The one thing saving the Coast’s construction industry

Tradies facing a construction downturn due to the coronavirus are seeing a renewed interest in one surprising sector on the Gold Coast.

TRADIES facing a construction halt are surviving thanks to locals looking to renovate during isolation, new data reveals.

While building approvals on the coast have seen a significant drop due to coronavirus shut downs, investment in renovations on the Coast has remained steady.

The latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that $141 million has already been spent this financial year (to March) on alterations, additions and conversions to residences on the Gold Coast – an increase of 8 per cent on the year before.

For tradie Baden Knight from Smart Chill Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, customers looking to improve their properties has been a godsend after he lost work overnight with the closure of the hospitality sector.

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Baden Knight is one of the many Gold Coast tradies hit by the coronavirus downturn. Even so he see light at the end of the tunnel. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“For two or three weeks work was scarce, people panicked and we took a fair hit on the refrigeration side of things when restaurants closed,” Mr Knight said.

“It seemed like everyone, no matter what trade you were in, was the same.

“Plans for new builds have also dropped but I think there are other opportunities there for the industry.
“We are still getting new customers looking for airconditioners, I think people being at home for weeks made them realise what they needed.”

James Griffith of Jamkat Constructions, a builder who specialises in renovations, said he had seen the same phenomenon.

“We had a very slow first quarter but now have work for the next six months,” he said.
“I didn’t know it would bounce back from corona like this.

“I think people have had a lot of time a home, thinking about the jobs they have been putting off.

“Home is where they are spending most of their time so it make sense.”