CEO Update: The Actions We Have Taken to Support Our Members

The Actions We Have Taken to Support Our Members

Over the past few weeks feedback from our members suggests that building and construction industry business owners have adapted quickly to hygiene and social distancing requirements. The key concern for business owners today is the future pipeline of work, or lack of it. Members are asking, where is the next job coming from?

While there will be an inevitable economic downturn heading for the ACT, there is a lot that can be done to support our industry through this period.

• We are calling on the ACT Government to increase and bring forward spending on capital works. This week we have delivered that message directly to the Minister for Planning and with key Treasury, Planning and Major Projects Canberra staff. In partnership with other industry groups, we have written to Government repeating this call. And we have had great coverage in the local media with this message.
• Secondly, we have called on government to ensure that ACT Government funded work is awarded to local companies. For both government and private clients, it is important that the full project team be drawn from the local talent pool. Builders, civil contractors, subbies, suppliers and consultants should be maximised on future projects at this time.
• Finally, we have been engaging well with the Planning Directorate recently to ensure development approvals are processed quickly, and red tape and regulation is minimised. This is important to ensure that any project that is in the planning stages moves to the construction phase without delay. Likewise, when projects are complete, the unit titling and final inspection stage is critical to ensuring quick settlement and finalisation of projects.

The MBA will be advocating strongly to government over the coming months to ensure there is a future pipeline of work, so the construction industry can keep on working.