A LEADING builder in the Rockhampton region is hoping the axing of the carbon tax will spark an increase in house construction.

Adrian Price said building approvals had taken a dive in the past 12 months and the slow down of the mining industry was a big reason behind this.

The building manager of Ted Price Homes said new home construction had hit the wall when coal mines began laying workers off.

The latest figures from Master Builders show that Central Queensland's building approval figures are down 50% on last year.

Only 1648 building approvals went through in the 12 months to June 2014 while the same period to June 2013 there were more than 3000 approvals.

Mr Price said the carbon tax had impacted on the coal mining industry which had already been struggling with a big drop in demand and prices.

"We used to build between 100-160 houses a year, now if we get 40 or 50 we'll be happy," Mr Price said.

The carbon tax put a slow down on everything for no reason and that hurt us a lot." Mr Price is eager to see the industry turn around.

"We heard (the building industry) is going to be improving with mines spending money again," Mr Price said.

FIGURES

Central Queensland building approvals

1648 building approvals in the 12 months to June 2014

3304 building approvals in the 12 months to June 2013

% change over 12 months was -50.1%