State’s turnaround over ‘insane’ new construction code rule timeline

There could be more changes to the Queensland construction industry but the plans have been met with outrage from some.

Contentious new construction code rules meant to make homes more accessible will be pushed back for up to 18 months — but only for homes built on small lots.

And energy efficiency ratings for new homes won’t be moved from the original start date of October 1.

Anyone building a Queenslander-style house will be exempt from some of the accessibility rules.

Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni on Tuesday announced the proposal to delay parts of the transition to the new construction code amid rising industry anger over cost concerns amid a housing crisis.

News of the change was met with a fierce backlash from readers - read what you had to say below.

But de Brenni denied it was a “back down”, saying the industry and government had been working on the transition to the new rules for months.

He will put the proposal to industry bodies Tuesday afternoon.

Energy and Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni. Picture: David Clark

It comes after Mr de Brenni was instructed to speak with building industry figures about the timeline to enforce new construction codes following concerns raised by The Courier-Mail.

Acting Premier Steven Miles on Tuesday said he asked the Minister to speak with representatives who have pleaded for a delay as well as disability advocacy groups who lobbied for the code to be updated.

Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Miles said the Public Works Minister’s meeting with stakeholders on Tuesday afternoon “went well” and claimed the updated rollout of the building codes will mean the implementation will now be in-line or further delayed than other states and territories.

“It means we’ve listened, we’ve heard what industry had to say yesterday – we’ve continued to support, though, those advocacy groups who are seeking to ensure that our housing stock does become more accessible,” Mr Miles told reporters.

When asked if it would have been more appropriate to adopt a blanket delay for the implementation, the Acting Premier said the national construction codes had been modified in a staged-approach over the last few years.

“It’s not unusual for them to come in different elements at different stages and really all we’ve done here is adjust the timing on some of those elements,” Mr Miles said.

“I can assure you that there have been long and deep discussions inside of the room that have got us to this point where we will have more accessible homes (and) where we will have more energy efficient homes and I think ultimately that’s a great outcome for Queenslanders.”

Mr Miles had earlier admitted he was concerned by a potential barrier to build new affordable homes, given the housing pressures across the state, but said it was critical new homes were suitable for people with disabilities.

“Let’s be really clear about what these building standards are,” Mr Miles told reporters in Gladstone.

“They have been coming since 2010 and they say we should be building houses with doorways wide enough for people to get wheelchairs into them, hallways wide enough for people to wheel their wheelchairs down them, toilets on the ground floor so people in a wheelchair can go to it.

“In 2032, we will be hosting the biggest celebration of accessibility – the 2032 Paralympic Games – and wouldn’t it be good to say that by then we were building homes that people in a wheelchair could live in (and) people in a wheelchair could visit.

“We have suddenly disabled people now in our hospitals who cannot return to their homes because they are waiting for them to be adjusted to standards.

“Some of these changes can be very difficult – retrofitting a home to widen the hallway can be very expensive and very difficult and it is much cheaper to do that at the time the house is built.

“Wouldn’t we prefer that if we built a new home in 2023 or 2024 that it was suitable for us to use a wheelchair in?”

Mr de Brenni had earlier refused to delay the start of new construction code rules, despite building industry figures claiming it could add up to $20,000 to the cost of some new homes while other states are delaying the implementation.

The changes, due to start from October 1, are intended to make homes more energy-efficient and accessible.

Construction industry representatives warned it was “just insane” to add more pressure on prices in the midst of a housing affordability crisis.

Mr de Brenni said the standards would add just one to two per cent to the total cost of a new home, while saving homeowners up to $185 a year on their energy bills.

He also agreed to some extensions of 18 months for the accessibility changes, including for small-lot homes that get council applications in before October 1 and display homes with contracts signed before October 1.

Coral Homes construction general manager Ben Garland. Picture: Glenn Hampson

The dispute follows a long period of negotiation between the industry and Mr de Brenni.

Queensland is the only state that is pushing through with all of the October 1 changes without delay, with the ACT also implementing them in full.

Other states have been moving to delay the start date for some or all of the measures.

Changes include making new homes achieve seven-star energy efficiency ratings, instead of six-star, while having more accessible features such as wider doorways, corridors and step-free showers.

Master Builders Queensland boss Paul Bidwell, who is seeking a delay until May 2024, said while some new homes would not be impacted, others will see additional construction costs ranging from $5-20,000.

