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In this newsletter, you'll find:
Our latest blog post on developer covenants stifling innovation and our latest quality management checklist release - C10 Rough In Stage Inspection
Blog Post 1: How Developer Covenants Are Stifling Innovation in Australian Housing Estates
Have you ever strolled through a new housing estate and felt a sense of déjà vu, with each house mirroring the next?
This uniformity isn't coincidental; it's the result of developer covenants—binding agreements that dictate specific materials, designs, and even colour schemes for homes. While intended to maintain aesthetic standards and "increase estate values," these covenants often suppress creativity and limit homeowner choices.
In our latest blog post, we look into how these restrictive covenants are hindering innovation in Australian housing estates. We also examine the role of regulatory authorities, like Economic Development Queensland, in approving these covenants and discuss potential strategies to foster more diverse and imaginative residential designs.
👉️ Ready to read more? Check out the full post below:
Anthony Painter
Blog Post 2: C10 The Rough In Stage Inspection Checklist
Ensuring your home's essential systems are correctly installed before walls and ceilings are sealed is important to avoid repairs down the line.
Our latest blog post introduces the C10 Rough-In Stage Inspection Checklist, designed to help you identify and address potential issues at this construction stage. By conducting a thorough inspection now, you can prevent future headaches and ensure your home is built to the highest standards.
Don't miss this comprehensive guide to safeguarding your investment.
Read the full article below and download the checklist here (login required).
Anthony Painter
💾 Software of the Week: LocalSend
This is not a sponsored post - just software we use and are sharing it with you
LocalSend: The Seamless Way to Transfer Files Across Devices
Transferring files between devices can often be difficult, especially when dealing with different operating systems.
This is where LocalSend helps you. It's a free, open-source application designed to make this process seamless and efficient. Think of it as an AirDrop alternative that works across various platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.
What is LocalSend?
LocalSend allows you to share files directly between devices without needing an internet connection or external servers. By utilizing your local Wi-Fi network, it ensures that file transfers are fast, secure, and private. Whether you're moving photos from your phone to your computer or sharing documents between tablets, LocalSend has got you covered.
Why Use LocalSend?
In this digital age we're in, we often juggle multiple devices, each serving different purposes. LocalSend addresses this challenge by providing a unified solution that works across various platforms.
No more emailing files to yourself or fumbling with USB drives—with LocalSend, sharing is as simple as a few taps or clicks.
Key Features and Benefits
- Cross-Platform Compatibility – LocalSend bridges the gap between different operating systems, allowing seamless file transfers between Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS devices.
- Privacy and Security – All transfers occur directly between devices over your local network, ensuring that your files remain private and are not stored on external servers. This peer-to-peer approach gives you full control over your data.
- User-Friendly Interface – Designed with simplicity in mind, LocalSend offers an intuitive interface that makes file sharing straightforward, even for those who aren't tech-savvy. Devices on the same network are automatically discovered, streamlining the process.
- Open Source and Free – Being open-source, LocalSend's code is publicly available, promoting transparency and community collaboration. Plus, it's completely free to use with no ads or hidden costs.
Who Can Benefit from LocalSend?
LocalSend is ideal for anyone looking to simplify file transfers between devices. Whether you're:
✅ A student sharing notes between a laptop and a tablet.
✅ A professional moving presentations from a computer to a smartphone.
✅ A casual user sharing photos with friends and family.
LocalSend offers a hassle-free and efficient solution.
System Requirements
To use LocalSend, ensure that:
✔️ All devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
✔️ The LocalSend app is installed on each device involved in the transfer.
✔️ The application is available for download on major platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.
Final Thoughts
In a world where device interoperability is often a challenge, LocalSend stands out as a reliable and efficient solution for file sharing. Its commitment to privacy, user-friendly design, and cross-platform capabilities make it a must-have tool for anyone looking to streamline their digital workflow.
PS: Remember to allow LocalSend through your firewall. If you're on Linux using UFW, check the port in LocalSend settings that it's listening on and make sure to allow traffic in both directions. This ensures you can connect with other devices on your network seamlessly.
For example:
- Open LocalSend settings and note the port it’s using (e.g., 53317).
- Run the following commands in your terminal:bashCopysudo ufw allow 53317/tcp
sudo ufw allow 53317/udp - Reload UFW to apply the changes:bashCopysudo ufw reload
This will ensure LocalSend can communicate properly across your network.
