WA leads nation in decade of new home builds as NSW lags

Almost 1.5 million homes were built in Australia from 2006-16 but the growth of housing stock in each state and territory was uneven, new AHURI research shows.

Growth ranged from 26 per cent in Western Australia to just 12 per cent in NSW. Only the building boom of 2015-18 pushed NSW to reach supply levels comparable with other states.

The research, undertaken for AHURI by researchers from Curtin University, the University of Sydney and the University of Adelaide, examined the quantity, composition and distribution of new housing supply across Australia between 2006-16, what influenced the differences in local rates of production, and what local and state governments can do to increase diverse new dwelling supply.

Lead researcher Professor Steven Rowley said the research aimed to understand patterns of new housing supply, whether supply was driven by price or other factors, and what governments could do to encourage new supply in specific locations.

“As well as varying growth rates between states and territories, the report found an uneven distribution of new housing in all mainland capital cities, with Sydney demonstrating the most even balance between inner, middle and outer area supply,” Professor Rowley said.

The report can be downloaded from the AHURI website.

In related news, new research on improving affordable housing supplies close to innovation districts will be discussed at a free AHURI webinar on 2 September.

AHURI says participants will also learn about the role well-connected regional and non-metropolitan areas can play in connecting affordable housing to innovation-led employment strategies.

Click here to register for the 2pm (AEST) event.