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News.com.au
25-04-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Melbourne suburbs hailed as ‘NIMBY paradise' revealed
Melbourne's outer east has been revealed as a NIMBY's paradise, with a handful of areas recording fewer than 20 new home approvals in the past two years. From The Basin and Montrose to Rowville and Frankston, there has been a less than 1 per cent increase in the supply of new homes since 2023. A report by MCG Quantity Surveyors has dubbed the locations as among the city's 'Not In My Back Yard' (NIMBY) hot spots, and those potentially needing urgent intervention to ensure more homes get built there. However, industry experts have warned there could be deeper issues with building costs, insurance availability and other market forces that could mean they are never developed. MCG managing director Mike Mortlock said areas with restrictive zoning, strong heritage overlays, or vocal local councils can often serve as a 'NIMBY's paradise'. 'These are the suburbs where new development is tightly controlled, and the existing character of the area is fiercely protected,' Mr Mortlock said. 'If you're someone who values predictability in your streetscape and doesn't want a mid-rise apartment block popping up next door, these locations offer a kind of residential preservation.' However, he said these home protections could also lead to housing undersupply — meaning stability for existing residents could arguably come at 'the cost of broader housing affordability'. 'The reality is we're grappling with a tangled web of issues — sluggish planning systems, tax burdens that inflate the cost of new housing, and a reluctance to acknowledge that a healthy rental market, supported by balanced policies for landlords, is a critical part of the solution,' Mr Mortlock said. Urban Development Institute of Australia Victorian chief executive Linda Allison said topography and building costs could be preventing development in many of the areas, with steep inclines in the Dandenong's difficult to build on. With developing in Melbourne at the moment already 'very difficult' due to the economics behind building, Ms Allison said 'market forces' were likely having a significant impact on where developers were actively looking to create more homes. 'It's good to have clear directions of where the government thinks the future of development should be, and they are very centred on train stations — which are good places for people to live and work close by,' Ms Allison said. Yes In My Back Yard (YIMBY) lead organiser Jonathan O'Brien said in some of the areas that fire danger could also be a factor. If that was the case, there might be an argument more homes should not be permitted there as it could lead to extra government costs for evacuations and protecting homes in emergencies. However, Mr O'Brien said across wider Melbourne more areas should be freed up for development so homebuyers could 'vote with their feet' on where they wanted to live. 'The reality is there's two forms of NIMBY: the older, richer people who are turning up to council meetings and saying no; and the planning rules and regulations,' Mr O'Brien said. 'We have a lot of areas where people would like to build townhouses so they can age in place, but they legally can't do it.' Mr Mortlock said those hoping to 'avoid the symphony of jackhammers and the parade of tradies' utes' should seek out low-density zoning such as residential overlays, or regions covered by heritage protections and conservation areas that were 'red flags' for development. 'So if you're hunting for serenity, look for suburbs with restrictive planning overlays, a vocal resident base, and a local council that's more clipboard than bulldozer,' he said. In The Basin, LOCI Real Estate director Michael Hill said there were pockets where council rules would be hampering development in favour of preserving neighbourhood character — and that appealed to many buyers. 'We are getting quite a few people moving from Hawthorn and Camberwell to The Basin for a tree change,' Mr Hill said. 'So there would be a market for more homes.' VICTORIA'S NIMBY PARADISES Area: Approvals (2 years) — Percentage of wider area approvals — Typical House Price The Basin: 6 — 0.40% — $840,000 Montrose: 10 — 0.40% — $930,000 Mr Dandenong-Olinda: 16 — 0.50% — $1.03m Rowville-South: 16 — 0.50% — $1.01m Upwey-Tecoma: 170.50%$848,000 Belgrave-Selby: 17 — 0.50% — $870,000 Wandin-Seville: 15 — 0.60% — $900,000 Rowville-North: 18 — 0.70% — $1m Frankston North: 53 — 0.70% — $630,000 Wendouree-Miners Rest: 45 — 0.70% — $465,000 Source: MCG Quantity Surveyors
News.com.au
25-04-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Qld's 65 worst NIMBY hotspots named
Queensland is facing a critical shortage of homes in 65 suburbs marked as hotspots of NIMBY resistance, with virtually no new dwelling approvals despite growing demand and rising property prices. A shock analysis revealed 'an entrenched pattern of underdevelopment' across some of Brisbane's most established inner and middle-ring suburbs, intensifying the state's affordability crisis as families compete for a limited supply of new homes. Home built by Aussie cricket legend for sale Research by MCG Quantity Surveyors pinpointed areas with the lowest building approvals over the past two years, with undersupply also dire in regional growth areas from the Gold Coast to Townsville. 'Australia's housing market faces significant pressure due to surging population growth, heightened demand, and an alarmingly low rate of new dwelling approvals,' MCG Quantity Surveyors managing director Mike Mortlock said. 