Please turn your device to portrait.
Queensland’s ambitious housing targets increasingly rely on modular construction.
The Queensland Government has announced the completion of new modular homes in both Tara and Gladstone, providing much-needed relief for residents impacted by natural disasters and housing shortages. (main pic: Modular built home by Hutchinson Builders in Gladstone, Queensland.)
In Tara, the government has delivered seven modular homes at the Tara Accommodation Recovery Park, a response to the bushfires that displaced many in the area. These modular homes, comprising one one-bedroom, five two-bedroom, and one three-bedroom units, are in addition to nine transportable temporary homes and two cabins previously installed.
Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon stated that the government acted swiftly upon the council’s request, providing $5.16 million for the construction and supporting around 16 full-time equivalent construction jobs. The modular homes are part of a broader strategy to provide longer-term support after natural disasters, similar to efforts following the Gympie floods.
In Gladstone, six new modular homes have been completed, with residents set to move in shortly. The two-bedroom modular homes were constructed in Hutchinson Builders’ Toowoomba factory and are part of the government’s Homes for Queenslanders initiative, which aims to deliver 53,500 new social homes by 2046.
The Queensland Government’s strategy is increasingly reliant on the use of modular homes as a cornerstone. Additionally, the government has commissioned their second QBuild modular factory in Cairns, complementing the existing one in Brisbane. This expansion is part of a broader initiative to revitalise QBuild, with the aim of hiring up to 500 qualified tradespeople and apprentices.
Minister Scanlon highlighted the importance of innovative approaches to building more homes quickly, stating that partnering with Queensland builders and QBuild tradies allows for the assembly of quality modular homes in factories across the state.
“We know that to build more homes faster we need to do things differently. These homes take less time to build than conventional construction, and because they’re built inside a factory, aren’t hampered by weather delays.”
