Construction

For this industry, analysis is provided on the Northern Territory’s (NT) construction activity for residential and non-residential buildings, engineering construction activity, building approvals, as well as construction work yet to be done, detailing both private sector and public sector estimates.

Economic contribution

The Northern Territory’s (NT) construction industry increased by 1.4% in 2017-18 to $2.9 billion, contributing 0.2 percentage points to the total 1.7% economic growth. Growth in the construction industry has moderated following rapid expansion over the past five years, which was driven by major projects, largely the Ichthys liquefied natural gas project (LNG) project, as well as record levels of residential construction (Chart 1).

The construction sector is one of the largest industries in the NT, accounting for 11.0% of the total gross state product (GSP) in 2017-18, slightly down from 11.3% in the previous year. This represents the highest share of GSP across all jurisdictions (Chart 2). In comparison, the value of the national construction industry increased by 5.1% in 2017-18, accounting for 7.5% of national gross domestic product (GDP) in the same year.

Contribution to employment

In 2017-18, the NT construction industry accounted for 10.5% or 14,486 people of the total resident workforce, remaining the third largest employing industry in the NT (Chart 3). This represents an increase of 2.4% in year on year terms. Nationally, the construction industry made up 9.4% of total national employment, accounting for 1,178,541 people in the industry (an increase of 6.0%) over the same period.

Since then, recent data reports that employment in the NT construction sector has declined by 9.0 per cent to 13,207 persons in the year to November 2018. This now represents 9.7% of the total resident workforce, however remains the Territory’s third largest employing industry. Nationally, the construction workforce decreased by 24.3% over the same period, however its proportion to national employment is relative stable at 9.3%.

Engineering construction

Engineering construction includes mining, oil and gas, and other heavy industry and utility‑related developments, as well as infrastructure including roads, highways, railways and bridges. The value of engineering construction work done decreased by 23.0% or $1.3 billion to $4.6 billion in the year to September 2018, in inflation-adjusted terms (Chart 4). The total value is in line with the 10-year average.The decline in the value of engineering work done was driven by a 20.7% decrease in public sector activity ($329 million) and a 21.8% decrease in private sector work ($4.4 billion).

The main driver for the year’s decline in public sector work done was telecommunications (detracting 26.4 percentage points). This result likely follows the completion of the National Broadband Network roll-out across the NT. Work done in the recreation and other, and electricity generation, transmission and pipelines sectors also detracted from the result.

The decline in private sector work done was mainly driven by heavy industry (detracting 23.7 percentage points), which was likely related to the near completion of the Ichthys liquefied natural gas project.

Considering that heavy industry makes up the majority of private engineering construction work done in the NT and thus significantly impacts the result, overall construction activity is still positive with growth reported across many categories. Water storage and supply, sewerage and drainage works (likely related to cooperative works on the Leanyer Sanderson waste stabilisation ponds inlet works upgrade), and roads, highways and subdivisions (likely related to progress on the Garramilla Boulevard Link and headworks to support subdivisions at Northcrest, Berrimah) both contributed 0.8 percentage points.

For the latest data and analysis on engineering construction activity in the NT, see the Department of Treasury and Finance’s Engineering construction activity economic brief.

Non‑residential construction

Non‑residential building includes hotels and other non‑residential accommodation facilities, shopping centres, factories, offices, warehouses, schools, medical centres, correctional facilities and other similar buildings. The value of non‑residential building construction work done decreased by 4.6% to $604 million in the year to September 2018, in inflation‑adjusted terms.

Over the last two years, public sector investment in construction activity has overtaken activity by the private sector. This was particularly noticeable in investment for non-residential buildings related to infrastructure spending and defence activity as a result of increased NT and Commonwealth Government investment programs.

Private sector non‑residential building construction declined by 11.8% to $254 million, well below the 10‑year average of $463 million. The decline largely reflects significant levels of activity from previous years, related to the completed construction of site offices and buildings for the Ichthys LNG project, new office buildings across Darwin and Palmerston, as well as completion of commercial and retail buildings, such as the Boulevard Plaza, Gateway and Coolalinga Shopping Precinct.

The value of non‑residential building construction done by the public sector increased by 1.4% to $350 million over the same period, well above the 10-year average of $249 million (Chart 5). This result likely reflects completed building work done for commercial developments related to new offices and transport buildings, as well as entertainment and recreation facilities likely associated to upgrades to the Leanyer recreation park, Marrara sporting precinct, Netball complex, STEAM centre at Darwin High School as well as a new undercover sports and recreation area at O’Loughlin College.

