Coast building approvals hit seven-year high

Sunshine Coast building approvals are at their highest level in seven years, with the Sunshine Coast Council issuing $1.29 billion of approvals in the 2015/16 financial year.

Council has published its Development Indictors Annual Highlights report which presents a selection of statistics on development activity during the last financial year.

Planning Portfolio Councillor Christian Dickson said good news for the region’s economy was evident throughout the report.

“For the second consecutive financial year, council has recorded building approvals with a value in excess of $1 billion,” Cr Dickson said.

“The $1.29 billion of building approvals issued in 2015/16 is 11% higher compared to the $1.17 billion of building approvals issued in the 2014/15 financial year.

“Not only is this the highest value of building approvals value recorded in the past seven years, 2968 lots have been created through the plan sealing process making it a record high for the past five years which will stimulate further building activity in the future.

“Building approval values during the last financial year included $701 million in new dwellings (up 15% compared to 2014/15), $203 million for multiple unit dwellings (up 19%) and $156 million in additions and alterations (up 141%).”

Cr Dickson said development had increased significantly on the Sunshine Coast over recent years with the 2015/16 figures showing a 114% increase in building approvals since the $607 million recorded in the 2012/13 financial year.

“This is a considerable increase, which is a significant boost for the region and our economy,” he said.

“Steady and sustainable growth in development over the longer term has positive flow-on effects that contribute to increased economic activity across the region, including employment generation, business confidence and consumer spending.”

Master Builders Association regional manager Will Wilson said the Development Indictors Annual Highlights report indicated that the economic outlook for the Sunshine Coast economy and building industry is very stable.

“The report shows us that business confidence in the building and construction industry consistently remained at a high level during the 2015/16 financial year,” Mr Wilson said.

“A recent Master Builders Survey of Industry Conditions, which reports on the current conditions and business sentiment in the Queensland building and construction industry, provided similar positive feedback.

“The survey showed the Sunshine Coast is one of only two areas in Queensland that are maintaining a strong building performance and achieving better than the state averages for planning approvals, infrastructure charges and development availability.”

Smith & Sons Queensland director Steven Nousala said his company’s four Sunshine Coast offices were experiencing a considerable increase in the number of renovation inquiries, reflecting the 141% increase in approved additions and alterations in the past 12 months.

“One of the key reasons to renovate is to increase property value and the beachside suburbs such as Maroochydore and Alex are certainly paving the way with requests doubling this year,” Mr Nousala said.

“House extensions and renovations can be an economically smart decision, bathroom and bedroom renovations and extensions are among the most sought after.”

Previous Development Indicators Annual Highlights Reports and quarterly updates are available through council’s website.

Fast Facts (comparing 2014/15 to 2015/16)

• $701 million approved new dwellings (15% increase from 2014/15)
• $203 million approved new multiple unit dwellings (19% increase from 2014/15)
• $156 million approved additions and alterations (141% increase from 2014/15)

Building Private Certification (Building Approvals)

• PC15/5794- $22 million - Aged Care Facility - Lot 902 Birtinya Boulevard, Birtinya
• PC15/5723- $20 million - 5 Storey 22 Multiple Dwelling Units - 33 Buderim Avenue, Mooloolaba
• PC15/6967 - $14 million - Aged Care Facility - 190 Ocean Drive, Twin Waters
• PC15/4515- $13 million - Supermarket - 107 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
• PC14/0744 - $12.5 million - 74 Multiple Residential Units - Fiji Court, Parrearra
• PC15/1161 - $11.2 million - 64 Multiple Residential Units - Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
• PC15/6403- $10 million - 13 storey 67 Mixed Use Residential Units - 25 First Avenue, Mooloolaba
• PC15/4851 - $9.8 million - 50 Multiple Dwelling Units -Stringybark Road, Buderim
• PC15/5412 - $6 million - Water Treatment Plant - 25 McKillop Road, Montville

Development Applications can be viewed via PD Online