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{{propApi.successMessage}} {{region}} Change locationFurther reforms needed to get more keys in doors now
Further reforms needed to get more keys in doors now
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“Whilst HIA supports the establishment of the HDA, you will not see any keys in doors for several years and it does not address the barriers crippling the housing industry right now”.
“ABS data released yesterday shows that housing approvals continue to decline in NSW with no signs of a recovery in sight. Broader reforms are needed to encourage more detached and medium density residential projects which can be constructed faster.”
“Recent planning reforms announced by the NSW Government including the low and mid-rise housing reforms were supposed to deliver 112,000 homes over 5 years. To date, these reforms have been largely ineffective in delivering any new housing,“ stated Mr Armitage.
“Stage 1 of the reforms permitting dual occupancies and semi-detached homes in the R2 low-density zone introduced last July are not workable because the policy lacks any supporting planning controls. These reforms rely on existing council rules which are too restrictive to enable developments to occur. The Government is also yet to release Stage 2 of the reforms for mid-rise housing around town centres and stations more than 12 months after the policy was originally proposed.”
Planning controls though are just one aspect of the problem. “Right now there are too many obstacles to new housing throughout the development process,“ continued Mr Armitage.
This includes:
- Developer charges such as the Housing and Productivity Contribution, council infrastructure contributions, and Sydney Water Development Servicing Plan fees which combined can exceed $130,000 for every new housing lot in parts of Western Sydney.
- Changes to development standards which reduce the ability to access the fast track complying development pathway meaning slower and more complex approvals.
- Excessive planning controls and onerous conditions of approval imposed by councils.
- Amendments to the National Construction Code which make housing more expensive to build.
“At the current rate there is no way we will build anywhere near the 377,000 new homes required to meet our housing targets. It is time for the NSW Government to get serious and take action to address the current low levels of building activity in NSW” concluded Mr Armitage.
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Detached house approvals picking up
“There were 9,490 detached homes approved in the month of April 2025, up by 3.3 per cent compared to the previous month,” stated HIA Senior Economist Maurice Tapang.
State Budget is a missed opportunity to stimulate housing
The Treasurer has handed down the 2025/26 Tasmanian Budget. The Budget focuses on alleviating cost of living pressures, health, education and infrastructure, while mapping out a path to a fiscal balance surplus in 2032/2033.
HIA supports bipartisan approach to planning reform NSW
“The NSW planning system has failed to deliver the number of homes we desperately need and we fully support removing the politics from housing, to address this growing crisis,” said Brad Armitage, HIA Executive Director NSW.
Opposition pledge to remove stamp duty for first home buyers welcomed (Vic)
The Victorian Opposition’s announcement that it would remove stamp duty for first-home buyers spending up to $1 million on a new or existing home if elected at next year’s state election, is a positive step towards improving home affordability,” says Steven Wojtkiw, HIA Victoria Deputy Executive Director.