Stimulus scheme take-up builds in Tasmania

Tradies are seeing unprecedented inquiry after the announcement of the Federal Government’s HomeBuilder scheme, but strong demand for new homes is leaving would-be home builders disappointed. Find out what you need to cash in >>

SIGNIFICANT demand for land and new homes across the state has led to a tricky situation for Tasmanian home building businesses.

Creative Homes Hobart founder Greg Rothacker said they had never experienced such a high inquiry level following the Federal Government’s $25,000 HomeBuilder Scheme and the State Government’s $20,000 HomeBuilder Grant.

RELATED NEWS:

• Grant opened up to anyone building a home
• HomeBuilder scheme to safeguard jobs
• Hobart Showgrounds development needed: Tas Labor

“Talking to all our peers, everyone’s experiencing exactly the same thing. Everybody just wants to jump out of the box and take advantage of this opportunity,” he said.

However, with very little land available, he said people were being left disappointed.

Master Builders Tasmania Executive Director Matthew Pollock alongside owner of Creative Homes Hobart, Greg Rothacker as he has been busy since the HomeBuilder scheme. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

“We’ve really just had to … explain to people that if you haven’t got your finance arranged, then there’s no land available at the moment,” he said.

“Now it doesn’t matter if you’ve got a block halfway out to the eastern seaboard — somebody’s probably looking for it and going to buy it at the moment,” he said.

MORE NEWS:

• Council considers $5m kunanyi proposal
• Demand for flights ‘safe’ cities
• Tourism project still pending, months after decision

Master Builders Tasmania executive director Mathew Pollock said more than 1000 Tasmanians had registered an interest in building their dream home over the past two weeks.

“That holds a potential to inject over $45 million in direct stimulus to households, and also to support up to $250 million worth of activity in the building and construction sector,” he said.

Tasmanian Liberal Senator Jonathon Duniam said the HomeBuilder package meant a world of difference to people wanting to buy a new home, build their own, or renovate.

“It also means the difference between having a job and not for people in the construction sector,” he said.