A code amendment has been initiated to rezone land at Dry Creek for housing, marking a major milestone for the project.

As part of the rezoning, the State Government is now targeting a minimum 15,000 new homes at the site in Adelaide's north, which has long been earmarked as a future growth area. This is up from the 10,000 dwellings announced as part of the land release last year.

The proposal now has the potential to accommodate 35,000 people and include a minimum of 15 per cent affordable housing at the 838ha of land at the Dry Creek salt fields.

Key investigations to inform the land's rezoning include:

• a master planned community that recognises the importance of good urban design
• infrastructure requirements, including utilities, stormwater, roads, schools, public transport and healthcare
• environmental assessments and identifying buffers to conserve adjoining estuarine environments, conservation areas and animal sanctuaries
• flood modelling and a coastal flood risk assessment
• cultural mapping and an Aboriginal heritage assessment for the entire site, working with Traditional Owners.

The owners of the land have already commenced filling the site and remediating the area for future housing use.

Given the potential to significantly increase the area's population, the Dry Creek Code Amendment will examine future transport options, including the nearby rail network and improvements to Salisbury Highway and Port Wakefield Rd.

Liam Golding, Urban Development Institute of Australia 's Chief Executive in SA, said he hoped to see the Dry Creek proposal "progressed as quickly as possible".

"We're in a housing crisis and what we need more than anything is additional housing supply - and we need it quickly," Mr Golding said.

"The land here at Dry Creek presents a tremendous opportunity for growth and is well located close to both the city centre and the future defence jobs on the peninsula."

Detailed investigations will now be undertaken, with consultation on the code amendment anticipated to commence at the end of 2025.

Community, council and industry will be invited to share their feedback on the draft code amendment before it is finalised.

The land will not be rezoned until these investigations are completed to ensure appropriate services are in place for the new community and impacts on the site’s salt fields are managed before development begins.

It's anticipated land division at the site will occur from 2027 onwards, with engineering reports, water and wastewater infrastructure agreements to follow.