WARRNAMBOOL’S building industry seems to be emerging out of the doldrums, with figures to be presented to the city council tonight showing a slight rise in construction and permits.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Construction value for September, October and November totalled $31.35 million compared with $27.06m in the same period for 2012.
Residential projects rose by $3.7m, but commercial project value rose by only $614,000.
The number of permit applications indicates more activity in the pipeline with 83 for the three months compared with 70 for the 2012 period.
Seventy-nine applications were issued — 18 more than the same time in 2012.
Subdivision work also increased, especially in November with eight applications and nine statements of compliance issued compared with five applications for October and three in September.
The increase in building activity will be welcomed in the job sector, where the latest figures show a 0.8 per cent rise in unemployment to six per cent for the September quarter and a 1.7 per cent rise in the labour force to 19,004 people.
Warrnambool’s population rose 0.9 per cent to 32,968 as at June 30.
Other items on tonight’s agenda include lengthy reports on a proposed update of the coastal management plan and coastal vegetation management plan.
Both documents are aimed at updating guidelines for Crown land under council control and acknowledge submissions from various community groups and individuals.
A development plan for a proposed new housing estate off Aberline Road, the council’s advocacy document prioritising key projects and the healthy city action plan are also on the agenda.
The meeting starts at 5.45pm and includes a public question time section.