Localsend: for Windows, mac, Linux android and ios
👾 Chrome Store Extension Of the Week - Bitwarden
This is not a sponsored post - just software we use and are sharing it with you
Managing numerous passwords across various websites can be daunting, especially when your aiming for both security (long passwords) and convenience (accessibility).
This is where Bitwarden comes in, a user-friendly password manager that simplifies this task by securely storing and managing your passwords directly within your Chrome browser.
What is Bitwarden?
Bitwarden is a free, open-source password manager that integrates seamlessly as a Chrome extension. It securely stores your login credentials, allowing you to access them effortlessly whenever needed.
Think of it as a secure vault within your browser, keeping all your passwords in one easily accessible place.
Why Use Bitwarden?
In today's digital age, using strong, unique passwords for each of your online accounts is essential to protect your personal information. However, remembering all these complex passwords can be challenging.
Bitwarden solves this problem by:
✅ Securely storing your passwords
✅ Automatically filling them in when you visit saved websites
✅ Enhancing your online security while saving time and effort
How Does Bitwarden Work?
- Install the Bitwarden extension from the Chrome Web Store.
- Create a master password – the only password you'll need to remember.
- Save login credentials when you log into websites.
- Let Bitwarden auto-fill your login details the next time you visit those sites.
This makes the sign-in process quick and effortless while ensuring top-tier security.
Key Features and Benefits
- 🔒 Secure Encryption – Bitwarden uses strong encryption methods to protect your data before it leaves your device, meaning only you have access to your passwords.
- 💻 Cross-Platform Compatibility – While we're focusing on the Chrome extension, Bitwarden is also available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, allowing access across all your devices.
- 🔑 Password Generator – Easily create strong, unique passwords using Bitwarden’s built-in password generator, boosting your online security.
- 🛡 Open-Source Transparency – Bitwarden's code is publicly available, promoting transparency and trust in its security practices.
- 🫰 Its Affordable
Who Can Benefit from Bitwarden?
Bitwarden is ideal for anyone looking to enhance online security without sacrificing convenience.
💼 For Individuals: If you manage multiple online accounts, Bitwarden makes life easier.
🏢 For Families & Businesses: groups of peopls looking for a secure and cost-effective password management solution will find Bitwarden highly beneficial.
PS: we use the family plan but for our business (don't tell anyone) because its cheaper this way 😄
System Requirements
To use the Bitwarden Chrome extension, you'll need:
✔️ The Google Chrome browser installed on your device.
✔️ An internet connection for syncing your vault across devices.
Bitwarden is compatible with major operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.
For mobile access, apps are available for both Android and iOS devices.
🔗 Check it out below: Bitwarden Chrome Extension
The main Bitwarden website is: https://bitwarden.com/
Tell us what you think so far?
On with the news from this week 😄
🚀 The latest residential construction news from new sources around Australia for the news week ending 06-02-2025 🔥
A clear theme is emerging in Australia’s housing sector: innovative approaches and positive trends are paving the way to address long-standing housing challenges
Embracing Prefabricated and Modular Construction
Prefabricated and modular housing solutions are gaining momentum as a practical way to boost housing supply quickly and efficiently. The Commonwealth Bank’s support for the prefabricated construction industry highlights the potential of these methods to deliver homes faster.
While questions around building standards remain, the focus is on maintaining quality while capitalising on the speed and cost advantages of modular construction.
Stabilisation and Growth in the Housing Market
Recent data shows that national home values are stabilising, with regional areas seeing a 0.4% increase in January, reaching record highs. This trend reflects the growing appeal of regional living, driven by affordability and lifestyle changes.
Adding to the positive outlook, major banks are hinting at potential interest rate cuts, which could further stimulate the market and improve affordability for buyers.
Government Initiatives to Boost Housing Supply
The federal government is stepping up its efforts to tackle housing affordability with significant investments. The Housing Australia Future Fund aims to deliver 30,000 new social and affordable homes over the next five years.
This initiative demonstrates a proactive approach to increasing housing availability for those who need it most.
🤔 Our View on This Week’s Most Important News
Major banks are now funding prefabricated housing, marking a significant shift in the construction industry. This move paves the way for modular homes to become a mainstream option for new house construction.
