ResidentialChris ThomsonThu 15 Oct 26
SA Notches Housing Wins After Record Month of Approvals
South Australia has recorded more than 15,000 housing starts, homes under construction and approvals in the same year for the first time, as the state’s building pipeline reaches new highs.
The result is in keeping with a target set before this year’s March state election.
ABS building activity data shows that 15,403 homes were started in SA in the year to June 2026.
That was up 16.3 per cent from the 13,240 homes commenced in the year to June, 2025, and 35.2 per cent higher than the 11,392 started in the year to June, 2024.
Of the homes under construction, 15,880 were in SA at the end of June, up 12.2 per cent from the 14,157 recorded a year earlier and the highest number on record.
ABS approvals data shows that 15,874 homes were greenlit in the 12 months to August.
Then, in the highest monthly number of approvals since reporting began in 1983, 1701 homes were approved in August.
That was a 24 per cent increase on the month before. It was the highest of any Australian state. Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia recorded declines.
State comparions: Percentage change month-on-month
And in a result exceeding SA’s target of 13,500 homes a year set ahead of the election, 13,738 homes were completed in the year to June, 2026. Completions were up 6.6 per cent from the 12,887 homes finished in the year to June 2025.
‘Flood of approvals’ for SA
SA Housing Minister Nick Champion said high quality developments were “coming through the system at a rate of knots” in Adelaide.
“What we see coming out of this system now is just this flood of approvals, of under construction, and of course the most important bit—the completion which is where a home owner, an apartment owner, a renter, a student, get to walk through the doors of their accommodation,” he said.
“This is a sign of momentum, not of a job done.
“We will keep investing in land, in public housing and in the tradies we need.”
In that vein, state development agency Renewal SA is providing $5 million to increase housing delivery in regional SA.
Round 2 of the regional housing initiatives program aims to bring forward residential projects by partnering with developers, councils and industry groups to overcome barriers that can make regional developments difficult to deliver.
Round 1 attracted 30 applications and provided $5.6 million to support housing projects at Bordertown, Cleve, Cowell, Cummins, Kimba, Loxton, Mount Gambier and Port Broughton.
Renewal SA spokesperson Peter Gatsios said regional property development posed additional financial risk.
“We want to create an environment where builders and developers feel confident enough to invest in the regions,” he said.
“By taking a stake in projects, rather than solely leading our own developments, we are helping unlock housing supply, supporting economic growth and driving long-term outcomes for regional communities.”
