{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.text}} {{region}} Change location{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change location {{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.text}} {{region}} Change location{{propApi.title}}
{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change locationHunter Region Housing Hotspots Released
Hunter Region Housing Hotspots Released
Member and guest login
Enter your email and password to access secured content, members only resources and discount prices.
Did you become a member online? If not, you will need to activate your account to login.
If you are having problems logging in, please call HIA helpdesk on 1300 650 620 during business hours.
Forgotten password
Need some help?
If you are having problems logging in, please call HIA helpdesk on 1300 650 620 during business hours.
If the email address you have entered is registered, you will receive an email with further instructions.
Become part of the HIA community
Enables quick and easy registration for future events or learning and grants access to expert advice and valuable resources.
Create a guest account
Enter your details below and create a login
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:
Fee-Free support could harm training sector
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) is urging the government to hit pause on the proposed Free TAFE Bill 2024. While the initiative promises to address critical skills shortages, HIA believes the plan needs a comprehensive review before it’s locked into law.
Response to the Inquiry into the Free TAFE Bill 2024
HIA provided a response to the Senate Education and Employment Committees on the inquiry into the Free TAFE Bill 2024.
"Let's Build Australia": Access to super supports home ownership
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) welcomes the Coalition’s announcement allowing first home buyers to access up to $50,000 of their superannuation to purchase a home. This initiative represents a meaningful step towards addressing the significant barriers to home ownership faced by young Australians,” stated HIA Managing Director, Jocelyn Martin.
What to watch out for in 2025
On behalf of all of us at HIA we would like to wish you a very happy 2025! As everyone heads back to work for the new year, we are sharing some exclusive member updates to get you ready for what lies ahead.