Master Builders Queensland

Getting your entry ready for the 2025 Housing & Construction Awards? Don't miss our tips and tricks to give your entry its best shot at the win! www.mbqld.com.au/h&c

With a tropical low sitting in the Coral Sea bringing heavy rain and high onshore winds along Queensland’s North Tropical Coast and Central Coast, the threat of major flooding in some already-soaked areas, and the potential for a tropical cyclone to develop, it’s a timely reminder to put safety first.   The Bureau of Meteorology is warning of renewed minor to moderate flooding with isolated major flooding possible across parts of the current Flood Watch area from Saturday.   Our Regional Managers, Sharon Vella (FNQ), Mark Vaughan (NQ) and Brad Dobie (Mackay & Whitsunday) are advising members in their areas to stay safe, keep an eye on the Bureau’s official forecast and your local council’s warnings – and again reinforcing the message, “if it’s flooded, forget it.”   For those already experiencing severe weather, our Disaster Guidelines point to what your priorities should be when performing individual site inspections to determine the extent of any existing or potential damage.   We’ve also got some important tips on the steps everyone can take to prepare their worksite and avoid the risk of injury and damage.   Check out the links in comments below. To speak to our expert team for further advice, call us on 1300 30 50 10.

We don’t think we’ll get any arguments when we say nature has really made its presence felt straight off the bat this Queensland summer, delivering searing temps, extreme rain events and flooding. As these wild conditions continue to grow in frequency and intensity, it’s fair to say building more resilient homes has never been more important. As always, we’ve got your back. In the Oct-Dec of Master Builder magazine, we look at our two new micro-credential courses focused on building resilience against extreme weather: one on flood and water inundation, the second on cyclones and storms. The courses are being delivered under the Better Build Skills Program, powered by the Queensland Government’s Good People, Good Jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022-23. Read all about it 👉https://lnkd.in/giZykb-4

With temperatures set to skyrocket across the state this week, it’s important to remember the steps to keeping cool and the controls you need in place to keep workers safe.

Media release: Spotlight remains on greater productivity as building approvals trend upwards Industry is pointing to improved productivity as key to boosting construction and hitting housing targets, as most Queensland regions performed strongly in the latest building approvals. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) numbers show total approvals of new houses and units climbed by 4.7 per cent in the 12 months to November 2024 – the largest jump since the boom caused by the federal HomeBuilder stimulus package was underway back in 2022. Looking at the three-month trend to November, all regions posted strong upward performances. Far North Queensland led the way with a 41.4 per cent hike, followed by Downs & Western at 31.2 per cent, and Central Queensland with a 26.6 per cent rise. Wide Bay Burnett (+16.1 per cent), the Sunshine Coast (+8.7 per cent), and Greater Brisbane (+7.6 per cent) all enjoyed gains, while Mackay & Whitsunday remained steady. The possible exceptions were the Gold Coast (-20.7 per cent), which saw a drop for both detached houses and units, and North Queensland (Townsville, -2.6 per cent) where there was a significant decline in approvals on detached homes. Master Builders CEO Paul Bidwell said while the results were good news, there was a lot more to do to shift the dial closer to the magic housing target number. “Boosting productivity is at the heart of the solution to increasing construction in our state,” Mr Bidwell said. “The ABS tells us 35,705 new homes were approved in the year to November, meaning we are still tracking well below our state target of 50,000 dwellings each year through to 2044. “We’ve built more than 50,000 homes in a year twice in the last 31 years – in 1994 and 2016. That’s not to say we can’t achieve that again – but we need fundamental change to help our industry achieve these ambitious targets. “A key part of that change will be clearing the unnecessary red tape that is standing in the way of industry delivering more homes. “We’ve welcomed the re-establishment of the Productivity Commission and lodged our submission in support, as we eagerly await the outcome of the review into the regulation of our industry. “Last week, we also wrote to Housing Minister Sam O’Connor outlining our proposal for reform of the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC). “Our 12 recommendations outline how the building industry regulator can be transformed through immediate operational change and longer-term regulatory and structural reform. We need a more transparent and risk-based QBCC, that is focused on its core regulatory functions and supported by industry-experienced staff. “Reviews are a good thing and provide a way forward for change – but any resulting proposals need to be swiftly implemented to get construction moving.”

