{{ propApi.closeIcon }}
Our industry
Our industry $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Housing industry insights Economics Data & forecasts Tailored research and analysis Advocacy & policy Advocacy Policy priorities Position statements Submissions News and inspiration Industry news Member alerts Media releases HOUSING Online
Business support
Business support $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Become an apprentice host Hire an apprentice Why host a HIA apprentice? Apprentice partner program Builder & manufacturer program Industry insurance Construction legal expenses insurance Construction works insurance Home warranty insurance Tradies & tool insurance Planning & safety solutions Building & planning services How can safety solutions help you? Independent site inspections Solutions for your business Contracts Online HIA Tradepass HIA SafeScan Advertise jobs Trusted support & guidance Contracts & compliance support Professional services Industrial relations Member savings Toyota vehicles The Good Guys Commercial Fuel savings See all
Resources & advice
Resources & advice $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Building it right Building codes Australian standards Getting it right on site See all Building materials & products Concrete, bricks & walls Getting products approved Use the right products for the job See all Managing your business Dealing with contracts Handling disputes Managing your employees See all Managing your safety Falls from heights Safety rules Working with silica See all Building your business Growing your business Maintaining your business See all Other subjects COVID-19 Getting approval to build Sustainable homes See all
Careers & learning
Careers & learning $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
A rewarding career Become an apprentice Apprenticeships on offer Frequently asked questions Study with us Find a course to suit you Qualification courses Learning on demand A job in the industry Get your builder's licence Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Find jobs
HIA community
HIA community $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Join HIA Sign me up How do I become a member? What's in it for me? Mates rates Get involved Become an award judge Join a committee Partner with us Our initiatives HIA Building Women GreenSmart Kitchen, bathroom and design hub Get to know us Our members Our people Our partners Support for you Charitable Foundation Mental health program
Awards & events
Awards & events $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Awards Awards program People & Business Awards GreenSmart Australian Housing Awards Awards winners Regional Award winners Australian Housing Award winners 2023 Australian Home of the Year Enter online Industry events Events in the next month Economic outlook National Conference Events calendar
HIA products
HIA products $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
Shop @ HIA Digital Australian Standards Contracts Online Shipping & delivery Purchasing T&Cs See all Products Purchase NCC 2022 Building codes & standards Economic reports Hard copy contracts Guides & manuals
About Contact Newsroom
$vuetify.icons.faTimes
$vuetify.icons.faMapMarker Set my location Use the field below to update your location
Address
Change location
{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.text}} {{region}} Change location
{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change location

$vuetify.icons.faPhone1300 650 620

Hunter Region Housing Hotspots Released

Media release

Hunter Region Housing Hotspots Released

Media release
HIA recently revealed Australia’s strongest markets for home building in the 2022 edition of the HIA Population & Residential Building Hotspots Report.

The Report is aimed at finding employment growth areas targeted towards builders and tradies and identifies Hotspots in all states and territories. Once again the HIA Hunter region was well represented in the report.

“No less than 11 areas of the Hunter region qualify as housing Hotspots based on their strong performance in terms of building approvals and population growth,” commented HIA Executive Director for Hunter, Craig Jennion. 

“Thornton – Millers Forest, is again the HIA Hunter regions number one building hotspot with a population growth rate of 9.3% and $129.2 million in building approvals”. 

“Second on the list, Branxton – Greta – Pokolbin, had a population growth rate of 5.2% and $121.1 million in building approvals”.  

“Third was Warnervale – Wadalba on the Central Coast with a population growth rate of 4.2% and $103.2 million in building approvals”. 

“The report found that whilst Australia’s population growth was constrained due to closed borders the value of building works approved and the growth rates of the local population has been very high locally”.

“COVID-19 has also seen consumer preferences shift away from inner-city apartment style living to detached housing in regional areas. This shift saw more Hunter based areas in this edition of HIA’s Population and Building Hotspots Report,” concluded Mr Jennion.

An area qualifies as a Hotspot in the Hunter Valley and Central Coast region if at least $50 million worth of residential building work was approved during the 2020/21 financial year, and its rate of population growth is faster than the 0.2 per cent national average. 

Below table details the 11 Hunter Region Building and Population Areas. 

