Fringe suburbs lead building boom

The report defined hotspots as locations where at least $150 million in residential building work was approved during the 2019-20 financial year and where the rate of population growth was faster than the 1.3 per cent national average. 232967_02

By Alesha Capone

Four Wyndham suburbs are among the nation’s growth hotspots for new housing builds.

Rockbank – Mount Cottrell, which is shared between the Melton and Wyndham municipalities, is second in overall growth according to the Housing Industry

Association’s latest Population and Residential Building Hotspots report.

The report defined hotspots as locations where at least $150 million in residential building work was approved during the 2019-20 financial year and where the rate of population growth was faster than the 1.3 per cent national average.

Rockbank recorded a 29.1 annual population growth rate and $501.99 million in building approvals for the 12 month period.

Werribee west was seventh with an annual population growth rate of 14.3 per cent and $276.04 million in building approvals, while

Truganina came in at 16th with an annual population growth rate of 8 per cent and $328.17 million in building approvals.

Tarneit, with a 6.8 annual population growth rate and $475.47 million in building approvals, was ranked 19th.

Mickleham-Yuroke, in Melbourne’s north, has the number one hotspot with a 32.8 per cent annual population growth rate and $412.09 million in building approvals.

HIA executive director Fiona Nield said Victoria dominated the latest HIA list, with 11 of the national growth hotspots located in the state, including Wollert, Melton South, Grovedale (near Geelong), Alfredton (near Ballarat), Cranbourne East and Cranbourne West.

“The majority of the growth is in the fringe of Melbourne as the city expands,” Ms Nield said.

“Significant infrastructure investment has occurred in this region to accommodate strong population growth in Victoria for several years.

“Mickleham – Yuroke has been a regular in the national top 20 building hotspots list over the past couple of years, along with second on the list, Rockbank – Mount Cottrell.”

Ms Nield said that COVID-19 had led to a halt to overseas migration, and a number of Melbourne residents moving to regional areas, which means Victoria might not dominate future HIA hotspot lists.