THE BONITA STONE BLOG:
WA LEADS THE NATION IN NEW HOME APPROVALS
WA Leads the Nation in New Home Approvals — What That Means for Perth's Driveways, Alfrescos and Pool Surrounds
Western Australia is building more new homes than any other state right now, and the numbers back it up. For Perth homeowners, builders and developers, that surge in approvals is about to translate into serious demand for the trades that finish a home off — paving, alfresco areas and pool surrounds among them.
The approvals data
What the Approvals Data Actually Shows
The Housing Industry Association's FY2025/26 wrap-up confirmed what anyone driving through Perth's outer suburbs has probably already noticed: WA recorded the largest increase in detached housing approvals of any state in the country over 2025/26, up around 11.0% on the prior year. That's not a minor blip. It puts Western Australia ahead of the eastern states in growth terms, at a time when much of the national housing conversation still centres on Sydney and Melbourne.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics data tells the same story from a different angle. Total dwelling approvals across WA for June 2026 were up 10.7% on a seasonally adjusted basis, again the strongest result of any state. Two independent data sets, two different agencies, pointing the same direction — WA's residential construction pipeline is genuinely stacking up, not just ticking along.
Why Hardscaping Is the Trade Most at Risk of Delay
Paving, alfresco paving and pool surrounds sit near the very end of the build sequence. Frame, roof, lock-up, fit-out, driveways and landscaping — by the time a new Perth home reaches the paving stage, months of scheduling decisions have already been made, and there's usually very little slack left in the program. When approvals spike the way they have this year, that pinch point gets tighter. More homes reaching completion at roughly the same time means more builders chasing the same paving contractors, the same installers and the same stone supply in a compressed window.
The Finishing Trades Feel the Squeeze First.
More homes reaching completion at the same time means more builders chasing the same paving contractors, installers and stone supply in a compressed window.
It's a pattern the industry has seen before during past building booms: the structural trades stay reasonably well resourced because they're prioritised early, while the finishing trades — paving, cladding, landscaping — get squeezed as the pipeline widens. Homeowners who leave paving decisions until the last minute, assuming it's a simple add-on at the end, often find themselves facing longer lead times, limited stone availability or having to compromise on their original design because their preferred product isn't ready when the slab needs to go down.
When Perth Homeowners Should Lock In Their Paving
Three things to sort well before the slab goes down.
Lock in with your fixtures schedule
Driveway, alfresco and pool surround selections should ideally be locked in around the same time as your fixtures and finishes schedule — well before the concrete or base preparation stage begins on site.
Confirm stone type and stock
This gives enough lead time to confirm stone type, colour and finish, check stock availability, and coordinate delivery around your builder's actual program rather than scrambling once the site is ready for pavers.
Think about batch consistency
Natural stone paving often comes in specific batches or quarry runs, so leaving the order until the week you need it can mean settling for whatever's on the shelf rather than what actually suits your home — and it leaves less room to match your paving with wall cladding and pool coping.
Who This Matters For
WA's approvals surge changes the calculus differently depending on where you sit in the build.
For Homeowners
Don't treat paving as a decision for "later." Locking in your driveway, alfresco and pool surround selections alongside your fixtures and finishes schedule gives you room to consider how your paving choice works with your wall cladding and pool coping, rather than making rushed decisions under time pressure.
For Builders & Developers
When the whole state's residential pipeline swells by double digits, the businesses that get squeezed hardest are the ones relying on ad hoc or interstate suppliers with long freight times and inconsistent stock. Reliable local supply becomes a genuinely strategic part of the build program, not just a line item.
For the Trade Pipeline
Working with a WA-made supplier cuts down on the freight delays and allocation issues that come with importing from interstate or overseas during high-demand periods, and lets builders talk directly to the people producing the stone about lead times, volume and program changes as they happen.
About Bonita Stone
Three Decades of Scaling Through Building Cycles
Bonita Stone has been manufacturing natural stone paving in Perth since 1994, which means three decades of experience scaling supply through exactly these kinds of building cycles. For developers managing multiple lots or staged releases, having a dependable local supplier locked in early removes one of the more unpredictable variables in an already tight build schedule.
Building or Renovating in Perth?
Get in touch with Bonita Stone to talk through your project, explore our range of WA-made limestone, travertine, exposed aggregate, glowpave, cobblestone and brick pavers, and make sure your paving is sorted well before the rest of the build catches up.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much have WA's home approvals grown?
The Housing Industry Association's FY2025/26 wrap-up recorded WA's detached housing approvals up around 11.0% on the prior year — the largest increase of any state. ABS data shows total WA dwelling approvals for June 2026 up 10.7% seasonally adjusted, again the strongest result nationally.
Why are paving and landscaping trades most at risk of delay?
Paving sits near the very end of the build sequence, after frame, roof, lock-up and fit-out, so there's little slack left in the program by the time a home reaches that stage. When approvals spike, more homes reach completion at once, and that pinch point tightens further.
When should I lock in my paving supplier?
Around the same time as your fixtures and finishes schedule, well before concrete or base preparation begins on site — this leaves enough lead time to confirm stone type, colour, finish and stock availability.
Why does it matter if a paving supplier is WA-made rather than interstate or imported?
Local manufacturing cuts down on the freight delays and allocation issues that come with importing during high-demand periods, and lets builders coordinate lead times and volume directly with the people producing the stone.
What paving products does Bonita Stone supply?
Limestone, travertine, exposed aggregate, glowpave, cobblestone and brick pavers, manufactured in Perth since 1994.
