Howdy Readers 👋
In this newsletter, you'll find:
Our latest checklist is out - C7 Frame Inspection Checklist, plus enough housing news from various Australian News sources to make you happy, sad or mad - pick your frame of mind!
📰 Our latest blog post: C7 - Timber Frame Stage Inspection Checklist: A Detailed Guide for Quality Management
Building a new home? The frame stage is where your dream takes shape—literally! But how can you be sure it’s being done right? Enter the C7 Timber Frame Stage Inspection Checklist, your simple yet powerful guide to ensuring your home’s “bones” are solid, straight, and built to last.
This post breaks down everything from noggins to tie-downs, bracing to trusses—all in plain English. You’ll learn what to look for, when to raise concerns, and how to hold your builder accountable without feeling overwhelmed by construction jargon.
This checklist puts you in the driver’s seat of your new build. Because a strong frame today means fewer headaches tomorrow!
P.S. Not a member yet? Join Constructor to unlock quality management tools and more!
On with the news from this week 😄
🚀 The latest residential construction news from new sources around Australia for the news week ending 19-12-2024
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 - Grist
This is not a sponsored post - just software we have used and are sharing with you
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🔥 News
What else is happening in the construction sector?
All the links we provide have been cleaned of news tracking codes. We use a browser extension called ClearURLS - its great for sharing links without all the tracking BS.
Kevin R.
Firefox extension and Chrome Extension - search chrome store for ClearURLs
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:
"Housing and Construction in Australia: Challenges, Innovations, and Regulatory Shifts"
This week’s housing news continues the ongoing saga of Australia’s construction and housing woes, but with a few new twists. Affordability remains the headline issue, as home prices and rents keep climbing, leaving many Australians locked out of the market. Migration is adding fuel to the fire, stretching already limited housing supply while calls to "pump the brakes" on demand grow louder.
Builders are facing mounting pressure too, as regulatory changes like the Project Trust Account regulation aim to tighten accountability. Meanwhile, insolvencies and delays are leaving more projects in limbo. Legal battles over proportionate liability highlight the struggle for fairness in a system where responsibility often gets passed around like a hot potato.
On a brighter note, there’s movement in innovation and sustainability. Solar facades and modular housing could reshape the future of construction, but as always, scaling these ideas remains the challenge. And while the government ramps up social housing and reforms to address the crisis, many still question whether these measures go far enough—or fast enough.
The housing crisis feels like a marathon without a finish line: progress is slow, trust in the system remains shaky, and meaningful change still seems just out of reach.
13th December 2024
👉️ Residential Focus: Proportionate liability defence off the table - LINK
Future building regulation overhaul – what’s the possible impact on developers? - LINK
Our comment: great news. Developers may no longer be able to wind down their entity and run off to the beach with their bags of money. Responsibility, about time.
More affordable homes to be delivered faster - LINK
Property industry faces challenges despite rising confidence – survey - LINK
Our comment: the survey proudly commissioned by our corporate partners who have an interest in pushing up market confidence
Victoria's Housing Statement brings bold reforms and an ambitious vision for the decade ahead - LINK
Bentley redevelopment gets underway - LINK
Social housing projects coming to Byford, Kelmscott, Cannington - LINK
Building blues on the retreat - LINK
👉️ High Court dismisses Pafburn appeal - but this does not mark the end of apportionment in construction cases - LINK
Article Excerpt: "Both defendants plead proportionate liability and name nine concurrent wrongdoers, including the architect, the installer of aluminium composite panels, the manufacturer of those panels, the certifier, and other sub-contractors."
"You can’t create land, and Australia remains a desirable place to live" - the bull case for residential property - LINK
👉️ Contractors are unable to apportion liability for claims for breach of duty under the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 (NSW) - LINK
Government support needed to bring hotels by Olympics, says developer - LINK
‘Out of control’: Housing named 2024’s top concern - LINK
‘Shocking’: Rough sleeping rises 33 per cent as housing crisis escalates - LINK
Hornsby advances affordable housing strategy - LINK
14th December
👉️ Tradies continue to lead the way in $568b Construction industry - LINK
Property industry confidence rises, but housing supply concerns persist - LINK
Rental vacancy rates increase in November - LINK
👉️ 2025 outlook for Australia's construction industry - LINK
Article Excerpt: "Legislative changes in Queensland Rollout of the Project Trust Account regime. From 1 March 2025, the Project Trust Account (PTA) regime will apply to contracts valued at $3 million or more, involving state government authorities, local government, and private entities and individuals. By 1 October 2025, the regime will extend to all contracting parties and apply to contracts valued at $1 million or more."
