One Step Forward, Two Steps Back for Canberra Building Approvals
The sharp drop in ACT building approvals in April reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows the need for urgent action to fix the delivery system that's holding Canberra back, the Property Council of Australia said today.
ABS figures show just 84 dwellings were approved in April - a steep fall from 681 approvals in March. The figures include just 16 apartments and 8 townhouses, underscoring the scale of the challenge to deliver the diverse housing stock needed across the territory.
Property Council ACT & Capital Region Executive Director Ashlee Berry said the data reflected a system still struggling to convert policy intent into real housing outcomes.
"We've seen some encouraging moves from the ACT Government, particularly around missing middle reforms - but these numbers are another wake-up call," Ms Berry said.
"A drop this sharp highlights how fragile the approvals pipeline remains and just how easily the momentum can stall. It's a case of one step forward, two steps back for housing in Canberra."
The call comes as the Property Council renews its push for the ACT Government to use the forthcoming Budget to establish a Housing Taskforce, based on the successful NSW model, to fast-track delivery and address delays that continue to plague housing projects.
"In NSW, a dedicated Housing Taskforce helped get 30,000 homes moving in just six months. We need the same kind of coordinated, delivery-focused response here in the ACT," Ms Berry said.
"Over the last decade, more than 4,800 homes approved or commenced in Canberra haven't been finished. That's not just a supply issue - it's a system failure."
Ms Berry said recent announcements about the Development Solutions unit in the new City and Environment Directorate were welcome, but the ABS data today was further evidence more horsepower would be needed to fix the fundamentals.
"The Development Solutions unit is a step in the right direction, and we look forward to working with them. But we need more than a new front door - we need an empowered team that can walk projects through the process and resolve the delivery bottlenecks that are slowing things down."
"With the ACT's population continuing to grow, now is the time to act boldly and clear the path for more homes, more choice, and a more affordable Canberra."
