Building blocks: Australia’s biggest housing land releases
A land release for 249 new homes north of Adelaide is just the latest in a national push to ease the housing squeeze. See where you have the best chance of securing a block for your dream home.
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For many young families, the availability of affordable land remains one of the last remaining pathways to the Great Australian Dream.
But a desperate lack of land for building a home either in, or at the fringes of, our biggest cities means the dream, for many, has been fast slipping away.
Even in the face of rising interest rates and record high inflation, competition for vacant land in places such as southeast Queensland has seen prices surge by close to 30 per cent.
In 2021, Victoria’s peak development body warned house and land prices in Geelong could soar to $1m by 2025 and estimated land for new homes would run out by early 2024.
But authorities around the country are now taking steps to help ease the squeeze and accomodate for the explosive growth our capital cities and biggest regional towns.
Here’s a look at where land around the country is being freed up for greenfields development.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
ADELAIDE
New housing blocks: 1000+
Where: Old West End Brewery site, Thebarton
In September 2023, the State Government announced it was set to acquire the site of the former West End Brewery at Thebarton for $61.5m, ending years of speculation about its future.
More than 1000 new homes will be built on the 8.4ha site, with at least 20 per cent of those to be reserved for affordable housing.
Housing and Urban Development Minister Nick Champion said it was “almost unheard of” for an infill site of the size of the old West End site to become available in a capital opportunity so the government “seized the opportunity”.
Master-planning is expected to start in 2024, with construction to start in 2025 and the first residents to move in in 2027.
New housing blocks: 249
Where: Munno Para
In September the government also announced plans to unlock 16.6ha of land for 249 new homes at the Playford Alive development at Munno Para, in the city’s north.
As part of the new release, a key road in the area, Newton Boulevard, would be extended, the government said.
As The Advertiser reported, of the 249 homes to be built, 161 would be listed as affordable with a block sale price at or below what is considered an affordable price point for land (currently $187,650).
Preliminary work on the site is set to start within six months with construction of the first homes to start in August 2024.
The first residents are expected to move in from late 2025. Read more here.
ADELAIDE
New housing blocks: 23,700
Where: North and South of Adelaide
In February, 2023, the State Government announced plans to free up enough land to accommodate 23,700 homes in four separate parcel releases north and south of Adelaide.
As the Advertiser reported, the land release will include blocks for 10,000 homes at Dry Creek, 10,000 at Concordia, on the northeastern edge of Gawler, about 2000 homes at Hackham in the city’s south and 1700 in the coastal suburb of Sellicks Beach.
The new homes would accommodate more than 50,000 people.
At least 15 per cent of the blocks would be earmarked for affordable housing.
The government is hoping the massive land release will trigger more than $1b in new housing construction and The Master Builders Association of SA said the new land bonanza should deliver a secondary benefit - making it cheaper to build a new home in the first place.
“The state government’s announcement of the single largest release of residential land in South Australian history will create downward pressure on the cost of building,” MBSA chief executive Will Frogley said. Construction is expected to begin in 2024.
ADELAIDE
New housing blocks: 1900 blocks
Where: North and South of Adelaide
In April, 2023, the SA Government announced plans to release land in Adelaide’s north and south to fast-track the construction of close to 2000 new homes in a bid to address the state’s on-going housing crisis.
The announcement came just months after the government announced the biggest land release in SA’s history, with 23,700 new blocks to be built on four parcels, also in the north and south.
The new release will see the construction of 600 new homes at Noarlunga Downs, 800 at Aldinga in the south, and 500 in Golden Grove in Adelaide’s north.
More than 15 per cent of the homes to be built at Noarlunga Downs have been earmarked for affordable housing, with 80 social housing homes also to be built there.
Construction on the new homes is set to start in 2025 with the first homes finished in 2026.
GOOLWA NORTH / FISHERMAN BAY
In May, 2023 the State Government announced yet another major land release - this time focussing on the coast and regions.
Under the release, 2700 new homes will be built on 241ha of privately-held land at Goolwa North, while 230 will be built on a 26ha site at Fisherman Bay on the Yorke Peninsula.
