Australian Capital Territory construction sector calls for the government to speed up development applications amid housing crisis

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The construction sector is calling on the ACT government to speed up the approval process for development applications amid an ongoing housing crisis.

Transcript

00:00These temporary stairs have become a rather permanent solution for this Narrabunda home,

00:08waiting months for a small deck and a pergola.

00:11We'd be able to knock that up in four days, but all of a sudden, you know, we've already

00:14waited two months so I could get a clear answer on whether or not it did need a DA.

00:18It could be another four months before we can even get into this project.

00:22It's this kind of delay the ACT building sector is protesting against, claiming it's costing

00:28them time and homeowners money.

00:30We're flying blind at the moment and I can't confidently say to a client when we're going

00:35to be on site because there's just so much red tape.

00:37At the end of the day, they're just going to build it themselves and have an unapproved

00:40structure on their house.

00:41According to the ACT government, in the first six months of this financial year, the median

00:47application processing time for significant developments like unit complexes was 117 business

00:54days, while for smaller projects, including individual homes and additions like decks,

01:00it was 30 days.

01:02That compares with a median wait time of 41 days for all applications last financial year.

01:08In January last year, the Directorate approved the construction of 342 units, but in the

01:13same period this year, it approved only 143.

01:18We actually have seen a modest increase in the number of development applications launched

01:22in the ACT, but the number of commencements has fallen quite significantly.

01:28And this indicates that there is a pipeline of projects that could proceed once more favourable

01:32conditions return.

01:34Currently, builders need to apply for approval from a number of agencies before putting in

01:39a development application, but those in the ACT's construction sector believe wait times

01:44could be reduced by simplifying this process into one online portal, like in New South

01:48Wales.

01:49Today, the Legislative Assembly passed an amended motion aimed at working towards a

01:54solution.

01:55Here we're with ACT Decks, who are just building decks, and they're the ones calling for a

02:00faster process.

02:01Imagine what it's like for more complicated developments in the ACT.

02:06But for now, it's back to square one.

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