Building activity June quarter 2017

The Australia Bureau of Statistics (ABS) building activity statistics includes residential and non‑residential building work done and commenced, which is more updated information to that reported in the Construction Work Done economic brief.

Building work done

Quarterly

In the June quarter 2017, the trend value of total building work done in the Territory decreased by 5.4 per cent to $266 million compared to the previous quarter. Nationally, trend building work done decreased by 0.3 per cent in the quarter.

In original terms, residential building activity in the Territory decreased by 1.7 per cent and non‑residential building activity decreased by 4.9 per cent in the June quarter 2017. Nationally, residential building activity increased by 7.6 per cent and non-residential building activity also increased by 11.3 per cent over the same period.

Year on year

In 2016-17, the total value of building work done in the Territory decreased by 16.2 per cent to $1.2 billion, reflecting a slowing in building activity from a peak of $2.0 billion recorded in the year to March 2014 (Chart 1).

The Territory recorded the second largest decline amongst all jurisdictions, behind Western Australia. Nationally, the value of building activity increased by 1.0 per cent to $107.5 billion over the same period.

In 2016-17, non-residential building activity in the Territory decreased by 4.0 per cent to $707 million, driven by a 39.8 per cent decrease in private work done, partly offset by a 87.4 per cent increase in public sector work (Chart 2).

Residential building activity declined in the Territory, down by 30.0 per cent to $454 million in 2016-17, largely a result of a 37.6 per cent decrease in the private sector, partly offset by a 15.5 per cent increase in public sector (Chart 3).

In the private sector, there was a 63.4 per cent decline in new unit building work done to $77 million and a 22.9 per cent decline in new houses work done to $268 million, partly offset by a 21.4 per cent increase in alterations and additions work done to $109 million.

Building work commenced

In the June quarter 2017, the total value of building work yet to be done in the Territory decreased by 7.7 per cent to $491 million. This was driven by a 7.8 per cent decrease in residential work yet to be done and a 7.4 per cent decrease in non-residential work yet to be done.

The number of dwellings under construction in the Territory decreased by 4.4 per cent to 784 in the quarter.