It also comes ahead of the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB)’s review of the National Construction Code (NCC), with updates set to be published in 2026. The revised NCC is expected to formally recognise modular buildings as a standard method of home construction, rather than treating them as an exception.
This strategic shift signals a growing acceptance of off-site construction methods, which promise faster build times, improved quality control, and cost efficiencies—potentially transforming the future of housing in Australia.
We've highlighted our favourite news articles for the week by marking with a 🌯 or five
31-01-2025
🌯🌯 Big building in NSW: The suburbs set to see a surge in new homes - LINK
🌯🌯🌯Off the plan contract laws under review to provide greater certainty to buyers - LINK
🌯🌯 Housing Australia to fund over 800 homes under the Housing Australia Future Fund Facility and National Housing Accord Facility - LINK
🌯 Fruits of government's signature housing fund revealed - LINK
🌯🌯🌯🌯🌯‘Cheaper, easier, faster’ the clarion call for rolling back housing standards – as Queensland mulls following the trend - LINK
Our Comment:
It pains me to comment on this at all, but here we go. Builders do not implement standard quality management practices. If they did, they would be better educated and able to build higher-quality homes. What builders currently do is produce a product that often does not meet NCC or standards because it is built so fast, with little oversight, in an effort to "build more, faster."
Having worked for many years in a project-building company, I understand both sides of the equation.
On the client side, while building a new home, owners are paying rent and outgoings while drawing down on a mortgage. This means they are financially stretched. If the cost of new homes increases, their financial stress increases. As a result, clients demand houses to be built yesterday because they already feel the process takes too long.
On the builder’s side, there is a process that must be followed. So, how do you speed up a process? You add more of something—more labour, more efficiency, more money. But this cannot be done because more means higher costs, and each major builder is competing against the other on price and perceived "value."
So, we are at an impasse. The result? Houses are built faster and cheaper (cost) to push them through the process and get the client in their home. What suffers? Materials, methods, and quality—all sacrificed in the name of speed (time).
Nothing has changed. Read more about the "holy trinity" of construction in our post Time, Cost, Quality.
Anthony Painter
Hot Property: The biggest property headlines from the week 27–31 January - LINK
NSW peak calls for inclusion in housing reform talks - LINK
🌯🌯🌯 Report on Government Services 2025 - LINK
Australian Housing Market 2025: Is Slower Growth the New Normal? - LINK
🌯🌯🌯🌯🌯 Housing Affordability: The Millennial and Z Gens’ White-Hot Issue - LINK
🌯🌯 Long-term homelessness grows amid housing cost crunch - LINK
Where you can buy land on Queensland’s coast for $125k or less - LINK
01-02-2025
🌯🌯🌯🌯🌯 CBA backs prefabricated construction industry to boost housing supply - LINK
Simonds Group buys Dennis Family Homes for $10m in move that will affect thousands of Aussies building a new house - LINK
Hobart home prices higher than last year - LINK
🌯🌯 Australian housing rebound in sight as building costs fall for the first time in five years - LINK
Banks urged to ease lending rules for flat-pack homes - LINK
🌯🌯🌯🌯 The HAFF is a small start to tackle housing affordability, but investors still get all the breaks - LINK
Article Excerpt:
"But this is just the first announcement from the HAFF. The government has claimed that the HAFF will build 55,000 homes over 5 years. That sounds a lot better, right? Well, assuming everything goes to plan and all those homes get built in that time period, that would be an average of 917 per month—almost the same as the 800 that have just been announced."
