This paper will examine the role of the South Australian Government Architect in the recently formed Integrated Design Commission South Australia (IDC SA). The IDC SA is a unique model in Australia, instigating a design-led approach to the built environment, planning and development within government. The paper will also discuss the additional role for the Government Architect as Director of 5000+ An Integrated Design Strategy for Inner Adelaide (5000+), a key project currently being facilitated by the IDC SA for the partner agencies across three tiers of government. Formed in July 2010, IDC SA is in the early stages of its existence, and as such, this paper will discuss its formation, structure and remit, with a particular focus on roles and their early enactment. A key focus for the IDC SA has become the 5000+ project, which will be explored in greater detail as a case study for design-led approaches to city redevelopment and regeneration. 5000+ is an emergent model in the process of progressing from its establishment into its implementation and as such, the paper will focus on the initial research undertaken and the relationship to methods being developed for the project.

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The State of Australian Cities (SOAC) national conferences have been held biennially since 2003 to support interdisciplinary policy-related urban research.
This paper was presented at SOAC 5held in Melbourne from 29 November – 2 December 2011.
SOAC 5 was hosted by the University of Melbourne, RMIT University, Monash University, Swinburne University of Technology and Latrobe University as well as the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute and the Grattan Institute, the Victorian State Government and the City of Melbourne.
Three plenary panels brought researchers from across the country to address ‘big issues’: place-based disadvantage, the design and form of Australian cities, and metropolitan governance. Over 175 papers, in 46 themed sessions, cover topics ranging from planning and governance for environmental sustainability, to housing affordability and adequacy in the context of an aging population. Healthy communities, better public transport, high quality open space, participatory planning, and issues affecting the peri-urban fringe are also strong sub-themes within this conference.
All published papers have been subject to a peer reviewing process.