Latest ABS figures on new home building approvals indicate that activity across the Hunter continued to perform strongly in 2018, reported the Housing Industry Association, the voice of Australia’s residential building industry.
“In total 4,928 approvals were issued for new dwellings across the Hunter, compared to 4,795 in 2017,an increase of 3 per cent on already elevated levels”, said Craig Jennion, HIA Hunter Executive Director.
“Much of the heavy lifting for the residential sector continues to occur in the Lower Hunter, with the local government areas of Lake Macquarie, Newcastle and Maitland continuing to be the top 3 locations for approvals, accounting for over 76 per cent of total approvals”, explained Mr Jennion.
“Pleasingly, it continues that that the largest percentage increases in total dwelling approvals occurred in regional locations. Singleton was the strongest, up 41%, followed by Cessnock, up 25%, and Muswellbrook, up 9%.
Cessnock also took out the title of ‘biggest mover’ increasing their housing approvals by 129 dwellings over 2017”, explained Mr Jennion.
“The performance of new home building approvals across detached new homes and multi-unit approvals both increased in 2018. Accounting for 60 per cent of all approvals detached house approvals decreased by 3 per cent compared to the 2017 calendar year, while multi-unit approvals, increased by 2 per cent over the same period”.
“These results point to very healthy levels of activity for the residential construction sector in early 2019. The approvals also reinforce the affordability advantages that the region has over other locations in NSW, particularly Sydney where housing remains far from affordable for average households”,concluded Mr Jennion.