Booming Australian Population Needs Booming Housing Supply

18 December 2013

The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) report on population growth shows an even higher population growth than previously announced and this will require that more houses are constructed than previously assumed says the Urban Taskforce.

 

“Every few months we seem to see even higher projections for Australia’s population growth announced by the ABS.” says Urban Taskforce CEO Chris Johnson.  “ While there has been some uplift in housing production over the last year it is clear that significantly higher numbers of new houses and apartments are urgently needed.”

 

“The NSW population has grown by 102,000 in the last year but we are still not providing sufficient housing to meet demand.  In Sydney we build 10,000 less homes than needed each year.  The NSW growth rate represents a 1.4% increase but this is still well behind growth in Victoria at 1.9%, Queensland at 2.0% and Western Australia at 3.3%.” 

 

“If NSW was to match the 2% growth of other states then we will need even more housing.  This will also require a review of the Metropolitan Strategy for Sydney to ensure that the higher population projections are factored in to targets for housing and jobs.

 

“The big message from Australia’s accelerating population growth to the NSW planning system is that more housing is required in inner city and fringe locations. While the NSW government has helped lift housing supply through infrastructure funding and grants there is still a long way to go. With the planning reforms in limbo the government will need to establish an interim pro growth strategy to help house those families finding it difficult to find somewhere to live.

 

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