Both sites will be re-zoned for residential use with construction to start as early as 2025.
About 7000 people live in the Goolwa area with the State Planning Commission tipping the population to grow by more than 20 per cent by 2036.
QUEENSLAND
CABOOLTURE WEST
New dwellings: 26,900
Residents: 68,700
Area size: 340ha
Caboolture West, in Queensland’s Moreton Bay region, was first proposed in 2012 and is less a new housing development than a whole new city.
As the Caboolture Shire Herald reported, up to 70,000 new residents are expected to settle in the city over the next 40 years, with 26,700 new homes to be built to accommodate the booming growth in population.
The $9.5b city will eventually be home to a dozen schools, six retail hubs, a TAFE, private hospital district sports field and a town centre.
In mid-2022, the emerging city was given a boost when the State Government announced Moreton Bay would receive a share of a $200m pool of funds for essential infrastructure, designed to help accelerate housing growth.
“People and businesses are moving to Queensland in droves to enjoy the economic, job and lifestyle opportunities on offer,” Planning Minister Steven Miles said.
“This has increased demand for land supply, especially in South East Queensland,” Mr Miles said. “A new Growth Acceleration Fund has been created to support the delivery of priority trunk infrastructure needed to develop new communities like Caboolture West,” he said.
MOUNT PETER
New dwellings: 450
In October, 2022, the Palaszcuk government announced it was taking steps to help fast-track the building of hundreds of new homes in North Queensland, as well as unlocking huge swathes of land on the Gold Coast.
As the Courier Mail reported, a $15m loan, through a co-investment from the state government, would be spent to develop water infrastructure at Mount Peter, outside Cairns in a government-assigned growth area.
The loan would help fast-track the release of the land for about 450 new homes up to six years earlier than first planned.
“There are many families in Cairns and families moving to Cairns who are struggling to find an affordable house,” the member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt said.
“The Palaszczuk government’s investment allows Cairns Regional Council to bring forward this important $18.2 million project which is expected to support 42 jobs.
“The infrastructure will have the capacity to service an additional 500 lots and a future primary school.”
GOLD COAST
New dwellings: 730
At the same time, Deputy Premier and Planning Minister Steven Miles announced he had approved several amendments to the Gold Coast City Council’s Gold Coast City Plan, which was expected to pave the way for about 730 new houses.
Mr Miles said getting the City Plan right was “crucial to cater for population growth”.
NEW SOUTH WALES
In June, 2022, the NSW State Government pledged $500m in the budget to help tackle the state’s housing supply and affordability crisis.
The package included $300m to fund critical infrastructure, including water, roads, sewers and parks to shore up the construction of new homes on Sydney’s fringes.
“This is about getting keys in doors with this commitment supercharging housing supply to help people across the State get one step closer to home ownership,” Premier Dominic Perrottet said.
WESTERN SYDNEY
New dwellings: 70,000
Where: Western Sydney suburbs
Late last year, the Perrottet government announced measures to help fast-track the construction of tens of thousands of new homes in Sydney in the next 12 months, the Daily Telegraph reported.
The government announced a $73.5m initiative to rezone 10 areas for housing paving the way for the approval of 70,000 homes by 2024.
The re-zoned areas are predominantly in Western Sydney and include Camellia-Rosehill, Macquarie Park, Riverstone East, Broadmeadow, Newscastle, Orchard Hills and Parramatta North’s University and Northern sites.
“We are throwing everything at getting more houses built so more people get keys in doors and can realise their dream of owning a home,” Premier Dominic Perrottet said.
“We are focusing our efforts on some of the fastest growing areas in Western Sydney to help more families get into homes sooner,” Mr Perrottet said.
SOUTHWEST SYDNEY
New dwellings: 19,000
Where: Appin, Ousedale Creek
In November, 2022, the government announced it would fast-track the approval of three housing proposals in southwest Sydney comprising 19,000 new homes between them.
As the Daily Telegraph reported, the biggest proposal, by Walker Corporation, would see almost 13,000 new homes, including affordable housing options, built at Appin between Campbelltown and the Illawarra coastline.
