Howdy Readers 👋
In this newsletter, you'll find:
Our latest blog posts the C9 Tile Roof + Flashing & Box Gutter Quality Inspection Checklists.
☔️ Protect Your Roof, Protect Your Home
Did you know that small mistakes during roof installation can lead to costly repairs down the track? From securing tiles to ensuring proper drainage in box gutters, every detail matters.
Our latest guide breaks down the C9 Tile Roof, Box Gutter, and Flashing Inspection Checklist—a must-have tool for homeowners looking to ensure their roof meets Australian Standards. Learn how to identify issues like improper wind tie-down, galvanic corrosion, and inadequate flashing before they become big problems.
Roof inspections are about more than just ticking boxes—they're about ensuring peace of mind. Armed with practical tips and clear steps, you’ll confidently oversee the roofing process, identify potential issues, understand what’s expected, and keep your home safe and dry.
Read our latest blog by clicking the link below:
Anthony Painter
Check out this short explainer video on how to access the checklists through our website
😠 Bonus - Limited preview release - The Passive Agressor🥊
Dreaming of a new home that’s comfy, stylish, and doesn’t guzzle energy like an old fridge? Enter The Passive Aggressor—your AI-powered ally in building smarter, greener homes that work for you (and not against your wallet).
What does it do? Glad you asked. Whether you’re navigating the murky waters of energy efficiency, wondering if solar panels are worth the cost, or trying to decode what “passive design” actually means, The Passive Aggressor is here to give you straight answers.
Who’s it for?
- Prospective homeowners who want a house that’s energy-efficient from day one.
- First-time builders overwhelmed by terms like “thermal mass” and “R-values.”
- Eco-savvy dreamers who want all the modern comforts without sacrificing sustainability.
Think of it as the best friend who’s honest about your energy choices—without judgement, but with plenty of practical advice. Whether you’re designing your dream home or just trying to get through a meeting with your builder without Googling every second word, The Passive Aggressor has your back.
Ready to make your new home smarter, greener, and lighter on the bills? Click below to learn more and let The Passive Aggressor take the stress out of building!
Try our new Passive Aggressor by clicking the link below:
Anthony Painter
On with the news from this week 😄
🚀 The latest residential construction news from new sources around Australia for the news week ending 09-01-2025
If you're new to Constructor, a warm welcome to you! 👋 You've come to the right place to learn all about residential construction and quality management.
Let's get started, shall we?
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💾 Software of the Week: Borgbase + Vorta
This is not a sponsored post - just software we have used and are sharing with you
Tired of juggling backups or paying for overpriced cloud storage? Even worse, not backing up your computer, with redundancies?
Meet BorgBase + Vorta—a cost-effective, secure solution for Windows, macOS and Linux users that makes automatic backups a breeze.
Why we love it!
You get 10GB for free to begin with then the paid accounts are very affordable. We run Linux and have three computers backing up to the medium, 1TB account. It works a treat. Despite its "techie" sounding name and mention of SSH keys and the like, its actually really easy to setup. There are some really good youtub video walkthroughs if you get stuck.
What is it?
BorgBase is a specialised hosting service for Borg repositories (encrypted backups), while Vorta is the desktop client that makes managing these backups intuitive. Together, they form a powerful duo for securing your data.
Why Use It?
Compared to services like Backblaze, BorgBase + Vorta stands out for its affordable pricing and encryption-first approach. Your data is encrypted before it leaves your computer, ensuring maximum privacy. With SSH keys, you control access entirely—no big tech middlemen here.
How It Works (Simplified):
- Create an SSH Key Pair (it’s like a lock for your backups).
- Set up a repository (repo) on BorgBase and link your key.
- Use Vorta to create a backup profile, add your repo, select files or folders, and set a schedule.
- That’s it—your backups are now fully automated and secure!
Need Help?
Not a tech guru? No worries! BorgBase has detailed help docs here, and the Vorta team also provides a quick-start guide.
