New ABS building approvals data shows the ACT recorded 197 dwellings approved in November, down from 668 in October and show a sharp pullback in higher-density approvals, with 128 dwellings approved excluding houses.

Property Council ACT & Capital Region Executive Director Ashlee Berry said month-to-month swings are becoming a pattern.

“We’re regularly seeing volatile swings in approvals – a big month followed by a low month, and this makes it hard to build the consistent pipeline we need for delivery,” she  said.

Since the start of the Housing Accord, 4579 dwellings have been approved in the ACT. Over the 12 months to November, the ACT approved 4096 dwellings.

Ms Berry said the ACT government had made credible commitments on reform, but the test would be whether those reforms lift feasibility and speed consistently, particularly for higher-density projects.

“Government has listened to industry and is heading in the right direction – streamlining decision-making, reducing duplication and using technology to speed up approvals will all help,” she said.

“But the biggest constraint remains feasibility. If projects don’t stack up, approvals will keep swinging and delivery will keep falling short.”