Building on the rise

THE total number of dwellings approved in Australia rose 43.5 per cent in February, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Private sector dwellings, excluding houses, rose 78.3 per cent following a 43.3 per cent fall in January.

The February rise was driven by a large increase in apartment approvals in NSW and Victoria.

Private house approvals also rose in February (16.5 per cent) following a 16.3 per cent decline in January.

Across Australia, the number of dwelling approvals rose in Victoria (91.0 per cent), NSW (48.8 per cent), South Australia (35.9 per cent), Tasmania (12.2 per cent), and Western Australia (8.0 per cent).

Queensland fell 14.6 per cent, having been the only state to record a rise in January.

Approvals for private sector houses rose in all mainland states.