REGIONAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT STUART COLLINS HIA Executive Director – Tasmania WHAT’S AHEAD IN 2019 Tasmania gets set for another year featuring strong levels of residential construction activity. It seems 2019 has commenced the same information received is the introduction Building Diploma. HIA is also keen to deliver way that last year finished: with strong of private planning certification and the small business management training to levels of residential construction activity elimination of a number of unnecessary industry and is in the process of developing and the economic outlook remaining DA requirements imposed by council and this course. Many small builders, building positive. The early signs indicate that there referral agencies. HIA has also been vocal professionals and contractors will benefit will be no hangover after the festive period. on the need to fast-track the portal that from this training which will focus on the This is supported by the latest building will enable the streamlining of plumbing, importance of running a business to achieve approval figures that reveal a 16 per cent building and planning lodgement processes success within our industry. increase for Tasmania over 12 months and and provide critical information on the more than eight per cent for the quarter. development of individual sites. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT The good news is that all parts of Tasmania In April HIA will commence its TASMANIA WILL NEED are contributing to this activity with Greater comprehensive 2019 events program with UPWARDS OF 2,200 Hobart up by 23 per cent, Launceston and industry forums scheduled for Hobart and the North East 17 per cent, and the rest of Launceston. These forums, offering 6 CPD DWELLINGS IN 2019 Tasmania nine per cent for the year. With points, will be delivered by HIA technical population growth, low rental stock and high staff and will focus on the upcoming It would be remiss of me if I did not levels of underlying demand it is estimated changes to the National Construction conclude this report without congratulating that Tasmania will need upwards of 2,200 Code. This will be closely followed by HIA incoming President Xavier Wakefield on his dwellings in 2019. HomeFest in May which is set to be bigger appointment and Paul Burnell as outgoing Of course the industry’s ability to and better than ever. Stay tuned as there President for his outstanding contribution. construct new homes will be contingent on are some exciting announcements to be In addition I would like to thank HIA’s addressing the usual constraints. Availability made around the event ambassadors, Tasmanian staff and members for their of ‘shovel-ready’ and affordable land is vital the new HIA ask an expert stand and the warm welcome. I look forward to utilising while the existence of a skilled workforce weekend program. my knowledge and experience gained over is critical. In addition, HIA is eager to see Training is up and running with high the past 20 years with HIA, and working meaningful reform in relation to the pre- demand for the Certificate IV in Building in and around industry, to achieve positive construction phase of building projects. and Construction course. This will be outcomes for Tasmanian members, industry While there have been attempts to improve complemented by other courses such as the and the community. the situation HIA members are still reporting significant delays in obtaining building and development approvals resulting in frustration and extra costs. The planning system is still plagued by duplication, unnecessary requests for further information and bureaucracy. The announcement by the state government of its Development Regulatory Reform Project (the ‘DRR Project’) and continued work on the Planning and Building Portal (the ‘portal’) is welcomed and has the potential to address many of industry’s concerns. In early February HIA asked members to supply case studies to highlight the impediments within the current planning system. These case studies have been tendered to the DRR Project reviewers. Unsurprisingly, the key themes from the BUILDING NEWS ISSUE 1/2019P7 EVITUCEXEROTCERID