDSA) has released its Strategic Priorities 2026–28, naming water as its number one priority, alongside infrastructure, and business capacity and economic diversification.
Regional SA bats well above its weight as an economic contributor to the state. Our Regional Blueprint 2026 shows an investment pipeline of more than $115 billion across more than 1,100 public and private projects, up 18 per cent in a year. Water underpins that future.
Our three priorities
· Water: Regional South Australia's water challenge is as much about information and voice as it is about supply. We are working to secure a formal, coordinated regional voice in water planning and investment — improved two-way data sharing, and financing models that reflect the long-term economic return of regional water investment.
· Infrastructure: Infrastructure investment decisions guided by more than population alone. We are building the evidence base for two related arguments: that outer regional infrastructure investment should follow economic contribution and forecast growth, and that in fast-growing peri-urban areas, enabling infrastructure must be sequenced ahead of new housing.
· Business Capacity and Economic Diversification: Our regions host a substantial and growing pipeline of major projects. Capturing that opportunity for local businesses and communities takes deliberate strategy. By synthesising the RDA network’s regional economic intelligence into a clearer statewide picture, we can help inform planning and decision-making by government and industry.
To read the full reports, head to our Resources Hub to access:
- RDSA Strategic Priorities 2026–28
- RDSA Water Position Paper
- RDSA Regional Blueprint 2026