Hunter region building and population areas**

**SAs with an excess of $50 million in residential building work approved in 2020/21 and with an annual population growth rate in excess of the national rate of 0.2%
Source: HIA Economics

Statistical Area Level 2 Statistical Area Level 4 Residential Building Approved 2020/21
($'000)
Annual Population Growth Rate (%)
1 Thornton - Millers Forest Hunter Valley exc Newcastle 129,178 9.3
2 Branxton - Greta - Pokolbin Hunter Valley exc Newcastle 121,123 5.2
3 Warnervale - Wadalba Central Coast 103,187 4.2
4 Kurri Kurri - Abermain Hunter Valley exc Newcastle 91,603 3.8
5 Maitland - West Hunter Valley exc Newcastle 144,764 3.7
6 Williamtown - Medowie - Karuah Hunter Valley exc Newcastle 94,731 3.4 
7 Newcastle - Cooks Hill Newcastle and Lake Macquarie 93,539 3.3
8 Edgeworth - Cameron Park Newcastle and Lake Macquarie  67,931 3.1
9 Morisset - Cooranbong Newcastle and Lake Macquarie 77,222 2.9
10 Warners Bay - Boolaroo Newcastle and Lake Macquarie 69,248 2.3
11 Maryland - Fletcher - Minmi Newcastle and Lake Macquarie 50,557 2.3

For more information please contact:

Craig Jennion

Executive Director - Hunter
Latest articles
View all news $vuetify.icons.faArrowRight
03 May
State of the Housing System Report

“The challenge before the Australian government to complete 1.2 million homes over the next five years, is necessary to reduce the inequity occurring across the housing system,” stated HIA’s Chief Economist, Tim Reardon.

03 May
Interest rate uncertainty means other policy levers need to be pulled

“Australia is closing in on the weakest two years of lending for new home building in over two decades,” stated HIA Senior Economist Tom Devitt.

02 May
NSW EPA construction site campaign and compliance blitz

The NSW Government has recently introduced additional protection measures and increased monetary penalties for environmental offences, including pollution of waterways.

02 May
Checking validity of the Domestic Building Insurance certificate

Members may have seen reports regarding the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) issuing ‘show cause notices’ and suspending the building registration of a Victorian domestic builder after identifying multiple falsified Domestic Building Insurance (DBI) certificates.

NSW Authority for Final Payment (Pad of 50)

The NSW Authority for Final Payment Pad offers an effective method of claiming final payment from your client. It’s available in a handy tear-off pad of 50. This is a hard copy document and will be mailed to you once it's purchase...

NSW Claim for Extension of Time (Pad of 50)

This form is to notify the owner of an entitlement to an extension of time when building works have been delayed due to unforeseen circumstances, an owner’s delay or requests for additional work. If you do not notify an owner abou...

NSW Authority for Variation to Contract (Pad of 25)

The Authority for Variation to Contract (pad of 25) details changes or variations to works requiring an update to the contract between builder and owner. It can also be used for variations between builder and sub-contractor. This...

NSW New Dwellings Contract (Pack of 2)

Ideal for building professionals about to work on a new dwelling, available as a pack of two. The fixed price contract allows for all job details to be formalised and provides schedules for progress payments, excluded items, insur...

NSW Cost Plus Contract (Pack of 2)

This contract is used for residential construction works on a cost plus basis, not a lump sum ‘fixed price’. Costs are totalled and a percentage or fixed sum added for administration, supervision and profit. It allows for project ...

NSW General Housing Specifications

The NSW General Housing Specifications document forms part of the contract documents which is referred to in the building contract. It details the works to be executed and the materials to be used in carrying out those works at th...

NSW Preliminary Agreement (Pad of 50)

This Preliminary Agreement (pad of 50) is used to cover the cost of the preliminary work before and in preparation of signing the contract. This type of work may include: - preparation of plans - engineering details - obtaining a...

NSW Notice of Practical Completion (Pad of 25)

The NSW Notice of Practical Completion is used to notify an owner when a project will be at practical completion, available as a pad of 50. It sets a time and date for the owner's inspection of the works as part of the handover an...

NSW Small Works between $5K & $20K Contract (Pad of 10)

This contract is a fixed-sum contract used for non-structural, residential renovations and additions, available in a pad of 10 duplicate contracts. It’s suitable for use in the manufacture, supply and installation of: - cabinets a...

NSW Residential Contract for Renovations & Additions (Pack of 2)

NSW Residential Building Contract - Renovations/Additions

NSW Small Works over $20K Contract (Duplicate)

The NSW Small Works over $20,000 contract (in duplicate) is for residential construction work over $20,000 and complies with the NSW Home Building Act. It's suitable for smaller alteration and renovation projects. This is a hard c...