CEO Update: Building for the Future

As we continue to move through Phase 2 of lifting COVID-19 restrictions, at the start of the week a new case of COVID-19 was reported in the ACT. It’s an important reminder that we all need to continue to follow the Governments health and safety guidelines, to prevent a resurgence of cases and to keep our industry in operation.

Following the Federal Government’s announcement last week about their new residential building stimulus package, HomeBuilder, display villages and residential builders saw a surge in interest from the local community over the weekend. Over 300 people registered their interest in HomeBuilder in the ACT since the program was announced. The hive of activity in the ACT residential building sector is a promising sign for an industry that has been hit hard by the economic effects of COVID-19.

As the residential construction industry receives a much-needed boost, our advocacy efforts in the coming weeks will focus on other areas within the construction industry that require further economic stimulus. Engineering construction has declined 25.4% in the ACT over the past year. The decline in public funded capital works, especially ACT funded infrastructure, remains a key concern for the local construction industry. We are calling for ACT Government infrastructure spending to return to 2017 levels of more than $1 Billion to support the 5,500 local construction businesses and the close to 20,000 qualified construction workers they employ.

I’d also like to say thank you to the members who have already renewed their MBA membership, we look forward to supporting all of our members in the new financial year. We are also offering all members who renew their membership before 30 June 2020 a 10% discount on their renewal fee.