Mr Bidwell said face higher construction costs would have to be passed on.

“Why are they bringing it in the middle of a housing crisis? Ultimately, it’s the homebuyer who will wear the costs,” he said.

HIA Queensland executive director Michael Roberts said the new updates which bring houses up to a seven-star rating would come with an additional $20,000 price tag for new builds.

“You’re saving $170 in electricity each year? Big deal. It’s going to cost tens of thousands extra to build it. You’re going to have to live in that house for 40 years to get your money back,” he said.

But Mr de Brenni said he had been working with the industry to accommodate their concerns, including offering the 18-month extension for some key measures.

“That being said, the construction industry has known about these changes for over a decade, after they committed to improve the liveability of new homes in 2010,” he said.

He said it would lead to cheaper power and make homes more liveable for people.

“The quicker Queenslanders embrace these economic and social advantages, mean more people will be able to live in their own homes for longer and have a better quality of life,” Mr de Brenni said.

Coral Homes construction general manager Ben Garland said the construction industry was already under enormous pressure, while the timing of the new code was adding another burden.

“It’s just insane to be adding to the cost of housing right now,” he said.

“It’s going to add to our problems with inflation.

“A sensible government would be looking at making it easier for builders to improve productivity.”

Metricon design team leader for the northern states, Matthew Winter, said the company had spent many months modifying hundreds of designs to meet the new regulations.

“The associated cost rise will reflect the increased expenses for construction and materials necessary to comply with the updated building code,” he said.

Queensland Conservation Council director David Copeman said the Queensland Government’s figures showed the new code would reduce emissions by 1.64 million tonnes from new homes.

“These National Construction Code reforms are essential to ensure our homes are more efficient,” Mr Copeman said.

“They will save money for homeowners and renters on lower power bills, reduce emissions, and keep us healthy and safe at home.

“Australia is currently coming last in developed nations on energy efficiency, and improving new builds is the most cost effective way to reduce our emissions by more than 1.64m tonnes a year, while saving us money.”

Australian Network for Universal Housing Design (ANUHD) chief executive Gary Rake on Tuesday refuted claims that the code changes would add $20,000 onto the price of new builds.

He said cost calculations by the ANUHD during the consultation period had arrived at far lower estimated costs of between $2000- $2500 to bring the average home up to a seven-star rating.

“I have offered to work with the peak industry bodies about those costs as I’m yet to see explanations of how they reached $20,000,” he said.

“We have focused on the cheapest and easiest changes that provide the most benefits, like slightly lighter coloured roofs.

“The cost in Queensland for adopting energy efficient changes are also at the lower end because it’s so warm.

“If someone wants to build a large 350sqm house with a jet black roof, that house will be harder to make energy efficient ... (but) that’s probably not the sort of property first home buyers are looking at.”

Mr Rake also said plenty of educational tools including a handbook and several webinars and seminars had been provided to industry members to help them prepare for the transition.

However, he did say some industry members may have been too busy and the changes hadn’t yet “caught their attention”.

When asked if the impending changes would affect land development opportunities, Mr Rake said there were exemptions that allowed certain plots to continue to be developed on.

“Narrow, steep blocks and elevated houses for Queensland’s flood prone areas will have exemptions from the step-free access path,” he said.

“They will still have to meet the internal accessibility requirements to allow a person to live in and move around in their own home with dignity, even if they need help getting inside.”

WHAT YOU SAY ABOUT THE CHANGES

PR

Governments around Australia seem to be working hard to block new accomadation in the middle of a housing crisis.

Queensland is no different.

STEPHEN

Labor’s next plan is to regulate that all vehicles be fitted with disability access and hand controls just in case the vehicle is purchased by a person with disabilities.

The Joker

So I build and don’t reach 7 stars. So what? As if I care.

Ewan Mee

Will those sleeping in cars and tents be exempted.

Philip

With any luck at all - This stooge Minister will be gone next year.

Regional Ranger

A result of Policies on the run.

Jennifer

Great way to kill new house building. Can’t afford one now & with another $20,000 of green improvements never will be able to.

Paul

I mean serious, I wonder whats rattling around in some these pollies heads sometimes. I spend $20,000 extra on my new home and I’ll get back $185 per year. Are these people for real. There delusional.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION BELOW OR ON FACEBOOK HERE >>>