Australia Yearbook - 2001

736 Year Book Australia 2001
20.10 NUMBER OF NEW HOUSES COMMENCED
AND COMPLETED, Trend Estimates
'000
40
30
20
Dec
1989
Commenced
Completed
Dec
1991
Dec
1993
Dec
1995
Dec
1997
10
0
Dec
1999
Source: Building Activity, Australia (8752.0).
New houses
Graph 20.10 illustrates the cyclical pattern of new
house commencements. Lows were recorded in
1990 and 1996, with peaks in 1994 and 1998.
New house construction grew throughout 1992,
1993 and 1994, the number of commencements
peaking in the June quarter 1994. New house
commencements fell in each quarter of 1994–95
and 1995–96, but grew in each quarter of
1996–97. There was continued growth in the
trend up to the June quarter 1998 for new house
commencements, although the rate of growth in
the trend eased in the first half of 1998. After a
slight contraction in the second half of 1998,
growth in the number of new house
commencements recovered in 1999.
The graph also illustrates the relationship
between new house commencements and
completions. Generally, in periods of downturn
in new house construction activity, completions
exceed commencements, while in periods of
growth this pattern is reversed.
Table 20.11 shows that new house
commencements are the major component of
residential building activity. In 1999 new houses
accounted for 72% of the number of new
residential dwelling units commenced
(i.e. excluding approvals for conversions). This
proportion is similar for approvals and
completions.
The table also shows that residential building
activity is dominated by the private sector. In
1999 this sector accounted for 98% of approvals,
commencements and completions of new
houses. The public sector was slightly more
significant in ‘new other residential building’
work, accounting for between 6% and 7% of
approvals, commencements and completions.
20.11 RESIDENTIAL BUILDING, By
Public/Private Sector—1999
New
houses
New other
residential
dwelling
units
Conversions,
etc.
no. no.
no.
Private sector
Approved 116 146 43 500 2 531
Commenced 105 584 42 798 2 605
Completed 97 068 37 095 3 345
Public sector
Approved 2 220 2 876 46
Commenced 2 090 2 865 39
Completed 2 457 2 807 62
Total
Approved 118 366 46 376 2 577
Commenced 107 674 45 663 2 644
Completed 99 525 39 902 3 407
Source: Building Approvals, Australia (8731.0); Building
Activity, Australia (8752.0).