Whether you’re backing up personal photos or critical work files, BorgBase + Vorta ensures your data is safe without breaking the bank. If you’ve been searching for a reliable backup system, give it a shot—you might just love the peace of mind it offers!
👾 Chrome Store Extension Of the Week - Start.me
(to use on Brave of Firefox - don't use chrome unless you have to)
Ever feel like your browser is a chaotic mess of tabs, bookmarks, and forgotten shortcuts? Enter start.me, the Chrome extension that transforms your new tab page into an organised and customisable productivity hub.
What does it do?
start.me lets you create a personalised dashboard with widgets, bookmarks, RSS feeds, to-do lists, and more—all accessible right from your browser. Whether you’re tracking daily tasks, monitoring news, or saving links for later, start.me ensures everything you need is just a click away.
Why use it?
It’s perfect for decluttering your digital life. You can categorise bookmarks into neat folders, add widgets for quick insights, and even sync across devices. The standout feature? Its integrated RSS feed reader keeps you updated without visiting multiple websites.
Who’s it for?
Whether you’re a multitasking hero (like me), a research-heavy student, or just tired of an uninspiring new tab page, start.me offers a better way to stay on top of your digital world.
What we love
The drag-and-drop interface is intuitive, and you can customise your dashboard to match your workflow. Plus, the free version is robust enough for most users, and the premium version adds even more features like collaboration tools. You can signup for a lifetime account then share your pages with collaborators. Now everyone is on the same bookmark page!
Ready to take control of your browser? Checkout Start.me on the link below and make your new tab page work for you, not against you!
🔥 News
What else is happening in the construction sector this week?
We've highlighted our favourite news articles for the week by marking with a 👉️ and this formatting.
The theme for this weeks news articles from various sources is:
"Australia's Housing and Construction Crisis: Challenges and Opportunities"
This week’s headlines paint a complex picture of Australia’s housing and construction landscape. From affordability woes to labour shortages and government policy missteps, the challenges are undeniable. But amidst the noise, we’re seeing glimmers of hope—and opportunities for meaningful change.
The Challenges
Housing affordability remains a major pain point, with average workers priced out of hundreds of suburbs. Labour shortages and rising costs are hitting builders and developers hard, leading to insolvencies and paused projects. And while governments are investing billions in housing, execution often falls short of expectations.
The Positives
- Innovation Is Rising: New materials, like mass timber systems, and alternative housing designs show that the industry is exploring smarter, greener ways to build.
- Policy Focus Is Shifting: Initiatives like Victoria's Big Housing Build and the launch of the Housing Delivery Authority signal that governments are (finally) addressing bottlenecks.
- Public Awareness Is Growing: The media’s relentless focus on the crisis is spurring conversations that could drive real change. People are demanding solutions, not just more talk.
- A Market Reset: The housing market slowdown offers breathing room to reassess affordability strategies and improve long-term outcomes.
What’s Next?
This week’s takeaway? Let’s focus less on the doom and gloom and more on what we can do to create positive change.
3-01-2025
👉️ ASIC records 3000+ construction sector insolvencies in 2024, red flags that signal your builder could be next - LINK
Our comment - we have a checklist to help you assess your builder before you engage them. Its our C4 - Choosing your Builder checklist.
Anthony Painter
We also created a tool called The Builderpulse and wrote a detailed blog post about -READ IT HERE!
Anthony Painter
'More than buying a home': final blocks for sale within premier estate - LINK
2025’s top property trends - LINK
👉️ Why Australia’s housing crisis won’t end
Article excerpt: However, degrading the quality of apartments by forcing Australians to live in poor-quality shoeboxes is unlikely to solve the problem because the supply side of the housing market is severely bottlenecked by costs and labour shortages….Home builders are also competing with state government ‘big build’ infrastructure projects for labour…Australia will never build enough homes so long as it adds so many people via immigration every year.
