New Zealand residential construction company Stonewood Homes opens in Toowoomba

As Toowoomba faces a dire housing shortage this New Zealand housing construction company has just launched its first Australian franchises, with high hopes for upcoming development.

Stonewood Homes launches in Toowoomba

One of New Zealand’s top residential builders has launched in the Darling Downs as Toowoomba anticipates a growth of 32,830 households by 2031.

According to the Toowoomba Regional Housing Strategy which was released last January, housing affordability could continue to impact more residents over the next few years, highlighting the need for more housing.

Partnering with family-led Darling Downs builders Ian and Dee Carrie, Stonewood Homes is hoping to help support the current market that is struggling to keep up with demands.

Launching in Toowoomba and the Sunshine Coast, this is Stonewood Homes’ first entry into the Australian market and their Queensland manager Mandy Stephens said the state has a strong future for development leading up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.

“Southeast Queensland is one of Australia’s leading property powerhouses,” she said.

“But we’re facing an urgent affordability and supply issue of quality homes.

“This is exactly what Stonewood is aiming to do – make it easier, more enjoyable and affordable to build new homes loved by Queenslanders, while supporting local builders in growing their businesses.”

Stonewood Homes launches in Toowoomba

Mr and Ms Carrie have been running a family construction business in the Darling Downs for the past 17 years, primarily in Warwick, but when the opportunity to work with Stonewood Homes arose, the couple moved their business to Toowoomba.

Mr Carrie said during the current housing crisis the construction industry has been “kicking along pretty well”.

“There is a lot of excitement around the growth of Toowoomba, it is just whether Toowoomba can keep up with that or not,” he said.

“I think what we are going to have an issue with is trades and contractor availability because the busier we get the harder it is to find the right trades.

“There are not enough incentives to keep apprentices in the job.”

Stonewood Homes launches in Toowoomba

Mr Carrie said home building costs are between $2000 and $2500 per square metre and from start to finish a new home can be built in about 22-30 weeks, depending on weather conditions.

This includes a preliminary stage of 6-10 weeks which covers the design process, soil testing, engineering, and council approval, and then another 16-20 weeks for the construction.

Mr Carrie said that people who are looking for land are struggling to find it and as soon as development plots are released the blocks get snatched up within weeks.

Local Toowoomba builder, Kev Morris, has been building in the Darling Downs for more than 40 years and his sales and office administrator Vicki Travers said the residential construction market is very “keen” but land registration is their biggest challenge.

“It just takes so long to get land registered, which, of course, puts a delay on the build,” she said.

“I think the council, in their process of approving developments, are being very wise and very conscious of maintaining green space, and that rural look.

“We’re not having a problem getting new home buyers through the door or getting them into brand new homes,” Ms Travers said.

“I can’t talk for council, of course, but as far as we’re concerned, as a builder, the market is certainly there, there’s no question about that.”

Ms Travers said she thought the 32,830 new homes proposed by council is possible to achieve by 2031 based on the company’s current demand.

Originally published as New Zealand residential construction company Stonewood Homes opens in Toowoomba