He added that the HIA’s Housing the Regions report is intended to encourage discussion on easing pressure in capital cities by working with regional communities to develop solutions for their expanding populations.
“The number of Australians moving from cities to the regions continues to grow, and this trend is expected to increase in the coming years as more people get priced out of living in metropolitan areas,” Croft (pictured right) said. “There are now 8.5 million people living in regional Australia.
“With high house prices and cost-of-living pressures biting, many people are realising the regions can offer the lifestyle they want and the jobs they’re after, minus big city problems – like long commute times, tolls and traffic.
“This shift in population highlights the importance of the need for appropriate investment in the regions to bolster services, skills and infrastructure needed to support a growing population. Even more critically, it reinforces the importance and the need for a targeted regional housing plan that includes the volume of supply needed and providing affordable and diverse housing options.”
Croft identified several challenges facing regional housing development, including limited access to build-ready land, underinvestment in essential infrastructure, and workforce shortages across construction and planning roles.