Master Builder’s Association chief Michael Kerschbaum to take up job as adviser to Peter Gutwein

THE head of the Master Builder’s Association in Tasmania has resigned to take up a job as senior adviser to Minister Peter Gutwein in the State Growth portfolio.

Executive Director of the Master Builders Association, Michael Kerschbaum. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

THE head of the Master Builder’s Association in Tasmania has resigned to take up a job as senior adviser to Minister Peter Gutwein in the State Growth portfolio.

Michael Kerschbaum, who has been the executive director of MBA Tasmania for nine years, resigned last week and his last day will be May 11.

“I have been presented with an unbelievable opportunity to progress my career outside of the association,” Mr Kerschbaum said in his resignation letter.

“The lure was too great and after more than 17 years of dedicated service to the MBA of Tasmania, I find myself in the position of tendering my resignation to leave a job that I still love, working for an organisation that I feel deeply connected to.”

Mr Kerschbaum said he had not worked in the government sector before and was looking forward to a change in direction.

“The Department of State Growth is an important portfolio which deals with things such as the city deals for both Hobart and Launceston and major development projects. It will be an exciting challenge,” he said yesterday

Mr Gutwein said Mr Kerschbaum had a wealth of industry experience.

“I look forward to the valuable contribution I am sure he will make in his new role,” Mr Gutwein said.

Treasurer Peter Gutwein MP. PICTURE: MATT THOMPSON

Mr Kerschbaum came out during the recent state election campaign to call on the next government to make the Hobart to Northern Suburbs urban renewal project a priority for the next four years.

“This is the kind of infrastructure project we need,” Mr Kerschbaum said.

“We are experiencing growth. We need to start planning for it. We need to look at projects that not only drive growth, but create vital infrastructure that we have been lacking.

“The Northern Suburbs project will address housing issues — we don’t have enough medium-density options out there — and it provides us with a cohesive strategy about where commercial and industrial precincts will be.”

In relation to Tasmania’s current housing crisis, Mr Kerschbaum recently told the Mercury

that the underbuilding of residential homes over the past few years had contributed to the situation.

He said a lack of labour meant the extra 3000 houses which needed to be built on the 239ha of land to be released by the government could not go up quickly.