Effective 1 January 2025, workers are prohibited from working in or otherwise entering the roof space of a domestic building unless relevant electrical installations are de-energised or either of the exempted circumstances apply. This new requirement applies to all types of work including plumbing, pest control, insulation activities, gas fitting, roof and ceiling repair, and electrical work (including air-conditioning installation) and situations where any part of your body enters the roof space. https://lnkd.in/g4Dbxu_y

Happy New Year to our builder groups & developer partners.   Whilst 2025 is still only a week old, Master Builders Queensland Display Village team have hit the ground running, ensuring we maintain the momentum of 2024 with a number of exciting opportunities coming to life in 2025. 2024 saw our Peet Flagstone City Pty Limited display village prove to be a winner for our participating builders with the estate being one of the few price pointed opportunities left in SEQ which has been reflected in numbers and sales to date. September saw the launch of third acreage display village The Fairways, in conjunction with our long-term land partner, QM Properties. This time we’ve taken our acreage opportunity into the fast-growing western corridor of Hatton Vale. Featuring six quality homes by six of SEQ’s acreage specialists, the village has hit the ground running. With settlements due this month, the commencement of the first homes at Waraba’s newest city, Lilywood Landings by Lennium Group Pty Ltd. will be a significant milestone as we see the commencement of 31 display homes by SEQ’s finest array of builders. This area is expected to become Moreton Bay Region’s biggest emerging community, and in time will be home to around 70,000, comparable to the current size of Mackay. Recently we issued two exciting Expression of Interests, both in the western growth corridor of Ipswich. The first, in what is a new relationship with land developer, Moremac., at South Place Deebing Heights, the second with our Lilywood Landings partner Lennium Group Pty Ltd. at Highland Walloon. Both opportunities have received strong interest, we will be in touch with interested builders shortly with allocations. As we head into 2025, our Expressions of Interest don’t stop there, look out for sone exciting opportunities in the first half of the year. Rest assured; I continue to work closely with an array of land developers with the aim to bring exciting new opportunities to fruition. I am strongly focussed on working with like-minded developers, those that have your interests at heart, and that understand the importance of working closely with our display partners. If you’re a land developer and want to know why and how we can add value to your proposed display village(s), please feel free to reach out.

All Master Builders’ offices will close over the Christmas break, from 11am on Friday, 20 December 2024. We’ll be back in the New Year ready to serve and support you and wish you, your family and colleagues a safe and happy Christmas. Offices will reopen from 8.00 am from: - Tuesday 2 January 2025 - Brisbane - Monday 6 January 2025 - Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Mackay & Whitsunday, North Queensland, and Far North Queensland - Tuesday 7 January 2025 - Wide Bay Burnett - Wednesday 8 January - Downs & Western - Monday 13 January 2025 - Central Queensland. Our Insurance team is taking a break over Christmas; however, we remain on call for any urgent assistance required during the holiday period (except public holidays). Please contact our team on 1300 13 13 26 for any urgent enquiries and 1300 13 13 24 for the Home Warranty team. Master Builders’ training will resume in January.

Congratulations to our 2024 group of Certificate IV in Building and Construction students who graduated recently. 🧑🎓 The group of 11 commenced the 12-month course in 2023. Some students and their partners attended a celebratory lunch at Urban Grounds Café in Toowoomba, also attended by trainer Rod Mahoney, Master Builders staff and sponsors BMS Mitre 10, Erlandson Finance Group and Rochford Solicitors Qld.

Productivity is a hot button issue for our industry right now, and we’re committed to finding and advocating for new ways to safely get our industry moving. In the October-December edition of Master Builder, we explore two exciting fields that are making headway in this space. Our Making a Difference feature explores our work spearheading efforts by the National Building Products Coalition to transform the way building product information moves and is tracked through supply chains, led by our own General Manager – Policy & Advocacy, Dyan Johnson. And, as we navigate the housing supply shortfall, and the enormous pipeline of vital building projects before us, we examine the growth and need for Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). Get amongst it! Links in comments.