Tradies raise concerns over $25K housing scheme

Sunshine Coast builders are concerned amid the ‘uncertainty’ surrounding the legislation of the much-lauded HomeBuilder scheme

Stroud Homes owner Daniel Chapman said he feared for buyers who had not planned well in the post-pandemic world. Photo: John McCutcheon

SUNSHINE Coast builders have expressed concerns amid the “uncertainty” surrounding the legislation of the much-lauded HomeBuilder scheme.

The Federal Government launched the $25,000 scheme on June 4 to help kickstart the stalled industry, however almost one month later it is not yet operational in Queensland.

It comes after a rush of buyer inquiries and mass land releases at prominent estates such as Harmony and Azure Forest Glen, which local real estate agents said was due to the scheme.

While local tradies said the scheme will be a lifeline for the industry, they have questions over when it will be rolled out and who will be able to access it.

Federal Member for Fairfax Ted O’Brien said the scheme would help the residential construction market “get through” the pandemic, but said it was up to the State Government to execute the program.

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Master Builders Sunshine Coast regional manager Will Wilson said many questions about the HomeBuilder scheme had not yet been answered.

Master Builders Sunshine Coast regional manager Will Wilson said his office had been flooded with inquiries from both builders and clients asking questions he couldn’t answer.

“It’s a waiting game at the moment, which is causing consternation,” Mr Wilson said.

“People have committed to purchasing land with the assumption they will get the stimulus.

“I do believe they are safe, but for now it’s a grey area.

“A lot of people haven’t signed their contracts yet because of the uncertainty.”

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Mr Wilson said he hoped that the legislation would be signed off as soon as possible to pump certainty back into the industry.

Stroud Homes owner Daniel Chapman said the industry was now in an “optimistic” state, compared to two months ago in peak of the pandemic.

However, he too had concerns around the legislation of the scheme.

“Heaps of people are really eager, but there is no certainty to whether they will get finance,” Mr Chapman said.

“I think in a few months time, a lot of builders who haven’t planned well could be in trouble.”

Brisbane Road carpark construction, Mooloolaba. Photo Patrick Woods

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Mr Wilson said more than 18,000 people have direct employment from the Coast’s construction industry – making up an “important” part of the economy.

He said if the HomeBuilder scheme worked as it was tabled it would save the construction industry from “falling off a cliff” by September.

“It is basically the industry’s version of JobKeeper,” Mr Wilson said.

“Earlier in the year when the virus hit, the inquiry rate was lacking. So all of the contracted work was set to come to a conclusion by September.

“So it’s really going to be a lifeline.”

Mr O’Brien assured buyers they would receive the grant.

“Eligible home buyers who enter into a building contract for a new home or rebuild, between June 4 and December 31, 2020 can rest assured they will receive the grant,” Mr O’Brien said.

“HomeBuilder is proving to be the catalyst for first home buyers and families to purchase a new home, or undertake a major rebuild, that they may have put off earlier in the year.

“Around the country there has been huge interest in Home Builder with nearly 35,000 Australians registering their interest in the program, and of those more than 9400 are from Queensland.”

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