The NT needs to build modular homes to grow population by 50,000: Warren Ebert

The NT government plans to grow population by 50,000 in the next decade. A savvy businessman reveals how we house these new Territorians.

A $40bn economy, an extra 50,000 people living in the Territory and 35,000 more jobs by 2030 create an even bigger demand for housing.

These economy, population and jobs targets are set out in the NT government’s 2022 Infrastructure Plan and Pipeline.

Northern Australia Accommodation Solutions (NAAS) chief executive Warren Ebert, better known to in the NT as principal of Sentinel Property Group, has made several significant property investments in the past year, including Casuarina Square shopping centre.

Seeing no immediate solutions in place to meet expected housing demand, Mr Ebert formed NAAS with other Sentinel principals Michael Sherlock as chief marketing officer, Ian Griffin as general manager and director Greg Campbell.

NAAS plans to meet growing demand constructing overseas-supplied modular housing in areas of need across the Territory.

Sentinel Property Group chief executive Warren Ebert

From their recently acquired Jacana House office in Wood St, NAAS will showcase key materials and products from their homes including floorboards, carpets, kitchens and bathroom fittings.

“Where are people going to live, mate?” Mr Ebert said.

“For example, somebody wants to move here from interstate with his wife and we can show the floor plans and the type of house.

“We can make adjustments to suit them and whatever they want.

“It’s challenging for businesses to find quality staff so you’ve got to find quality accommodation for them – and it needs to be here when they move up and not live in a hotel for six months.

Luyten will build five 3D printed homes in the Northern Territory. Picture: Luyten

“We’ll be gearing up to do 50 houses a month, initially in Greater Darwin but a lot of it is going to be in areas like Alice Springs and Katherine where it is more difficult to get labour and build houses in volume.

“With what’s happening with Defence and everything else in the Territory you just can’t continue to do things the old way.

“The definition of stupidity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result.

“We’re not home builders but someone’s got to do it if this economy is going to get to $40bn and an additional 35,000 jobs.”

The accepted multiplier with economists is three-to-five, meaning if 35,000 new jobs are created, an additional 150,000 people will live in the Territory.

ABS population surveys indicate an average 2.1 people per home meaning housing 150,000 people requires 70,000 homes.

“That’s 70,000 homes over seven years, and that is 10,000 homes a year,” Mr Ebert said.

“Take 70,000 homes over seven years and we’ll require 10,000 homes a year.

“Take out a couple of months for the Wet and that means 50 homes must be completed every day.

“Can somebody tell me where the plan is to deliver 50 homes every working day for seven years?

“This is about creating accommodation so you can get more people to grow the economy.”

Mr Ebert said the Territory economy would depend on housing availability.

“Investment is mobile,” he said.

“If you can’t get it down in Darwin you go somewhere else. We don’t have time to waste on this.”