Wednesday 16 April 2025
MEDIA RELEASE
Welcome Lift in Completions and Starts – But Caution Still Warranted
The Property Council of Australia today welcomed new ABS data showing an uplift in residential building completions and commencements in the ACT during the December 2024 quarter, but warned that the broader trend still points to a slowdown in new housing supply.
The data shows 1,278 homes were completed in the December quarter – a significant increase from 958 in the previous quarter and well above the ACT’s quarterly housing target of 1,059 dwellings. Commencements also rose strongly, lifting from 260 to 717 over the same period.
ACT & Capital Region Executive Director Ashlee Berry said the quarter-on-quarter improvement was a positive sign but urged against reading too much into one set of figures.
“It’s good to see activity picking up – particularly commencements, which are critical to building the pipeline of future housing,” Ms Berry said.
“Surpassing the ACT’s quarterly target is a strong result, but one good quarter doesn’t make a trend. We need to keep the momentum going if we’re serious about delivering the homes our community needs.”
Ms Berry said the year-on-year figures painted a more sobering picture.
“In the 12 months to December, just 3,292 homes were started across the ACT, down from 3,899 the year before. That’s a year-on-year drop of over 15 per cent – and a clear signal we’re not yet on track to meet longer-term goals.
“This quarter’s improvement is welcome, but we need to make sure it’s not a blip. A consistent pipeline of housing supply is essential to affordability, economic growth and liveability.
“We need planning settings that unlock land, streamline approvals, and make it more viable to get projects off the ground,” she said.
“This quarter shows what’s possible – now we need to turn a short-term lift into lasting recovery,” she said.
ENDS
Media: Andrew Parkinson | 0404 615 596 | [email protected]u