The total number of dwellings approved rose 28.1 per cent in seasonally adjusted terms in August, following a 18.2 per cent decrease in July, according to data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Daniel Rossi, head of construction statistics at the ABS, said: "Approvals for private sector dwellings excluding houses rose 99.1 per cent in August., with a sharp bounce back in apartment approvals driving the result. The strong upward movement in August follows a weak July result, which had the lowest number of other residential dwellings approved since January 2012."
"Approvals for private sector houses rose 4.1 per cent in August, following a 0.8 per cent increase in July."
Across Australia, the number of dwelling approvals rose in all states, in seasonally adjusted terms. Approvals rose in New South Wales (70.6 per cent), Victoria (19.4 per cent), Western Australia (13.6 per cent), Queensland (9.5 per cent), Tasmania (3.9 per cent) and South Australia (3.5 per cent).
The result in approvals for private sector houses varied across the states. Approvals rose in New South Wales (12.7 per cent), Western Australia (8.9 per cent), and Victoria (1.2 per cent). In contrast, approvals for private sector houses fell in South Australia (-4.5 per cent) and Queensland (-0.1 per cent).
The value of total building approved rose 23.5 per cent in August, following a 14.8 per cent decrease in July. The value of total residential building rose 28.5 per cent, comprising of a 32.6 per cent increase in new residential building and a 5.4 per cent increase in alterations and additions.
The value of non-residential building rose 15.1 per cent, after falling 21.5 per cent in July.
