A day after the premier announced ambitious new housing targets, dwelling approvals have fallen in New South Wales for the second month in a row. The government admits the construction industry is being squeezed but it still hopes to build its way out of an affordability crisis.
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00:00 Just a 10 minute bus ride from the city centre, this former industrial site's been transformed.
00:07 Dozens of townhouses and units now overlook a lush courtyard.
00:12 It's exactly the type of project the Planning Minister hopes councils will build to meet their newly announced targets.
00:19 I remain optimistic that councils will step up to our shared responsibility.
00:26 These targets are unreasonable and they're unfeasible.
00:30 The Mayor of the Hills Shire and state Liberal colleagues insist the local infrastructure won't cope.
00:36 That's despite the presence of a metro just metres away.
00:40 Our schools are way overcrowded here in the Hills, our roads are already choked.
00:44 The Hills has to build more than 23,000 homes in five years but it's already got 75% planned, approved or underway.
00:52 Blackdown's target is over 21,000 but it's got 80% in the pipeline already.
00:58 Parramatta needs to build 19,500 but it has 85% in the planning system and Liverpool's target is 16,700 and 90% of that's already on the books.
01:09 But new ABS data has revealed a second monthly drop in total dwelling approvals.
01:14 Industries blaming the levies the government charges to build infrastructure.
01:19 The cumulative impacts of these fees, taxes and charges is cruelling feasibility and the banks are rightfully saying well there's too much risk here, I won't lend you the money.
01:28 The government says councils that don't even attempt to meet their targets could have an administrator appointed to oversee planning decisions.
01:35 But the Minister hopes it won't come to that.
01:38 We're developing a league table of council performance which will be published soon.
01:44 Any council deemed unconstructive will be named and shamed.
01:49 [BLANK_AUDIO]