🌯 The suburbs first in line for affordable housing — as dissatisfaction grows - LINK
'Grim' numbers as Australians experiencing long-term homelessness rises by 25 per cent - LINK
02-02-2025
Prefabricated housing: Nation’s biggest bank, CBA, to back factory-made houses - LINK
🌯🌯🌯🌯 CommBank's big construction loan change making it easier for buyers - LINK
$100 Million Cavill Avenue Mall Transformation – Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast - LINK
Major Social Housing Boost To Beaufort Street, Inglewood - LINK
Tenancy rights tested in Tasmania after social housing provider changes locks with cat inside - LINK
🌯🌯 Aussie mum reveals 'shame' over housing issue faced by millions: 'Don't know how' - LINK
Squeezed for space: Cost rise per bedroom revealed - LINK
🌯🌯🌯🌯 Australia’s Housing Crisis Deepens as Federal Fund Faces Growing Public Discontent - LINK
Property prices fall for second month - LINK
Home Guarantee Scheme helps hundreds of Coasties - LINK
🌯🌯🌯🌯🌯 ‘Miserable’: Top architect skewers poorly designed and built new homes that have become commonplace in Australia - LINK
GST implications of $113m Development Services considered by the recently commenced Administrative Review Tribunal - LINK
🌯 Continued property price falls ‘likely to be short-lived’ - LINK
Major Australian builder that built iconic $485 million tower collapses - LINK
Retrofit, Don’t Demolish Melbourne’s Public Towers - LINK
03-02-2025
New housing on track for Croydon - LINK
Fresh data to shed light on retail, housing strength - LINK
House prices across Australia remain steady in January, and Melbourne becomes a 'buyers' market' - LINK
04-02-2025
Where you can buy land on South Australia’s coast for $100k or less - LINK
Australia sees modest rise in dwelling approvals despite ongoing challenges - LINK
Australian housing construction continues to lag despite December boost - LINK
🌯🌯🌯🌯 Dwelling approvals rise in December - LINK
$500,000 house build price record set in 2024 as housing approvals fall 70,000 short of government target: ABS - LINK
Home approvals up in 2024, but still plenty of work to do - LINK
Housing target continues to fall short - LINK
🌯 REIA calls on government, opposition to address housing affordability - LINK
Our Comment:
I call on the REIA to lower agents' fees on all home sales. Agents are earning the same commission on artificially inflated contract values due to market forces, not because they are adding value. They are not doing any extra work—in fact, quite the contrary. They are taking orders and pocketing more money from each sale without any additional effort or value creation.
You cannot convince me that with an average house price of $800,000 and a 2.5% commission on a 30-day turnover, with sellers paying marketing fees, that an agent is delivering $20,450 worth of value (reference) for this sale. I call bullshit.
Instead of pointing fingers at government policy, the REIA should look at what it can do to improve housing affordability. Lowering agent commissions to 1.7% would be a start.
Times are tough, yet agents are wealthier than ever. I haven't seen this many leased Mercedes in a long time.
Accelerated accreditation boosts homebuilder numbers - LINK
New Model: CBA eases lending rules to drive flat-pack housing - LINK
🌯🌯🌯 Homebuilder stocks fall on tariff concerns - LINK
Amended planning code permits towers of 40 storeys to be built at Adelaide’s Festival Plaza - LINK
05-02-2025
Approval boost not enough to meet housing target - LINK
🌯🌯 Homebuilding costs up 3.4% in 2024 – will 2025 bring relief? - LINK
Article Excerpt:
"The cost of construction is now 30.8 per cent higher since the onset of COVID.
Looking forward, labour will likely continue to be a driving factor pushing construction costs up, with the annual pace of construction costs expected to continue rising towards the pre-COVID decade average of 4.0 per cent in 2025.
There are not enough tradespeople to facilitate the required or desired workloads. Unfortunately, training or bringing in new workers to fill the gaps is not a quick fix. It takes time to upskill a tradesperson, and building industry labour numbers have been declining for some years."
🌯🌯🌯🌯 Aussie home builders need interest rate cuts - LINK
🌯🌯 NSW housing approvals lag behind targets - LINK
Housing approvals falling short of targets - LINK
NSW shakes up off-the-plan buying - LINK
Approval boost not enough to meet housing target - LINK
🌯 More than 800 tradies express interest in ‘Build a Life in WA’ $10,000 relocation incentive - LINK
🌯🌯🌯 Govt “distorting” career choices - LINK
Our Comment:
This is true. Stimulating one industry over all others feels like a band-aid solution—poorly thought out and little more than a vote grab.
Oly Homes delivers modular senior-focused housing to Thallon - LINK
Is prefab the answer to housing supply challenges? - LINK
Our Comment:
"Prefab" is an interesting choice of word over "modular." They are not the same. The ABCB has drafted a handbook titled Prefabricated, Modular, and Offsite Construction, which best explains where this segment of construction is heading and the road ahead.
