WYNDHAM recorded its highest housing approval rate last year despite the global financial crisis. The council registered 2979 building permits compared with 2031 in 2001.

Mayor Shane Bourke said the figures had steadily increased over seven years.

“These figures give us a good indication that Wyndham’s population is rising rapidly,” Cr Bourke said.

“Approximately 38 per cent of the 2008 housing approvals are for dwellings in the Point Cook area.”

Since 2001 Wyndham’s building figures have remained high. “In light of the global economic crisis, it is remarkable that in the last six months of 2008 Wyndham recorded the highest number of building approvals on record, with 363 permits being issued in July 2008 alone,” Cr Bourke said.