CONTROLS OVER LAND SALES IN AUSTRALIA TOTALLY SUSPENDED

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 September 1949, Page 5

CONTROLS OVER LAND SALES IN AUSTRALIA TOTALLY SUSPENDED

SYDNEY, September 22.—The ending of land sales control throughout Australia as fr?m yesterday, and the easing of restrictions on home building'in New South Wales are not expected to have an immediate effect on the rate of building, or to overcome the shortages of houses. Master builders say that the determining factor in housing construction is still the availability of materials. Because essential materials are unobtainable except after a long wait, many houses have- been left partially completed. The ending of land sales control has stopped a flourishing black market in land. Some land agents admit that under the controls, landowners would not consider a Sale unless an unofficial settlement took place between the buyer and the seller before the official price was paid. Although the Federal regulations on land sales lapsed yesterday, both Victoria and New South Wales had taken independent action previously. In New South Wales, ■ all controls were lifted as from September 1. The Victorian Cabinet decided on June 27 to remove all similar controls, except those on country land. In both Victoria and New South Wales, land values after controls ended, showed some fluctuation. There was then a steady rise in values, until the prices of average building land stabilised about midway between the controlled and black market levels.

In New South Wales, where the State Government now allows the building of houses up to 1600 square feet without a special permit in city areas, and which has abolished all restrictions in country districts, there is still strict control of the issue of building materials. In the other States, special permits must be obtained for all houses of more than 1250 square feet. The effect of the easing of restrictions in New South Wales has not become apparent yet, because material shortages have cut down the numbers of large houses planned. Builders and housing experts unanimously criticise a statement by New South Wales Ministers that the easing of building controls was made possible by outstanding progress in| the supply of building materials. According to one housing authority who made a survey this week, builders in the Sydney area must wait for nine to 16 months for bricks, seven to 11 months for tiles, and three to four months for galvanised iron products.