To begin the process the authority must serve upon each person with an interest in the land a notice of intention to acquire land [Land Acquisition Act 1969 (SA) s 10]. A notice of acquisition does not bind the authority to complete the acquisition of land. The authority may decide not to proceed with the acquisition.

An owner who has received a notice of intention to acquire land must, within fourteen (14) days of receiving the notice, notify the relevant authority of any other person, who to the owner’s knowledge, has an interest in the land, and the nature of the interest [Land Acquisition Act 1969 s 10A). A person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to notify the authority of another person’s interest in the land may be guilty of an offence [Land Acquisition Act 1969 s 10A(2)].

Any person affected has thirty days after receiving the notice, to ask the authority to explain in writing the reasons and any details of any scheme that the acquisition may be proposed under s 11 of the Land Acquisition Act 1969 (SA). The authority must give this information. Typical reasons for compulsory acquisition include road widening, drain building or other public works. The authority may provide information by way of letter, or by making plans, relevant models or other specifications in relation to the land acquisition available [s 11(3)].

Within thirty (30) days after receiving either, the notice of intention to acquire land or the reasons of the proposal, a person may object by serving written notice on the authority requesting:

In addition, a person can request that the authority not acquire the land on the grounds that the acquisition and any undertaking:

See Land Acquisition Act 1969 (SA) s 12.

Within fourteen (14) days of receiving a request, the authority must consider the matter and serve a written notice on the person indicating whether or not it agrees with the request.

Where a person has made a request and the authority does not agree with the request, the person can apply to the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal SACAT for a review of that decision [see s 12A(1)]. An application for review must be made within seven (7) days of being served with the authority's decision to refuse [see s 12A(2)].

SACAT must complete the appeal proceedings on a review of the authority's decision within twenty-one (21) days of the application being made [see Land Acquisition Act 1969 (SA) s 12A(3)].

A decision of SACAT in this instance is not subject to further appeal under section 71 of the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 (SA).

The notice of intention to acquire land process does not apply to native title land. In this case, notice must be given to the native title holders or their registered representatives. The method of service is governed by the Native Title (South Australia) Act 1994.