A further 3000 new homes would be built by Ingham Property Group on a 300ha site at Ousedale Creek near Menangle with 3300 more to be built on a second, 876ha, site.
VICTORIA
The fastest-growing state in Australia, Victoria is on track to become home to almost eight million people by the end of the decade, growing annually by 125,000 people, The Herald Sun reported. About 17,000 new homes are built across the state every year - 14,000 in the metropolitan area and 3000 in the regions.
In January, 2022, Leader Community News compiled a series of before and after aerial photos to show the explosive growth over a decade of regional centres including Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Shepparton, as well as metropolitan Melbourne. Explore them here.
MELBOURNE/GEELONG
New dwellings: 2000+
On September 20, the Andrews Government announced it had approved five major developments that would see the construction of more than 2000 new homes in four Melbourne suburbs and in Geelong.
The works include 800 homes in Dingley Village, 480 homes in Preston, 477 homes in Kensington, 300 homes in Hawthorn and 37 homes in Geelong.
The announcement came on the same day the government was poised to unveil its long-awaited housing statement.
The statement outlines plans to release surplus land for medium density housing in key locations, such as rail lines.
The government has also considered reforms that would see the scrapping of planning permits for single dwellings on larger blocks and the unlocking of government land for developments that include 10 per cent social and affordable housing in their plans.
SUNBURY
New dwellings: 19,000
Where: Sunbury South / Lancefield Road
In December, 2018, the State Government announced the opening up of 2800ha of land near Sunbury to accommodate 19,000 homes, and up to 55,000 residents, in two new communities, Sunbury South and Lancefield Road.
The communities would comprise four town centres, health and emergency services, six primary schools, two high schools and a prep-to-12 school and will take two decades to be fully realised.
The news came after the government announced plans in 2017 to free up enough land for 17 new Melbourne suburbs, with 100,000 blocks to be rezoned in growth corridors such as Casey, Melton, Whittlesea and Cardinia.
In October 2021, developer Sandhurst Retail and Logistics submitted plans for a $100m town centre for Sunbury South, with stage one to include a supermarket, discount department store, commercial and retail spaces, dining and outdoor amenities, green space and sitting areas.
According to Sandhurst, Sunbury’s population is forecast to more than double in the next 20 years from 42,494 people in 2021 to 86,640 people in 2041.
BALLARAT
New dwellings: Up to 6000
Where: Ballarat north
In February, 2022, Ballarat City Council took steps to accommodate a predicted population boom over the next 20 years, voting in favour of the re-zoning of three new growth areas.
As The Herald Sun reported, the council expects the city’s population grow to more than 185,000 people by 2040, at a rate of 2.5% or 1450 homes per year.
The population in 2021 was 113,000 people.
In September, 2022, the State Government approved the council’s application for the town’s “Northern Growth Area” to be rezoned for residential development, paving the way for up to 6000 new houses and about 15,000 new residents in the years to come.
TASMANIA
In April, 2022, the State Governnent announce the relasee of 116 blocks of land for low and middle income earners in three subdivisions around Burnie in Northwestern Tasmania.
As Alex Treacy reported for the Burnie News, some of the blocks would be available for as cheaply as $75,000 and a desposit as small as $3750.
Housing Minister Michael Ferguson said the blocks would be prioritised for affordable housing for 30 days before being released on the open market.
Those buying into the affordable housing scheme would share the cost of buying their house and land package with the Tasmanian Director of Housing, who would contribute up to 30 per cent of the cost.
Owners would then work to buy the director out over a period of 30 years.
But as The Hobart Mercury reported in February, 2023, according to figures obtained by Tasmania’s opposition under Freedom of Information, more than 15,000 blocks of land are sitting vacant across the state - a fact Labor says is exacerbating the state’s housing crisis.
Labor leader Rebecca White said the figures were evidence the government had failed to deliver on a 2014 promise to streamline the planning process.
Local Government minister Nic Street told the Mercury the government was committed to building 10,000 new social and affordable houses by 2032 and wasn’t “in the business of telling people what to do with their land”.
Originally published as Building blocks: Australia’s biggest housing land releases
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