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$vuetify.icons.faPhone1300 650 620

ACT needs to support all housing supply not just public housing

Media release

ACT needs to support all housing supply not just public housing

Media release
The residential building industry has welcomed today’s pragmatic decision by Minister Steel to limit third party appeal rights in the ACT to improve the supply of public housing - but now is the time to extend this approach to all similar housing projects.

“If it is the case that public housing developments are being unfairly held up, then comparable private housing developments should be treated the same way,” said Greg Weller, HIA Executive Director ACT & Southern NSW.

“What is good for the goose, is surely good for the gander.

“It will generally be the same trades and professionals across developments, the only difference being the client – which in this case is ultimately the ACT Government.

“The fact that the Minister acknowledges that 75% of appeals were resolved with mediation or by ACAT upholding the original decision, also shows that there is a lot of time and money being wasted by people who just want to stop any development.

“The ACT has just recorded the worst building approval numbers for detached homes in 55 years, with only 680 dwellings approved in 2024. The even bigger story is apartments and townhouses, with only 1,500 multi-residential dwellings approved in 2024. This is the lowest number of approvals since 2009.

“We need to pull every lever available to improve housing delivery. Every new home matters to helping improve affordability. 

“To be clear, this call does not mean there should be no process or scrutiny on developments, far from it. But it is reasonable for someone investing in additional housing stock for Canberra to expect that once their project has been through a rigorous planning approval processes managed by the ACT government, that they can get on with work.

“The first umpire’s decision needs to be final,” concluded Mr Weller.

For more information please contact:

Greg Weller

Executive Director - ACT/Southern NSW
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