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“We currently have a housing crisis in the ACT, and part of the solution is to identify and start work on a sustainable pipeline of land for residential building in the ACT,” said Greg Weller, HIA Executive Director ACT & Southern NSW.
“Last financial year the ACT approved the lowest number of detached houses since records started in the 1960’s. Over recent years when the Suburban Land Agency conducts a ballot for land, it is not uncommon for these to be oversubscribed by thousands. That tells us we have a problem.
“Kowen Forest is a good solution and identifying a long-term pipeline of land is something that we have been calling for in our pre-election housing priorities, to take the pressure off Canberrans who currently feel like every land sale will be the last.
“The current Indicative Land Release Program is too short a horizon, is not transparent enough and does not report against its success.
“The ACT has to accept that the current approach to planning is pushing families into surrounding developments in NSW, putting more cars on the road for longer, potentially negating some of the environmental benefits they are seeking to achieve. The ACT also misses out on revenue through land tax, rates and registrations.
“We continue to support increasing density within the city’s existing footprint and have long said that the discussion shouldn’t be one or the other regarding infill or greenfield. So, we also encourage a future government to look at existing limitations such as the Lease Variation tax on new housing in existing suburbs.
“If the city is to keep growing as planned, we need bold and clear statements as to how and where that will happen,” concluded Mr Weller.
With the Tasmanian Liberals announcing today that if re-elected they will reinstate the grant for eligible Tasmanians building their first home to $30,000, there is renewed cause for optimism.
“The NSW Government has announced that it will act as guarantor on up to 50 per cent of approved housing projects to bring forward the commencement of new construction,” stated HIA Executive Director NSW Brad Armitage.
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has welcomed the focus on housing in the 2025/26 ACT budget to be handed down tomorrow, according to HIA Executive Director for ACT & Southern NSW, Greg Weller.
"Today's announcement of skills funding in the upcoming budget is welcomed by the housing industry," said Brad Armitage, HIA NSW Executive Director.