MacTiernan summit on land shortages

Western Australia's booming economy has seen demand for land skyrocket, creating problems for people wanting to buy land to build new homes, leading Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan to arrange an urgent meeting on the issue.

The meeting, between key players in the housing and development industry, will identify how more lots can be bought on to the market.

"With more and more people moving to WA and the strength of the local economy helping more families to afford their own homes, we are concerned to hear so many stories of frustration from would-be home-buyers and builders," Ms MacTiernan said.

"There are differing views out there about the cause of the problem - some say planning approvals are being held up, others argue that there are plenty of subdivisions approved but they are being trickled onto the market."

One of the state's major players in residential land and housing development is the Satterley Property Group, and managing director Nigel Satterley has welcomed the government's input in to the housing land shortage debate.

His group is trying to ensure new land releases are sold to families not invesors, and to facilitate this had adopted a ballot system to help direct sales towards 'mums and dads' who wanted build new homes on land when it was released.

Identifying and streamlining the problems with the approvals process for new land developments could bring 36,000 already approved lots across the metropolitan area to market sooner than is currently planned.

"But we also need to recognise the civil construction industry is already stretched beyond capacity and will struggle to undertake the necessary earthworks and associated works needed to expedite blocks for sale," the minister said.

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Urgent talks needed to address housing land availability across metropolitan area.

Western Australia's booming V8 economy has seen demand for land skyrocket, meaning big headaches for some people wanting to buy land to build their new homes.

Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan has arranged an urgent meeting between key players in the housing and development industry in an effort to identify how more lots can be bought on to the market.

"With more and more people moving to WA and the strength of the local economy helping more families to afford their own homes, we are concerned to hear so many stories of frustration from would-be home-buyers and builders," Ms MacTiernan said.

"I have called together senior representatives from the land development and home building industries, with the WA Planning Commission and local government representatives."

"There are differing views out there about the cause of the problem - some say planning approvals are being held up, others argue that there are plenty of subdivisions approved but they are being trickled onto the market.

"We need to drill down to see where the real problems are.

"Identifying and streamlining these areas could bring the 36,000 approved lots across the metropolitan area on-stream much sooner than is currently planned.

"But we also need to recognise the civil construction industry is already stretched beyond capacity and will struggle to undertake the necessary earthworks and associated works needed to expedite blocks for sale.

"I am very concerned about the current situation and will be asking my agencies, LandCorp, the WA Planning Commission and the Department for Planning and Infrastructure, to the meeting table to find a solution."