PropTrack Home Price Index - December 2024 - LINK
👉️ Lendlease quits offshore construction after 54 years - LINK
Our comment: Something is definitely happening at Lendlease. A recent CEO change followed by operational consolidation suggests financial trouble. Are they too big to fail? Perhaps the company is weighed down by a bloated middle management layer that adds cost without creating value. It looks like Lendlease is embarking on a New Year’s “weight-loss journey” to stay afloat. Could we soon see a leveraged buyout or a merger with a Japanese company? Only time will tell.
Why Australian property prices have dropped for the first time in two years - LINK
House fires disproportionately kill public tenants - LINK
Perth loses its housing market crown as peak growth passes - LINK
4-01-2025
Rate cuts and FOMO to drive property prices in 2025 - LINK
Housing crisis deepens as average Qld worker is priced out of 846 suburbs - LINK
How a 45-year-old act is holding Sydney hostage on housing reform - LINK
Our comment: This didn't seem to be an issue for the Age for the last 44 years!
Demand for granny flats proof of desire for housing options - LINK
The key changes homebuyers will need to keep an eye on in 2025 - LINK
Baby Boomers overtaken on housing wealth ladder as young Aussies struggle - LINK
Melbourne to become cheapest housing market - LINK
Residential Tower & Shafston House Reuse – Castlebar Street, Kangaroo Point - LINK
Nursing, IT, creative arts: careers that can kill or save home dream in 2025 revealed | Finder -LINK
5-01-2025
👉️ How the housing crisis is pushing domestic violence victims back to perpetrators - LINK
Our comment: no housing stock, no public, affordable or social housing = no where to go but back home! This is wrong on so many levels.
Horror reality in Australian mortgage crisis - LINK
👉️ Qld tipped to be one of nation’s property powerhouses - LINK
Our Comment: And so, traffic will inevitably explode. With only one major motorway running north and south, coupled with 25 years of ongoing roadworks and increasing southern migration to affordable Queensland, it’s likely we’ll rival Sydney for the worst traffic in Australia. Hopefully, patience prevails—but realistically, I foresee more road rage incidents as southern drivers cut off others to make their on and off ramps. Minor incidents, but frustrating nonetheless.
Latest Adelaide lands in the 10 most expensive cities around the world to buy property - LINK
Our comment: finally, a reason to go back to Adelaide, I think? Maybe not then.
6-01-2025
NT government urged to ensure all remote houses meet National Construction Code - LINK
👉️ New Mass-Timber System Could Ease California’s Housing Squeeze - LINK
Our comment: now this is an interesting use of materials, combined with a clever form factor.
Warehouses with Offices – Progress Road, Wacol - LINK
👉️ Alternative Housing Concepts in Australia and Indonesia - LINK
Our comment: Nice. Finally, someone presenting a solution instead of just complaining about "the housing crisis." We get it—there’s a problem. Let’s focus on building solutions instead of spinning endless talking points to sell ads in digital media. If we stop clutching our pearls and start thinking critically, maybe we can make some real, positive change.
Builder appointed for Burleigh high-rise - LINK
Our comment: Around $18,195/m2 for the largest 743m2 unit - interesting
👉️ Shadow financial services minister reveals how the Coalition would improve housing affordability - LINK
Our comment: As much as I’m not a fan of Mr Potato Head and Mrs Potato Chips, promising to slow immigration might just put them in power despite their many shortcomings. The proof is in the pudding—this government has done little to address the issues or make meaningful progress.
Four years isn’t enough to plan even a detailed fart to be executed, but honestly, you could build confidence and secure another term by investing early in plans that deliver real results, instead of waiting until the last minute to throw the kitchen sink at everything to win voters’ minds.
‘Keep our curtains drawn’: Residents block social housing for seniors - LINK
Our comment: Good for thee but not for me. If the shoe were on the other foot, it’s hard to imagine things wouldn’t be very different in how we treat others—and ourselves.
