Ministers call on NSW builders to get involved in social housing construction

Federal Housing Minister Tanya Plibersek and NSW Housing Minister David Borger today called on builders across NSW to get involved in the construction of thousands of new homes under the Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan.

Ms Plibersek said the Rudd Government is taking practical steps through its Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan to cushion the impact of the global financial crisis by supporting jobs in the construction sector.

“Housing is a big part of the Rudd Government’s Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan – through the First Home Owners Boost and also with the $6.4 billion to build 20,000 social housing dwellings across the country,” Ms Plibersek said.

“This $6.4 billion investment will stimulate the building and construction industry and is estimated to support 15,000 jobs nationally over the next two years.”

Mr Borger said over the next three years the Commonwealth and NSW Governments will invest $3 billion to build 9000 social housing homes and support around 37,000 jobs and apprenticeships in NSW.

“In this tough global recession, protecting jobs is the number one priority for the Commonwealth and NSW Governments,” Mr Borger said.

“Because of the scale of this program we will need a small army of builders, architects, carpenters, brickies, plumbers, surveyors, engineers and landscapers to help us build these homes.

“We need to move quickly – 75 per cent of the properties that the Commonwealth is funding as part of their Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan need to be ready for tenants to move in by Dec 2010.

“That’s why we are now opening up the Housing NSW Builders’ Register which is used to streamline and simplify the appointment of builders for our projects.

“It currently has 54 builders who we keep busy with work at the best of times but given the massive scale of construction that we are about to undertake, we need more builders to help us.

“We are asking today for builders who are interested in helping us build these new homes to submit an Expression of Interest to join the Register.”

Mr Borger said Housing NSW has employed Development and Project Managers to procure the building work and may also use managing contractors to deliver some projects.

“These project managers will have access to the Register, providing builders on the register the opportunity to tender for projects,” Mr Borger said.

“This will give the construction industry added opportunities for work over the next few years and provide security for jobs.

“It’s also a great opportunity to be part of a project that will give 17,000 disadvantaged Australians a new home – a once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of a project that secures jobs and investment in NSW and provides new homes for people doing it tough.”

Mr Borger said the Expression of Interest closes on Monday 18 May and the revised panel of accredited builders will be operational from late June.

Expressions of Interest are to be lodged via the NSW Government’s e-tendering site (https://tenders.nsw.gov.au).