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Why protecting clay is key to affordable housing in WA
Clay isn’t something most people think about when they picture a house. But for Western Australia’s construction and housing sector, locally sourced clay is a key ingredient in delivering affordable, durable homes at scale.
With WA facing pressure to meet housing demand in a growing market, especially in regional and outer-urban areas, the importance of securing strategic clay resources has never been greater. Meeting demand depends not just on having the material, but on having the right planning and policy settings in place to keep it accessible.
Clay underpins affordable housing
Clay bricks remain one of the most cost-effective and durable materials in residential construction. They offer energy efficiency, low maintenance, and longevity, which helps drive down costs for both builders and homeowners over the life of the dwelling.
Most clay used in WA’s brick manufacturing is sourced locally. Transporting raw clay long distances isn’t economical, which means once a local resource is exhausted or locked up through conflicting land use, it’s not easily replaced.
Without secure clay supplies close to manufacturing centres, costs rise, timeframes blow out, and affordable housing delivery takes a hit.
Strategic supplies need strategic thinking
The clay needed to produce bricks and pavers is a finite and region-specific resource. High-quality clay deposits are not found everywhere, and once developed for other uses, those deposits are gone for good. That’s why a clay first approach to planning is essential.
Strategic clay supplies must be identified, protected, and prioritised in land-use planning frameworks. This includes recognising clay extraction sites in local and regional planning strategies, coordinating zoning to minimise land use conflict, and streamlining approval processes where appropriate.
If these sites are overlooked in the planning process, they can end up surrounded by incompatible development or restricted by regulatory barriers, making ongoing extraction difficult or impossible.
Planning for long-term supply
Like other essential resources, clay needs long-term planning and early-stage coordination between local government, State agencies and industry.
A proactive approach might include:
- Mapping and identifying strategic clay deposits across key growth areas
- Applying land use controls that prevent incompatible development near these deposits
- Flagging clay supply as critical infrastructure in planning strategies
- Ensuring environmental and community concerns are considered without halting access entirely
This doesn’t mean fast-tracking every application or ignoring valid concerns. It means creating clear, consistent planning pathways that recognise the value of clay to the housing sector, and balancing it with other land use priorities.
What’s at risk without action?
If strategic clay supplies are ignored or restricted, the consequences flow through the entire housing supply chain. Increased costs, limited local manufacturing capacity, and greater reliance on imported or interstate materials all undermine efforts to deliver affordable housing. This is particularly the case in regional areas where freight costs are already high.
In short, protecting clay is about protecting housing supply.
A practical planning response is needed
Land use planning in WA already considers key resource protection in areas like agriculture and mining. Clay should be no different. As demand for housing intensifies, we need a coordinated, evidence-based response that ensures clay resources are front of mind.
At Land Insights, we work with local governments and agencies to develop land use strategies that account for critical resource needs like clay. We understand how to balance planning goals, environmental considerations and industry requirements to support affordable housing delivery into the future.
If you’d like to talk about integrating clay supply protection into your local or regional strategy, get in touch.