👉️ Australian housing policy is a shell game - LINK
'They've lost hope': One in three young Australians believe they will rent for life as national housing crisis deepens - LINK
7-01-2025
👉️ Australian property developers swallowed by rising costs - LINK
Our comment: As much as I generally despise most developers—those who build subpar projects for yield with little regard for quality or livability—they’re hurting. A developer friend recently told me they’re sitting out of the market for the next 12–18 months. Costs have risen, and returns have fallen. If the market sneezes and costs keep climbing, the returns simply don’t justify the risk of project finance. The developer's buffer—their return—has been eroded so much that it’s no longer worth continuing until conditions improve.
👉️👉️ Budget must address apprentice numbers: HIA - LINK
Our comment: This is utter nonsense. The market is already overheated, and yet we expect trades to hire unskilled workers and spend their time training them? That ship has sailed. If anyone were serious about this, it would have been implemented years ago.
What happened to the bricklaying levy that builders had to pay for all those years? This was meant to secure the future of bricklayers.
How much was collected, and where did it go?
It seems like just another indirect tax that consumers ended up paying to balance state budgets. My guess? It funded election promises, not bricklayer training.
A friend recently told me about their son, an apprentice carpenter who, 1.5 years in, is still treated as a low-paid labourer. Instead of learning the trade, he’s been stuck doing landscaping and menial tasks.
And now we’re supposed to believe stimulating apprenticeships will lead to better-quality outcomes? There’s a reason apprentices often get injured—it’s hard to run a job site and adequately supervise inexperienced workers. Only large commercial companies, direct competitors to the residential sector, can afford the time and resources for proper management, which pulls talent away from building homes.
The HIA’s claims are grandstanding for their “members.” The only way to address trade shortfalls quickly is through skilled migration. But even that comes with a problem: where will these skilled workers live when we don’t have enough housing already?
If it were up to me, I’d target skilled labour from countries like Indonesia, South America, and Mexico. These regions have hardworking tradespeople who can deliver. Flood the market with skilled labour, grab some popcorn, and watch marketplace competition force a much-needed reset. Aussies charge what they do because they can. Time to level the playing field.
China's property crash a warning for Australia's housing market - LINK
Construction of new aged care home at RFBI Cessnock Masonic Village to start soon - LINK
Home project delivery - LINK
Will national property price decline be a blip on the radar? - LINK
👉️ Sydney’s New Tech Central to ‘Breathe Life’ into Downtown - LINK
Our comment: its great to see how much Mike Cannon-Brookes + Scott Farquhar from Atlassian are giving back to their community by supporting this project.
The top eight new apartment developers to watch in the Gold Coast in 2025 - LINK
👉️ Housing crisis the top social issue keeping bosses up at night - LINK
Our comment: I’m sure it is—I'm sure they’re deeply affected by the lack of affordable and social housing in their community. Perhaps it’s on their minds because they’re thinking, “Hmm, I might have to pick up the slack soon if staff can’t make it to work.” Better sort out this housing issue, or they might lose their meetings and lunches. They could even end up doing real frontline work—getting their hands dirty! Can’t have that, right? Better fix it quickly, then.
Here's what key market players are expecting for Australia's housing market in 2025 - LINK
Domain reveals its property predictions for 2025 - LINK
👉️ VIDEO: Will a build-to-rent scheme solve Australia’s housing crisis? - LINK
Our comment: At 2:14, they say, "There is no debating, on paper, it is a premium, but the experience you get living in a build-to-rent (BTR) building is a far more premium experience." Fark Moi! You can’t make this stuff up. BTR is being touted as a solution to the housing shortage and affordable housing, yet here they are saying, “Pay the premium and enjoy the experience.”
That’s not the point. The point is people must be able to afford housing in the first place—not just pay more for a so-called “experience.” This is lunacy.
