The Productivity Commission has recommended scaling back 'unnecessary regulatory impediments' to encourage greater uptake of modern housing construction methods, including prefabricated and modular construction - in a new research paper released this week.
"This recommendation demonstrates what Australia's forestry sector supply chain requires to ramp up innovation with timber and wood-fibre products that can contribute to easing Australia's national housing crisis," Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA), Chief Executive Officer, Diana Hallam said today.
The Productivity Commission research paper - Housing construction productivity: Can we fix it? explains numerous issues housing construction is facing - including complex and slow approvals, lack of innovation and scale, and issues around workforce including the retention of skilled workers. In turn, the paper also outlines a number of reform directions including streamlining approvals processes, a review of building regulations, removing impediments to innovation and improving workforce mobility and flexibility.
"Australia's forestry and timber sector not only supplies traditional framing materials essential for new housing - but is also increasingly broadening into new housing material options, including timber and wood-fibre based prefabricated housing products," Diana Hallam said.
"Our sector is already innovating in this space - but government reform is needed to spur that innovation curve even further within our sector. Using different types of timber and wood-fibre building products to construct new homes doesn't only support local jobs and communities, it helps fight climate change through carbon storage.
"The Productivity Commission's suggested solutions should be heeded by both sides of politics ahead of the Federal Election - so sectors like ours can get on with providing varied housing solutions for Australia," Diana Hallam concluded.
