High rate of housing approvals

GEELONG recorded the fifthhighest number of housing approvals of any council across the state last financial year, according to new figures.

More than 2600 approvals were granted within Greater Geelong between July 2016 and June 2017, the Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows.

It means 2426 new houses were approved in the region, along with 191 other residential buildings.

Although the total figure is slightly down on the previous year (2642), the combined value of the new buildings has soared 10 per cent to reach $755 million.

The steady rate of approvals coincides with new ABS data showing Greater Geelong’s population had increased 2.6 per cent in 12 months. More than 244,000 people now live in the region.

The rapidly evolving growth area of Mount Duneed and Armstrong Creek has been linked to the high rate of approvals and climbing population.

The statistical area of Grovedale — which includes Mount Duneed — had 667 building approvals last financial year.

The next highest in Geelong was Ocean Grove-Barwon Heads — taking in Armstrong Creek — which had 539 approvals.

As revealed yesterday, those statistical areas had a population increase last financial year of 7.6 per cent and 4.9 per cent respectively.

Other areas to experience a high number of approvals included Torquay (328) and Clifton Springs (296).

Surf Coast Shire had 425 building proposals receive the green light, while Golden Plains Shire had 185 and the Borough of Queenscliffe had 30.

The City of Melbourne recorded the most approvals statewide (5972), followed by Casey (4853), Wyndham (4747) and Hume (3353).