Read it below or click here to view and download:
🌯 Expenditure on housing and homelessness hits $6.9 billion - LINK
Internal migration a boon for regional housing markets - LINK
🌯🌯🌯 Which state or territory lags on housing targets the most? - LINK
Article Excerpt:
"Northern Territory is trailing the most, delivering 78.6 per cent fewer homes than needed for its target of 571 per quarter. Victoria is falling just 0.1 per cent below its quarterly target of 15,316."
🌯🌯 Federal government announces investment into crisis and transitional housing - LINK
🌯🌯 Car parking changes a win for housing affordability - LINK
Our Comment:
A win for affordability, but a loss for blood pressure when trying to park in an already congested city with limited parking. There is always a trade-off, and the benefits outweigh the downside here. Besides, people can always hop on an electric scooter at 50 km/h on the footpath to their destination. No harm there, right?
Demolition should be the last resort for Melbourne’s 44 public housing towers – retrofit and upgrade instead - LINK
06-02-2025
Cost-of-living pressures drive record demand for housing legal assistance - LINK
Real estate moves helping millennials beat out Boomers in the housing game - LINK
🌯🌯🌯 Mobile housing expert: Councils are deliberately hindering affordable housing solutions - LINK
Article Excerpt:
"Russo explained there is an urgent need for local councils in all states to facilitate the installation of these innovative homes that can be set up in a backyard in a matter of hours and be easily relocated when circumstances change."
Construction commences to bring vacant public homes back into use to house people in need - LINK
🌯🌯 It’s time for resilience ratings for housing – here’s why (in case you can’t guess) - LINK
WA government unveils major housing boost for state - LINK
The five areas in Australia hit hardest by the housing crisis - LINK
Slow growth continues for Perth's housing market in 2025 - LINK
🌯🌯🌯 What Australia needs to meet home building targets - LINK
🌯🌯🌯🌯 Think We’re Building Enough Homes? Think Again - LINK
🌯🌯 Which new homes are getting the green light? - LINK
Work begins to restore 148 vacant public homes - LINK
Tradie shortage “threatening housing goals” - LINK
Sydney summit: Luci Ellis on construction productivity, and tailwinds and Mary Delahunty on the power of superannuation - LINK
House prices expected to rise amid supply challenge - LINK
Requests from you - If you have any requests on areas you would like me to explain, feel free to let me know and ill do my best to respond in kind.
Constructor Forum
Got a question? Head over to the forum and ask away!
There aren’t any categories—just post your question, and I’ll give it some thought, maybe scratch my head a bit, and get back to you as best I can.
To join the forum, click the button below, and I’ll get you through "the velvet rope" in no time.
😶🌫️ That's all of today
For more construction insights check out our website. The best way to support us is to share this this with three friends who you think our content will help in some way. Feel free to reach out on X or Mastodon or Bluesky - @obiwonky - 👋 Anthony
PS: Quality Management Checklist Access
All our published checklists are available to download via the Checklists Link in the navigation menu or directly at https://www.constructor.net.au/checklists/.
Anthony Painter
Please note: You’ll need to be a member and to log in to access the content.
This is necessary to protect our work from being scraped by AI bots, which are currently unregulated and contributing to one of the largest instances of intellectual property theft in history. These checklists represent nearly two years of effort to input and format, and we want to ensure they are used responsibly.
Although we have half a clue, we'd love to add a Tar Pit to our blogging platform to slow down the AI bots that constantly crawl the website.
All of this unwanted, automated nonsense consumes bandwidth, slows down page speed, and clogs up the internet—while the companies behind it profit, harvest our data, and sell it back to us with a smug look of superiority on their faces.
To download, simply enter your email when prompted. This allows us to assign you a free license—nothing more. Once completed, you’ll be able to view and download the checklists.
Each checklist is formatted on A4-sized paper for easy printing. Be aware that the files are larger than typical PDFs, around 25–35 MB each, as they are saved in CMYK (print-ready) format. This ensures the best quality for printing, even if it makes the files a bit “chunkier.”
Enjoy the checklists, we hope they help you identify quality improvements in your new home or next project - or at least, get you thinking.
Got feedback for us?
PPS: If you haven’t tried out our new AI tools yet, here are the links to check them out!
Why use them? Got construction questions you need answers to? Our specialised AI-powered tools are built on our extensive knowledge base, including blog posts, checklists, and subject-specific content—tailored to help you navigate construction with confidence.
Anthony Painter
Anthony Painter
Anthony Painter
Anthony Painter
Anthony Painter
