Monash expert: New construction fund provides hope, but can't afford same mistakes
Monash University
The federal government has announced up to $900 million to boost competition and productivity across the economy, including cutting red tape in the construction industry to meet housing demands.
Monash University’s Associate Professor Duncan Maxwell is available to discuss whether the policy will help meet the National Housing Accord's target of building 1.2 million homes.
Associate Professor Duncan Maxwell, Monash Art, Design and Architecture Faculty, and Director of the Future Building Initiative
Contact: media@monash.edu or +61 3 9903 4840
The following can be attributed to Dr Maxwell:
“The new flagged investment in construction is welcome, but it cannot be achieved via business as usual traditional building techniques. Industry support through regulatory reform, skills and capacity growth, and cultural change is necessary to execute projects through modern methods of construction.
“While an effective response to the housing target is necessary in the current housing crisis, we cannot lose sight of industry carbon reduction. This is a wicked problem to do more with less, and innovation is required to drive productivity in response to these challenges.
“Our research reveals the importance of prioritising build quality, design flexibility, and community benefit as new ways of building are implemented. Australia can’t afford to repeat the recent failures we have seen internationally, including the collapse of modular building companies in the UK.”
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