Gippsland's building approval boom

BUILDING approvals are on the rise in Gippsland as a state-wide development boom extends across the region’s six local government areas.

There were 3742 homes approved last financial year, up from 2271 the previous year, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The trend looks set to continue this financial year, with 1125 homes approved between July and October.

Property development consultant and civil engineer Nicholas Green said the growth was likely fuelled by increasing regional migration, driven by a rise in remote and flexible working during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Born and raised in South Gippsland and former college captain of Leongatha’s Mary MacKillop, Green recently returned to Gippsland to open a local branch of property and infrastructure consultancy Spiire.

“We can see there’s a growing appetite to call Gippsland home and tap into the enviable lifestyle on offer,” Green said.

“As development accelerates across the region, we’re responding to the opportunity to provide expert advice that’s grounded in local knowledge.”

Gippsland’s building approval boom is part of a wider Victorian trend, with 10,000 more houses approved across the state in the year to October than the previous 12 months.

Green said the uptick in approvals of detached houses could indicate the market responding to a growing interest from city dwellers in lifestyle locations.

“Towns with a direct rail link to Melbourne, such as Warragul and Drouin, have a lot to offer people seeking a tree change while working flexibly from the city,” he said.

The step-change in land development across Gippsland is further supported by the establishment of a local chapter of the Association of Land Development Engineers.

“As we look ahead to a period of growth for the region, we can apply learnings from our larger communities to future developments,” Green said.

“I’m excited to be back in Gippsland and play a role in shaping its future.”