Woollam grows NQ industry during material shortage

One of Queensland’s oldest builders says a new project in Townsville will provide important training opportunities.

One of Queensland’s oldest builders says a new project in Townsville will provide important training opportunities in a region experiencing construction challenges sparked by Covid-19.

Woollam Constructions is preparing to start work on the $60.5 million Weststate Private

Hospital which is being developed by Geon Property in an iconic Townsville setting.

Woollam Regional Manager Townsville Mark Lovelady said the hospital would transform the grounds of the historic Townsville West End State School which has an important connection to the community.

Woollam regional manager Mark Lovelady at the old Townsville West State School which will form part of the Weststate Private Hospital in West End.

Mr Lovelady’s 86-year-old father Cyril attended the school which will take on a vital new role for the region.

Mr Lovelady said the project would run for more than 12 months, ensuring valuable training opportunities as the North Queensland construction market continues to battle material shortages forced by Covid.

“My father went to the school and lived around the corner from the school in Greenslade Street. He is really looking forward to seeing the completed project which will transform a landmark, beautiful old building into a show piece for Townsville,” Mr Lovelady said.

“This project will run for 68-plus weeks, so that continuity enables our partners to have vision and employ staff, whether that is through traineeships or apprenticeships.

“For the industry in North Queensland, this is an important project. It helps to grow the industry and to get our next generation into their trades and learning from others.”

Set on an about 8000sq m site on the corner of Sturt St and Ingham Rd, the short-stay hospital will offer specialist surgical services including orthopaedics, urology and general surgery.

Mr Lovelady said about 180 jobs would be created during construction which is due to start in January and to be completed in April/May 2023.

He said builders across the country continued to deal with a volatile supply chain for materials as Covid impacted demand.

“There are still strong price rises in steel, concrete and timber and these are all major increases in the cost of building,” Mr Lovelady said.

“While the stimulus packages in the residential area have really tied up trades, we are very fortunate we are able to lock in contract partners to allow them certainty.”

Artist impressions of the Weststate Private Hospital proposed for the corner of Ingham Rd and Sturt St.

The Cordell Construction Cost Index released last week showed that residential construction costs in Australia increased by 7.1 per cent in the last 12 months – the highest annual increase in 16 years.

Woollam has a long record of working across Queensland, building the likes of the Breakfast Creek Hotel to iconic regional projects such as the Bank of NSW building in Rockhampton.

Woollam’s Mackay-based Managing Director Craig Percival welcomed the opportunity for Woollam to deliver another significant regional project.

Mr Percival said the supply-chain challenges should spark a wider discussion about Australia’s manufacturing capabilities.

“It would be good if we could start looking more closely at manufacturing more materials in Australia again,” Mr Percival said.

“In this world of ever-changing technology, there should be ways to make this happen again, particularly with the innovation that seems to surround us in many other areas.”

From Thomas Woollam’s backyard joinery business in suburban Clayfield in 1884, Woollam has expanded to be one of the leading building and design companies in Queensland with more than 200 staff and offices in Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Hervey Bay, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Toowoomba and Ballina.

Originally published as Woollam grows NQ industry during material shortage