And now we’re giving tax breaks to overseas investors to encourage them to build more property in Australia. But will they pay tax here, or will the returns go offshore, leaving local taxpayers to foot the bill for community running costs?
How has BTR worked overseas? From what I’ve read, it’s done very little. Yet here, it seems like we’re pinning all our hopes on it as some sort of panacea. We should already know how this will play out by looking at the UK and other markets. The reality? It’s just another overhyped, underperforming “solution.”
Aussie CEOs complain about housing, demand more immigration - LINK
2025's business game-changers: AI surge, costs and housing - LINK
Our comment: This is funny. If we looked at how KPMG or its service providers store and handle Personally Identifiable Information (PII)—say, in email marketing—I’d bet they’re in breach of the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).
Let’s take it further: when KPMG advises on a business acquisition, does the handling of PII or its treatment even come up? Do users whose information is sold or traded need to opt in again with the new owner? How does the new owner process this data through their network or share it with affiliates? I suspect the answer from KPMG would be, “Not our problem.”
So, while cybersecurity is undeniably a huge concern, perhaps they should start cleaning up at home before telling everyone else to get their house in order.
8-01-2025
Today's news was all about the ABS data as seen by the similar titles.
‘Worrying’: home building figures drop as government housing crisis plan continues to fall short: ABS Building Approvals - LINK
👉️ Australian dwelling approvals dip in November - LINK
Housing supply under the spotlight as building approvals drop - LINK
Article excerpt: The number of dwelling approvals fell 3.6 per cent in November, falling from a 22-month high the previous month, according to the ABS.
The Housing Delivery Authority has been launched - LINK
Dwelling approvals fall in November - LINK
👉️ Australia’s housing shortage deepens - LINK
Building approvals dip, volatility remains - LINK
Empty nest to a family home: How downsizing could solve Australia’s housing shortage - LINK
Australian housing market falls below growth targets - LINK
Victoria's Big Housing Build is tipping $5.3bn into social accommodation — not everyone's happy with where it's going - LINK
9-01-2025
Australian building approvals show mixed results in November 2024 - LINK
👉️👉️ Lower interest rates needed to boost housing construction - LINK
Our comment: Yes, I’m biased toward this author’s articles. They’re well-articulated, backed by data, and free of unnecessary waffle. Be sure to read this one after the CoreLogic article (below).
Housing approvals fall across the board, deepening supply concerns - LINK
Crunch in building approvals sounds warning for Australia’s housing crisis - LINK
Building Blues – New dwelling approvals are still falling short - LINK
(Literally) moving house: how home relocations can help address the housing crisis - LINK
Our comment: yes, this does save some time but does end up costing quite a bit our to the labour to make good/renovate.
Perth Concert Hall set for major redevelopment in 2025 - LINK
WA government delivers 16 new social homes in Albany - LINK
‘Concrete shell’ on Adelaide’s Golden Mile sells in $3m+ deal - LINK
Housing market struggles persist in Sydney and Melbourne into 2025 - LINK
‘Cooked’: Anthony Albanese grilled on big housing plan - LINK
Our comment: It’s cooked. We’re expecting the overstretched residential industry to deliver more with less, all while costs keep rising. If some of these variables were different, maybe they could manage more. But you can’t expect greater output from reduced capacity—it’s ignorant and just pre-election BS.
Australia housing market enters mild downturn - LINK
👉️👉️👉️ Australia’s housing market has just entered a downturn – what’s behind the shift? - LINK
Article excerpt: Underlying these economic factors is also a fundamental shortage of homes relative to the population, and the squeeze on the delivery of new housing amid weak capacity in the construction sector.
Our comment: if you only pick one news article to read, make it this one.
The U-turn on Sydney’s housing crisis no one saw coming - 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.
😶🌫️ That's all of today
Your shortcut to this weeks blog post:
Anthony Painter
And don't forget to give the Passive Aggressor a try!
Anthony Painter
Access Our Checklists:
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/.
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