Media Release
From the Building Commissioner
6 September 2010
Victoria posts a record month in building permit activity
Victoria has commenced the 2010/11 financial year with 10,200 building permits being issued
in the month of July 2010.
Building Commissioner Tony Arnel, who released the latest pulse data today, said this figure
translates to a total value of $2.3 billion of building permits issued – the highest monthly total
recorded by the Building Commission.
“Today’s pulse data shows that building permit activity in Victoria continues to perform
strongly,” Mr Arnel said.
Mr Arnel added that the record $2.3 billion of building permits issued in July 2010 was 8.5 per
cent higher than July 2009.
“Current activity is being driven primarily by the level of domestic and residential building
permits. Building permits for domestic building in July rose 28 per cent when compared with
July last year, while permits for residential building jumped 85 per cent over the same period
off a low base last year,” Mr Arnel said.
By building use, building permit figures for July 2010 compared to July 2009 show:
Domestic (housing) rose 28 per cent to $1.3 billion
Residential (including high rise) leapt 85 per cent to $262 million
Commercial fell 25 per cent to $286 million
Retail fell 22 per cent to $87 million
Industrial declined 35 per cent to $31 million
Hospital/healthcare fell 44 per cent to $64 million off a high base last year
Public buildings dipped 15 per cent to $230 million after very strong activity in the previous
period.
By region, building permit figures for July 2010 compared to July 2009 show:
Inner Melbourne rose 9 per cent to $857 million
Outer Melbourne rose 14 per cent to $924 million
Gippsland decreased 7 per cent to $94 million
North Central fell 22 per cent to $69 million
North East climbed 45 per cent to $92 million
North West jumped 30 per cent to $97 million
South West decreased 15 per cent to $161 million.
From a calendar year perspective 2010 has been a strong year to date, with five of the seven
months since January exceeding $2 billion in building permit activity and the 2010 calendar
year to July building permit activity reaching $14 billion (up 24.2% on the previous
corresponding calendar year to July 2009).
ENDS
The Building Commission collects Victorian building information monthly from building surveyors who
provide details of building permits they issue. This media release is based on a summary of this
information.
For more information on building statistics or to interview the Deputy Building Commissioner, call
Chelsea Toomey on 9618 9296, or visit the Building Commission’s pulse website. For further
NEWS 
