News and Media
11 November 2010
Queensland construction industry supported by stimulus package
There is no doubt after speaking with builders in Townsville, that the Federal Government’s Nation Building - Economic Stimulus Plan (NB-ESP) really helped to keep Queensland’s construction industry afloat.
Now, a year on from the global financial crisis, the builders working on Defence houses in Townsville, believe the stimulus package has been the difference between keeping work and struggling to stay in the industry.
Ron Jones from Ron Jones the Builder, believes without the stimulus package the Townsville residential construction industry might be very different.
‘The stimulus projects have kept Townsville’s construction industry busy in a time where, in other areas of the country, you might be struggling to find the work,’ said Mr Jones.
‘One would be deluding themselves if they didn’t acknowledge that the stimulus package has certainly been very good to Townsville builders, there is no doubt about that.’
The construction industry has certainly noticed the additional 118 Defence houses that DHA has been able to add to their normal construction program. However the work on other NB-ESP programs has not gone unnoticed either.
‘…particularly the schools, which has been a major one,’ said Mr Jones. ‘I would say nearly every school site in Townsville either has or is having work done on them.’
The positive impacts of the stimulus package have really made a difference to the construction industry, not only in Townsville but across Queensland.
Peter Breen from Peter Breen Constructions, acknowledged that the stimulus package was critical to his company and keeping people employed.
‘That [the stimulus package] is really the only thing that has kept a lot of the businesses going, with the schools projects and a lot of the government funded jobs, like the houses we have been building with DHA,’ Mr Breen said. ‘Without those, there really would not have been a lot of other work here.’
The final house in DHA’s NB-ESP program is expected to be completed by March 2011.