'While many regions grapple with meeting housing demand, certain suburb areas stand out starkly as hotspots of resistance – often referred to as NIMBYism (Not In My Back Yard) – to new developments.' In the 24 months to January 2025, only 337,564 dwelling units were approved nationally. Bikini goddess' 'missing sister' for sale in $15m mystery twist MCG's report identified 65 suburbs in Queensland with less than 5,000 building approvals, coupled with less than a 1 per cent increase in housing stock. Brisbane's worst-ranked areas included: Wakerley, Riverhills, Seventeen Mile Rocks-Sinnamon Park, Middle Park-Jamboree Heights, Carindale, Jindalee-Mount Ommaney, Mansfield, Stafford Heights, Sheldon-Mount Cotton, and Boondall. 'These are areas with well-developed infrastructure and strong local appeal – but approvals remain astonishingly low,' Mr Mortlock said. 'Many of these suburbs have seen virtually no change in their housing stock despite growing demand and rising prices. 'The inner and middle-ring suburbs are where reform is most needed, yet they're also the most resistant to change. It's a critical pressure point in Brisbane's broader affordability story.' Thousands of Qld empty-nesters refuse to budge NIMBYism claims were levelled at Wakerley residents who attempted to block a proposal by a local church to build 44 affordable townhouses on its own land. The State Facilitated Development was approved this month, despite more than 3,400 signatories to a petition demanding the government stop the 'housing commission development' on New Cleveland Rd. Among objections, one resident claimed 'Gumdale and Wakerley have been earmarked to be converted to a lower-class ghetto', while another lamented 'drug addicts and refugees' who would devalue the area. The build-to-rent project, put forward by the Archdiocese of Brisbane, will provide housing capped at 74.9 per cent of market rent. Meanwhile, a medium-density housing proposal for 47 apartments across four storeys in Highgate Hill has attracted scores of objections. Un-beer-lievable: SEQ costlier than Melbourne for housing, food, grog Resident submissions lodged with council detail concerns about noises and traffic, while a few state current residents of the 2402 sqm site on Westbourne St would be displaced. The project was labelled an 'absolute eyesore' and 'innapropriate intrusion into this historically significant area'. Outside Brisbane, five of the 10 worst regional suburb areas were in Townsville, three in Central Queensland, and one each in Mackay and Wide Bay. Mr Mortlock said the dearth of approvals in Townsville reflected an 'ongoing reluctance to densify or renew, even in the face of population pressures'. The pattern was repeated across hubs including Mackay and Bundaberg. 'These are established communities with thousands of homes, yet the housing stock has barely budged,' he said. 'The risk here is clear: without intervention, affordability in these markets will erode just as quickly as in the capitals.' Natalie Rayment, Brisbane town planner and CEO of YIMBY Qld, said homeowners with 'blind faith' in opposing development risked 'pricing a new generation out of the housing market'. 'Good housing policy and quality design are essential,' Ms Rayment said. 'But I like to ask people – if you say 'no' to more housing in your neighbourhood, then what are you saying 'yes' to? 'There's always a trade-off, whether that be increasing housing costs, increased levels of homelessness or reducing opportunities to downsize and age in place in the future. There's also added pressure to push new housing further out of the city, increasing the commute and potentially expanding into farm land or koala habitat.' When a housing project was denied or delayed in response to strong community objection, it often led to further restrictive practices. 'Decision makers tighten up the rule book to ensure no more are allowed to slip through the system – think the townhouse ban, or capping heights, reducing floor plates, or increasing car parking numbers, each coming with a direct cost on housing,' Ms Rayment said. 'Worse still, each time this happens, it rocks the confidence of the housing sector, reducing the risk appetite needed to get new projects off the ground. It's a downward spiral. And we need a re-set. Urgently.' NIMBY pressure in wealthier suburbs like Noosa, New Farm and Main Beach was strong, as homeowners fought to preserve 'neighbourhood character', Ms Rayment said. 'But NIMBY pressure plays out in many areas, often opposing affordable housing options like smaller units. 'Recently, we've seen even more intense objections to social and affordable homes, with some residents going beyond planning issues to raise concerns about social issues like youth crime.' Building approvals for new houses and units plummeted across much of the state over the summer months. While approvals for detached homes and units rose by 8.4 per cent from last year to 36,147 that number fell short of the government's annual target of 50,000 new homes. The three-month trend to February 2025 shows approvals down by 8.8 per cent – blowing out to about 30 per cent in regions like Mackay and Whitsunday, Far North Queensland, and the Gold Coast. The housing shortage is a key issue ahead of next week's election, with both major parties unveiling policies aimed at addressing the supply-demand imbalance. Ray White economist Nerida Conisbee said skyrocketing building costs had made it more affordable to buy an existing home than purchase a new one – undermining policies aimed at encouraging new construction. 'Construction challenges have worsened, with industry insolvencies continuing to rise and now exceeding 1,200 annually,' Ms Conisbee said. 'Labor productivity remains low, and the average time to complete a house has increased from approximately 6.5 months pre-pandemic to over 10 months today. 'These factors severely limit the industry's capacity to deliver on ambitious housing targets.'
