Mount Barker Council records 117 per cent growth in dwelling approvals as buyers flock to the Hills

Dwelling applications have hit a record high in Mount Barker – eclipsing the state average by almost 100 per cent. Find out why and what it means for residents.

Mount Barker’s home-building industry has recorded a bumper year with the government’s HomeBuilder stimulus pushing dwelling approvals to an all time high.

According to a staff report presented to Mount Barker District Council, dwelling applications have increased by 117 per cent since July last year, compared to 19 per cent across SA.

It equates to an average of 91 new dwelling per month, up from 42 in the previous year,

The council’s manager of city development and planning Andy Humphries said the $25,000 grant scheme, which aimed to assist the sector bounce back from Covid-19, had been significant.

“In the three months prior to the HomeBuilder announcement (April to June), council received an average of 41 new dwelling applications; typical numbers when compared to previous year end averages,” he said.

“In the first three months following the announcement, this increased to an average of 74 dwelling applications per month with a total of 104 new dwellings being submitted in September alone.

“Peak months were October and November 2020 where council received 114 new dwelling applications each month.”

Mr Humphries said total development activity had also increased, including applications for renovation, expansions and rezoning.

“There was a 70 per cent increase in total DA activity compared to the historical average,” he said.

“This equates to an uplift from 105 total DA’s per month up to 179 per month.

“(As a result) $215.5 million worth of housing has been lodged compared to $132.6 million lodged over the entire 2019/20 financial year.

“This equates to a 62.5 per cent increase in development value for dwellings.”

Mount Barker District Council mayor Ann Ferguson said the grants had spelled good news for homebuyers but also added extra pressure on infrastructure.

Mount Barker Council Mayor Ann Ferguson and Burke Urban Investments director Kym Burke.

“In 2010 we had 13,000ha of land rezoned, so we knew it was on the horizon,” she said.

“Now it’s about managing it and … to keep the state and federal government informed as to the amount of development that is happening and the requirement that comes along with that.

“For instance, the Heysen Boulevard, to be able to get funding for that to get that completed, would be a huge benefit but we have to keep knocking on state and federal government doors to make sure it’s at front-of-mind and to remind them that we need it to take pressure off.

“For now, it’s about the new residents understanding that they are coming in for a lifestyle and a beautiful place to live and with that they have to wait for the conveniences they had wherever they came from.”

Newenham Estate on Flaxley Road is among Mount Barker’s key housing development’s to have benefited from the HomeBuilder scheme.

The first allotments in stage 2 of its development, which was launched only earlier this year, is close to being sold out, prompting the developer to release more land in the coming weeks.

“The land is walking out the door (and) the tricky part is being able to keep up with the demand,” sales and marketing director Olivia Burke said.

“The grant has given people the confidence and the funds to bring forward the decision and act on what may previously have been an ideal or dream of moving to the Hills.”

Originally published as Mount Barker Council records 117 per cent growth in dwelling approvals as buyers flock to the Hills