- The rise follows an 18.2% decrease in July
- Approvals rose across all of the states
- Private non-houses, primarily apartments, contributed to the sharp increase
Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has found the total number of dwellings approved rose by 28.1% in seasonally adjusted terms in August.
This rise follows an 18.2% decrease during July.
Dwelling approvals rose across all the states. In seasonally adjusted terms, approvals rose in New South Wales (70.6%), Victoria (19.4%), Western Australia (13.6%), Queensland (9.5%), Tasmania (3.9%) and South Australia (3.5%).
Non-houses – primarily apartments – in the private sector led the way, despite causing the decline during July.
“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,” said Daniel Rossi, head of construction statistics at the ABS.
“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.”
Daniel Rossi, ABS
Approvals for private sector houses varied across the board. While they rose in New South Wales (12.7%), Western Australia (8.9%) and Victoria (1.2%), they fell in South Australia (-4.5%) and Queensland (-0.1%).
The value of total building approved rose by 23.5% during the month, following a 14.8% decrease in July. The value of total residential buildings rose by 28.5%, consisting of a 32.6% increase in residential buildings and a 5.4% increase In alterations and additions.
For non-residential buildings, values rose by 15.1%, after falling 21.5% in July.