In recent times, building activity on health developments largely contributed to growth in public sector activity, however is now moderating (detracting 11.0 percentage points from growth) following the completion of the new Palmerston Regional Hospital, upgrades to existing facilities and a new carpark at Royal Darwin Hospital.

For the latest data and analysis on non-residential construction activity in the NT, see the Department of Treasury and Finance’s Building activity economic brief.

Non‑residential building approvals

Building approvals can be used as a leading indicator to determine the trend of construction-related activity, which measures the number and value of building work approved for both residential and non-residential buildings.

In the year to November 2018, the value of approvals related to non-residential buildings increased by 21.7% to $584 million, driven by a 64.2% increase to $336 million in the value of public sector approvals (mainly in approvals for education and other facilities). This was above the ten year average of $272 million.

Partly offsetting this was a decline of 10.0% in the private building approvals to $248 million (related to entertainment and recreation buildings, education, and aged care facilities). This was below the ten year average of $451 million (Chart 6).

For the latest data and analysis on non-residential building approvals in the NT, see the Department of Treasury and Finance’s Building approvals economic brief.

Residential construction

In the year to September 2018, the value of residential construction work done in the NT decreased by 1.9 per cent to $425 million in inflation‑adjusted terms, continuing a downward trend since December 2014. The value of residential construction work remains below the 10‑year average of $641 million for total residential building activity done in the NT. This downturn was mainly driven by an 8.0% decrease in construction activity by the private sector to $304 million, below the 10-year average of $499 million. Public sector construction activity increased by 17.5 per cent to $122 million.

The value of the NT’s new house construction work done declined by 13.6% to $214 million, which remains below the 10-year average of $308 million. This decline follows a slowing period of housing demand and weak residential property indicators in the NT. However, the value of house construction was the largest component of residential construction and is likely to remain so over the coming years, with new residential land continuing to be released over the short to medium term (Chart 7).

The value of activity in other residential construction, which includes units and townhouses, has continued to moderate over the last four years, following the completion of a number of large multi‑unit developments, particularly in the Darwin CBD and in Palmerston. In the year to September 2018, the value of other residential construction increased by 3.5% to $84 million. This was the second consecutive quarter of growth, and the strongest level of investment since 2016-17.

The value of residential construction work in relation to alterations and additions increased by 21.5% to $128 million. Continued growth was likely supported by the NT Government’s upgrades to public and government housing as well as home renovation grants as part of the First Home Owner Discount incentive.

For the latest data and analysis on residential construction activity in the NT, see the Department of Treasury and Finance’s Building activity economic brief.

Residential building approvals

In the year to November 2018, the number of residential building approvals in the NT declined by 15.1% to a total of 704 approvals, reflecting declines in both house approvals (down by 6.1% to 590) and other residential approvals (down by 50.6% to 89). This was partly offset by an increase in approvals for alterations, additions and conversions, up by 19.0% to 25 (Chart 8).

The value of total residential building approvals in the NT decreased by 4.3% to a total value of $355 million over this period, which was well below the 10‑year average of $607 million.

For the latest data and analysis on residential building approvals in the NT, see the Department of Treasury and Finance’s Building approvals economic brief.

Explanatory notes

This analysis is based on the most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) quarterly data on engineering construction and building activity, and the monthly data from the building approvals surveys.

The ABS’s quarterly data on engineering construction and building activity is measured on a value of work done basis, compared to the GSP data. GSP data reflects the total gross value added to GSP by the industry, which includes wages paid to employees and value of construction work done. The engineering construction survey data excludes the cost of land, and repair and maintenance activities as well as the value of any transfers of existing assets.

The ABS building activity survey is compiled using building approval details and returns collected from builders and other individuals and organisations engaged in building activity. The estimates represent all approved public and private sector residential building jobs valued at $10,000 or more and non-residential building jobs valued at $50,000 or more. The statistics relate to building activity so construction activity not defined as building such as the construction of roads, bridges, railways and earthworks are found in other ABS publications.

The ABS’s building approvals survey is also used as a leading indicator to determine the trend of construction-related activity, which measures the number and value of building work approved for residential and non-residential buildings. This survey measures the number and value of building work approved for residential and non-residential buildings, including all approved residential buildings valued at $10,000 or more and all approved non-residential buildings valued at $50,000 or more.

The Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics (DIPL) also publishes a Construction Snapshot on a quarterly basis. The DIPL’s Construction Snapshot provides an overview of construction activity for major works over $500,000, reflecting both current and potential future construction-related work for NT regions. To view the latest Construction Snapshot, refer to DIPL's publications on their website.