A big tick for NSW but homes target ‘still falling short’
Although 4800 home construction applications got the go-ahead in NSW during September, lobbyists say the national target to ease the home crisis is still a long way off.
THE number of dwellings approved in NSW jumped by 30 per cent in September, but the state remains well behind the pace needed to meet national housing targets, a lobby group says.
A total of 4800 dwellings were approved in September, up 30.4% on the 3680 approvals recorded in August, according to latest building approvals data by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
While the latest increase in approvals was welcomed, Property Council NSW executive director Anita Hugo said the 12-month trend shows the state remains significantly behind the number of homes needed to meet its share of the National Housing Accord.
“NSW needs around 75,000 homes approved each year to meet its 2029 housing target – and while the lift in September is encouraging, the trend shows only 52,462 were approved over the last 12 months, leaving a shortfall in the pipeline of nearly 23,000 homes,” Ms Hugo said.
“The data is another clear signal that reform can’t wait – approvals remain too low, while demand for housing continues to increase. Every lost month pushes more people out of the housing market.”
Ms Hugo said a bill to go before the NSW parliament next week focusing on planning system reforms needed to be quickly passed to make a difference.
“This bill addresses the system’s biggest pain points – long delays, inconsistent decisions, and a lack of clear coordination,” she said.
“This is not the time for delay – the bill before Parliament next week is the circuit-breaker NSW needs.”
Ms Hugo said the bill includes “real fixes” the industry has been calling for to help clear backlogs, cut duplication between agencies and fast-track good projects that deliver homes, jobs and infrastructure.
“The choice before Parliament next week is simple: act now or accept that housing supply will continue to fall short and affordability will worsen,” she added.
In other states, housing approvals were mixed in September.
Victoria led the way with the approval of 5685 total dwellings – including houses, townhouses and apartments – during September, an increase of 41.3%.
In Tasmania, approvals for total dwellings rose 11.7%, while falls were recorded in Queensland, down 11.3%, Western Australia, down 5.1% and South Australia, down 0.9%
Approvals for houses were higher across most states in September with rises in NSW (7.8%), South Australia (7.4%), Victoria (7.3%), and Western Australia (6.8%). Queensland was the only state to fall, dipping 6.9%.
