The latest ABS data on Victorian building approvals by region for September 2018 has been released.

The quarterly fall in total building approvals in Victoria is reflected in most regions, except for Latrobe-Gippsland and Warrnambool and South West, which experienced an increase of 15.5 per cent and 5.4 per cent respectively. While Greater Melbourne experienced a 5.7 per cent decrease in total building approvals for the quarter, its significant increase in multi-unit approvals for the month of September – which saw an increase of 25.6 per cent compared to the previous month – softened the overall decrease for the September quarter. Despite this uptick, the fall in multi-unit approvals over the quarter in Greater Melbourne nevertheless remains the leading factor for the state’s overall fall in total building approvals during the September quarter.

Regardless, all regions continue to experience total building approvals over the year to September that is higher compared to the previous year.