Building Industry News

Economic stimulus to boost Coast building industry

The Rudd Government’s $42 billion economic stimulus package is expected to have a significant impact on the Central Coast’s building industry with every primary school in the region getting up to $3 million for new buildings and building upgrades. With around eighty schools involved, the Central Coast’s major builders are looking forward to a fast turn-around from the quiet times of the past year.

According to the Government’s Building the Education Revolution (BER) Guidelines, the work is to be carried out over three years and will provide new facilities and refurbishments in Australian schools to meet the needs of 21st century students and teachers.

Under the Guidelines, primary schools and special schools will receive funding to build new iconic facilities such as libraries, multipurpose halls or classrooms, or to upgrade existing facilities. In addition, funds are being provided for the construction of new science laboratories or language learning centres as well as funds for minor capital works and maintenance projects. Government, Catholic and independent schools will all participate.

Under the Guidelines, to ensure that the program has the greatest impact on job support, it is essential that construction on as many projects as possible commences quickly. Projects which are unable to demonstrate their ability to be completed within the specified timeframe will not be funded.

Tim Cornish, Managing Director of Gosford-based North Constructions said, “This will certainly be good for the industry and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Most builders have little ongoing work. It will soak up all the trades very quickly and keep us all going for at least three years. By then the economy should have turned around.”

The Astoria Group to constuct aged care facility

Retirement village owners, The Astoria Group, are planning to start construction of a 111-bed aged-care facility at their retirement village, The Orchards, at Taylor Road, Lisarow in mid to late 2009. This follows the group gaining development approval from Gosford Council and Government approved bed licences. The Group has recently completed Stage 2 of the development of The Orchards.

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