THE building boom continues in the Goulburn Valley with Federal Member for Nicholls, Damian Drum, reporting builders in the Goulburn Valley are experiencing an unprecedented busy period.
The HomeBuilder scheme, announced by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg in early June, has led to more than 6100 HomeBuilder applications being made in Victoria, representing a third of all applications nationally.
The $25,000 grant is driving strong sales and helping protect jobs across the construction industry.
“The data and first-hand stories all suggest that HomeBuilder is proving to be one of the most successful and effective stimulus measures implemented by the Federal Government in the wake of the economic fallout caused by COVID-19,” Mr Drum said.
“Not only has HomeBuilder significantly upped demand for builders and other tradespeople, it will allow many Nicholls electorate residents to enter the housing marketing who otherwise would have been unable to.”
Local builder, Justin Marshall of Solar City Eco Homes, has been working on a renovation in Tatura on a heritage home that the owner’s decided to go ahead with thanks to the grant.
Having worked in the building industry for 30 years, Mr Marshall has seen many highs and lows but nothing on this scale.
“We are booked out for 2021, starting from January, for the entire year. This grant has created employment opportunities across the board and we have a new apprentice starting with us shortly,” Mr Marshall said.
The grant has ensured local builders and tradespeople have remained busy and has allowed many residents of the Nicholls electorate to enter the housing market who without the grant may not have been able to.
One issue the boom has highlighted is the scarcity of residential land throughout the Goulburn Valley. Stephen Donaghey, Regional Manager at Master Builders Association of Victoria, said Master Builders are keen to work closely with developers and local councils to ensure there is enough land to accommodate the influx of new home builds thanks to the grant.