News.com.au
25-04-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Townsville's worst NIMBY suburbs exposed
Townsville is regional Queensland's NIMBY capital with five of its suburbs being named in the top 10 NIMBY resistance hotspots thanks to almost non-existent new dwelling approvals. A shock analysis revealed 'an entrenched pattern of underdevelopment' across Queensland, intensifying the affordability crisis as families compete for a limited supply of new homes. Research by MCG Quantity Surveyors pinpointed areas with the lowest building approvals across the past two years, with undersupply dire in Brisbane and regional growth areas from the Gold Coast to Townsville. 'Australia's housing market faces significant pressure due to surging population growth, heightened demand, and an alarmingly low rate of new dwelling approvals,' MCG Quantity Surveyors managing director Mike Mortlock said. 'While many regions grapple with meeting housing demand, certain suburb areas stand out starkly as hotspots of resistance – often referred to as NIBMYism (Not In My Back Yard) – to new developments.' In the 24 months to January 2025, only 337,564 dwelling units were approved nationally. MCG's report identified 65 suburbs in Queensland with less than 5,000 building approvals, coupled with less than a 1 per cent increase in housing stock. Five of the 10 worst regional Queensland suburb areas were in Townsville, three were in Central Queensland and one each in Mackay and Wide Bay. Brisbane's worst-ranked areas included: Wakerley, Riverhills, Seventeen Mile Rocks-Sinnamon Park, Middle Park-Jamboree Heights, Carindale, Jindalee-Mount Ommaney, Mansfield, Stafford Heights, Sheldon-Mount Cotton, and Boondall. Topping the regional Queensland list was Cranbrook, followed by the Wulguru- Roseneath area and Annandale. Also making the top 10 were Heatley and the Gulliver-Currajong-Vincent area. Mr Mortlock said the dearth of approvals in Townsville reflected an 'ongoing reluctance to densify or renew, even in the face of population pressures'. The pattern was repeated across hubs including Mackay and Bundaberg. 'These are established communities with thousands of homes, yet the housing stock has barely budged,' he said. 'The risk here is clear: without intervention, affordability in these markets will erode just as quickly as in the capitals.' Natalie Rayment, Brisbane town planner and CEO of YIMBY Qld, said homeowners with 'blind faith' in opposing development risked 'pricing a new generation out of the housing market'. 'Good housing policy and quality design are essential,' Ms Rayment said. 'But I like to ask people – if you say 'no' to more housing in your neighbourhood, then what are you saying 'yes' to? 'There's always a trade-off, whether that be increasing housing costs, increased levels of homelessness or reducing opportunities to downsize and age in place in the future. 'There's also added pressure to push new housing further out of the city, increasing the commute and potentially expanding into farm land or koala habitat.' Ms Rayment said when a housing project was denied or delayed in response to strong community objection, it often led to further restrictive practices. 'Decision makers tighten up the rule book to ensure no more are allowed to slip through the system – think the townhouse ban, or capping heights, reducing floor plates, or increasing carparking numbers, each coming with a direct cost on housing,' she said. 'Worse still, each time this happens, it rocks the confidence of the housing sector, reducing the risk appetite needed to get new projects off the ground. 'It's a downward spiral. And we need a re-set. Urgently.' NIMBY pressure in wealthier suburbs like Noosa, New Farm and Main Beach was strong, as homeowners fought to preserve 'neighbourhood character', Ms Rayment said. 'But NIMBY pressure plays out in many areas, often opposing affordable housing options like smaller units,' she said. 'Recently, we've seen even more intense objections to social and affordable homes, with some residents going beyond planning issues to raise concerns about social issues like youth crime.' Building approvals for new houses and units plummeted across much of the state over the summer months. While approvals for detached homes and units rose by 8.4 per cent from last year, the 36,147 homes approved fell short of the government's annual target of 50,000 new homes. The three-month trend to February 2025 shows approvals down by 8.8 per cent – blowing out to about 30 per cent in regions like Mackay and Whitsunday, Far North Queensland, and the Gold Coast. Master Builders CEO Paul Bidwell highlighted a critical skills shortage. 'The disconnect between the number of people entering the construction industry and the workload is growing, and is the most pressing challenge for our sector,' Mr Bidwell said. The Construction Skills Queensland Horizon 2032 report found the shortfall in workers will intensify to around 50,000 by 2026-27. 'With a pipeline of just over $59b in homes, schools, hospitals, and community infrastructure in play for 2024-25, and the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games projects ahead, it's time to rethink our approach to finding more workers.' The housing shortage is a key issue ahead of next week's election, with both major parties unveiling policies aimed at addressing the supply-demand imbalance. Ray White economist Nerida Conisbee said skyrocketing building costs had made it more affordable to buy an existing home than purchase a new one – undermining policies aimed at encouraging new construction. 'Construction challenges have worsened, with industry insolvencies continuing to rise and now exceeding 1200 annually,' Ms Consibee said. 'Labor productivity remains low, and the average time to complete a house has increased from approximately 6.5 months pre-pandemic to over 10 months today. 'These factors severely limit the industry's capacity to deliver on ambitious housing targets.'