Charts that explain Australia's 2024 property market - LINK
Major milestone for affordable housing in Adelaide as Peet completes Woodville Rd development - LINK
NSW tenancy reforms – what tenants need to know about key changes to protect and enhance renters’ rights - LINK
Scentre Group looks to enter housing market by building residential stock on Westfield shopping centres - LINK
The housing minister says property prices shouldn't fall. This is what experts say - LINK
10 charts that show how the property market changed this year - LINK
Real estate experts watch for a 'Trump bump' in the housing market - LINK
Brickworks CEO Mark Ellenor: Release more land to help address housing shortage - LINK
15th December 2024
$1bn record: Top 20 Australian home sales of 2024 revealed - LINK
Qld’s most affordable suburbs for houses and units revealed - LINK
Housing crisis 'profundly harmful' to Australians, council boss Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz tells National Press Club — as it happened - LINK
$175k gain in a year: Homebuyer hack making young people rich - LINK
Rental vacancy rates increase in November - LINK
JELD-WEN's SWOT analysis: stock faces headwinds amid restructuring efforts - LINK
Construction underway on $620m Brisbane plan to create 215 homes - LINK
16th December 2024
👉️ Australian housing construction dead as a dodo - LINK
👉️ How home owners can save $6000 a year and stay cool - LINK
Our comment: absolutely! Read our blog post on insulation and energy efficiency considerations before you build.
Anthony Painter
Anthony Painter
HAFF Pledge Lifts Housing Hopes: Property Council - LINK
Households still paying for the RBA’s inaction after Covid, report - LINK
Planning changes to speed up ‘Meanwhile Use’ accommodation - LINK
Housing Australia Future Fund Facility opens Funding Round Two - LINK
Thousands of new social homes fast tracked in federal deal with states - LINK
The billions spent on housing in these suburbs - LINK
New renders reveal details in planned public housing towers - LINK
17th December 2024
👉️ The Critical Path – C&I Newsletter December 2024 - LINK
Our comment: a few interesting topics on this link, namely, the Security of Payments Act topic (first in the list)
Residential Focus: Proportionate liability defence off the table - LINK
Green light to fast-track construction worker housing in regional NSW - LINK
Can Australia's construction sector cope with expected global turbulence? - LINK
Victoria’s temporary off the plan duty concession: What homebuyers need to know - LINK
Coffs homes given the tick by Building Commission NSW - LINK
👉️ Building powered by solar facade in Australian first - LINK
Our comment: now this is innovative!
Residential Focus: Proportionate liability defence off the table - LINK
Guide to help create functional homes connected to Coast environment and way of life - LINK
Supportive accommodation and temporary housing - LINK
Affordable Housing Revamp to Boost Supply - LINK
Public Service Changes Will Streamline Development Processes - LINK
18th December 2024
How to enjoy mass timber and CLT – a new-found love these young builders want to share - LINK
South Australia seeks input on building reforms - LINK
Top Tips for First Home Buyers Planning to Invest in 2025 - LINK
Secret past of building company boss revealed - LINK
We designed a tool called Builderpulse, wrote a post about it and also have a comprehensive, 102 point "know who your builder is" checklist for you to download for free when you sign up as a member to Constructor.
Know your builder inside and out (yes, even their underwear colour—spoiler: it won’t be white after this checklist)!
Anthony Painter
Know if you contracting the walking dead before you sign a contract!
Anthony Painter
Get up close and very personal with your builder using this checklist.
Housing Australia designs $1 billion program for crisis and transitional accommodation - LINK
More affordable housing on its way for key workers - LINK
Karratha fearful of Pilbara population boom due to housing shortage - LINK
Calls for more social housing - LINK
Planning reforms to speed up emergency housing - LINK
WA reports modest decline in affordability - LINK
Silver tsunami is coming – are housing, healthcare systems ready? - LINK
Affordable housing revamp set to boost numbers - LINK
Anti-social housing and the problem of postcode poverty and prejudice - LINK
👉️ Survey shows low building expectation amid rising challenges for property industry - LINK
Hikes in house prices boost state's budget surplus - LINK
Start for new hinterland social housing - LINK
Off the boil: Price growth to slow in 2025 - LINK
New golf club retirement living development ready to tee off in new year - LINK
19th December 2024
For homeowners - LINK
Building a stronger future – an overview of the Building Legislation Amendment Act - LINK
👉️ Housing construction won’t rebound until rates are cut - LINK
Developer Salvo Begins demolition for 56-storey Southbank tower - LINK
Building the future: Steffen Welsch Architects' journey to sustainable excellence - LINK
Court rejects proportionate liability defence over building defects - LINK
Our comment: this has been in the news for the last two weeks now.
Builder Unveiled for Twelve Apostles Visitor Centre - LINK
👉️ Six years on, Opal Tower owners are still suffering - LINK
Our comment: no insurer has your back. No association. No one. Your only protection is very thorough due diligence before entering into agreements. Lawyers will gladly assist you after the fact but this too is not an outcome you will celebrate after paying in 6 minute increments on retainer.
Anthony Painter
We get a bit ranty about this topic in this post. Grab your popcorn.
Low-density housing slump: Here's what ACT Government should do, says HIA - LINK
Will 2025 be a breakthrough year for housing? - LINK
Migration balloons by 80,000 above expectations, adding to housing pressures - LINK
Our comment: FFS. Keep the doors open. That will fix demand for sure. Just pump the breaks for 12 months, let the market catch up, review and reassess before opening migration again.
👉️ Fixing the housing crisis with Alan Kohler | Between the Lines - LINK
First Home Guarantee boosts first-time home buyers in the market - LINK
More Australians moving to inland country towns in search of affordable housing - LINK
Advancing efforts to tackle housing and homelessness - 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
P.S. Not a member yet? Join Constructor to unlock quality management tools and more in the members resource area.
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