12% Rise In Housing Approvals in QLD

Queensland approvals for the construction of units have seen an increase of 12 per cent in January, when compared with the same month in 2012.

In what is being described as good news by the Queensland Master Builders Association, it is believed that the growth in the residential real estate construction sector will continue.

"While numbers across the state are somewhat patchy and do not offer a clear indication of which way building activity trends are heading, Master Builders remains optimistic that housing activity will improve across the state during 2013," said the association's director of public policy, Paul Bidwell.

"Certainly, the results of Master Builders' recent Survey of Industry Conditions report confirm this view, with confidence in the outlook for the industry improving during the December 2012 quarter."

Mr Bidwell cited a number of factors as contributing to stimulating the housing construction sector, with reduced interest rates, positive unemployment data and population growth playing a role.

The Great Start Grant, formerly known as the First Home Owners Construction Grant, is also playing its part, Mr Bidwell explained, which is boosting the number of new properties being built across the Sunshine State.

Three sectors of Queensland were stand-out performers, with the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Central Queensland rising 69.8 per cent, 5.8 per cent and 24 per cent respectively.