Master Builders Tasmania CEO says why we need to embrace change for a growing population

There isn’t enough land being released to build the houses we need now and if we don’t do something soon, we can kiss goodbye the idea of building more affordable housing, Master Builders Tasmania CEO Matthew Pollock says >>

CHANGE is an inevitable part of life, and it’s something that we must all learn to accept and adapt to.

In the past 20 years, Tasmania and Hobart have undergone a massive transformation.

In the late ’90s, finding a decent cup of coffee outside of the city centre was a challenge and asking for a Boag’s at a pub in Hobart was almost enough to see you run out of town.

But in the past 20 years the landscape has changed dramatically and it’s important to consider what the next 20 years will bring. Our state will continue to grow and change and we have a real opportunity to shape that, but only if the community works together.

Recently, the federal government released projections showing that Tasmania’s population will increase by about 80,000 people in the next 10 years. We need to start thinking about how we’re going to accommodate these new residents and how we’re going to make sure we have the infrastructure and housing to cope. The truth is our infrastructure is already struggling to keep up with current demand and housing is in short supply.

Master Builders CEO Matthew Pollock. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

We need more than just government strategy documents that sit on shelves collecting dust. We need tangible action, and we need it soon. We need to start planning for the future, and to do that, we need to have an open and honest conversation about the changes that are coming and how we can best prepare for them.

Take the Bridgewater Bridge for example. The need for a replacement was first identified two decades ago, yet we have only just begun the process of building it.

Of course, we’re all still waiting for the plan to improve public transport in Launceston and let’s not even mention the northern suburbs light rail corridor in Hobart. This highlights the importance of planning and execution when it comes to major infrastructure projects. We can’t afford to wait another 20 years to start building the infrastructure that we need to accommodate our growing population.

We also need to look at how other major infrastructure projects, like the Macquarie Point stadium, will help unlock urban renewal through strategic upgrades to the capital’s infrastructure, something that the Prime Minister is rightly calling for as part of any plan to develop the site.

We saw the absolute chaos that an accident on the Tasman Bridge caused recently. One option to address that would be to expand the use of ferries, but what happens when ferry terminals are proposed up and down the Derwent? Will locals embrace the opportunity, or will they be up in arms that the terminals will somehow impact on their lives?

Housing is another prime example. We all know that we need more housing, with a mix of social, affordable, and high-end dwellings to cope with the existing population, let alone the projected boom in numbers.

If the federal government population predictions are right, then we will need to build 3100 each year for the next 10 years just to keep pace. Add to that about another 1000 over the decade to replace old stock and make inroads into the existing housing shortage.

The two options available – building up in our major population centres and increase density, or expanding the urban fringes of our cities – both attract strong opposition.

A truck turned over on the Tasman Bridge, and traffic diverted as the bridge was closed. Picture : Mireille Merlet

My industry is seeing first-hand that there isn’t enough land being released to build the houses we need now. The basic concept of supply and demand is seeing land prices skyrocket.

If we don’t do something about this soon, we can kiss goodbye the idea of building more social and affordable housing. You can’t have affordable housing if the price of the land is through the roof.

Much of our recent economic prosperity has taken advantage of what we have created in terms of living standards. It’s been a magnet for new families and prospective first-home buyers that have been locked out of mainland capital city markets.

We can’t ignore or simply reject every proposal that comes to the table otherwise we will lose this advantage and every Tasmanian will be the worse for it.

There are no silver bullets when it comes to housing affordability and supply. It will take a mix of responses, but the status quo is going to result in housing becoming increasingly unaffordable and an entire generation of Tasmanians priced out of home ownership.

We also need to have a close look at the social and cultural impacts of population growth. In order to create a sustainable and liveable community, it is important to consider how we’re going to create a cohesive community. This includes building into our growing communities recreational and green spaces, as well as access to healthcare, education and other services like public transport.

While there will be a significant cost to this, the benefits it will unlock will be profound and will help shape the type of community we become.

The secret is out. Tasmania is a place where increasing numbers of people want to live, work and raise a family.

We have the option to embrace this and prosper, or keep swimming against the tide, miss the opportunity and suffer the consequences.

Matthew Pollock is chief executive of Master Builders Tasmania

Originally published as Master Builders Tasmania CEO says why we need to embrace change for a growing population