STATEWIDE NEWS

July 2020

Building approvals show COVID-19 starting to bite 01/07/2020

The building approvals data released today shows the COVID-19 crisis is starting to impact residential building activity. Master Builders WA Executive Director John Gelavis said the 8.9 per cent fall in dwelling approvals for May reinforced the need for the housing stimulus measures being implemented by the State and Federal Governments.

June 2020

Online revolution for South West building awards 25/06/2020

The coronavirus crisis put a halt to the South West building awards in March but the event has been triumphantly relaunched in a new, online format. The tickets were sold, the trophies polished and new outfits hanging ready to be worn for the Master Builders-Bankwest Building Excellence Awards when gatherings were banned just days ahead of the gala affair on March 21. Three months on, the event has been reimagined as the first Master Builders online awards ceremony. Instead of the original plan for a celebration in Bunbury, builders logged on from home towns as far north as Waroona, east to Darkan, looping around to Manjimup and Pemberton then south to Augusta and everywhere between to celebrate the region’s best projects.

$20m Project Hurdle will Create More WA Jobs 24/06/2020

Property Council WA and Master Builders WA welcome the co-operative efforts of WA’s politicians who have joined forces to achieve historical planning reform. Working together, a combination of MPs from the Government, Opposition and the crossbenches, agreed to lower the threshold for the State Government’s major projects fast-tracking planning initiative from $30 million to $20 million. In the regions, projects worth as little as $5 million can be fast-tracked under the scheme, which is designed to eliminate red-tape and generate job-creating projects.

State housing stimulus package a gamechanger 07/06/2020

The McGowan Government’s housing stimulus package, including a building bonus and social housing economic recovery package, is a gamechanger that will turbocharge the residential and construction industry in WA. This is a massive lifeline for our embattled building sector and brings much-needed relief to the industry and the many small businesses within it. “Today’s announcement follows a two and a half month advocacy campaign by Master Builders WA to save housing jobs and create much needed activity in the WA economy, so we are delighted the State Government has listened and acted,” Master Builders WA executive director John Gelavis said.

WA Builders applaud Federal HomeBuilder Scheme 03/06/2020

The Morrison Government HomeBuilder scheme is a lifeline and brings much-needed relief to the Western Australian housing industry and the many small to medium businesses within it. Master Builders WA executive director John Gelavis said the scheme followed a three-month advocacy campaign to save jobs and recharge building activity by the Master Builders movement.

May 2020

Master Builders joins the Premier’s State Recovery Advisory Group 28/05/2020

WA Premier Mark McGowan has invited Master Builders WA Executive Director John Gelavis to represent members and the building industry on the new State Recovery Advisory Group. “The $25billion building and construction industry is vital to Western Australia. Master Builders has extensive experience and resources both locally and nationally to provide expert advice on the key elements required for our state’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mr Gelavis said.

Industry and police sign a pact to beat construction site theft 20/05/2020

Construction industry groups have joined forces with the WA Police Force to launch the Partnership Against Crime Taskforce (PACT) with the aim of curbing theft on Western Australian construction sites. The signatories to the PACT Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) are the WA Police Force, security specialists Braven Group Services, Master Builders WA (MBAWA), the Urban Development Institute of Australia WA (UDIA), and the Civil Contractors Federation WA (CCF).

Planning reform to release builders from red tape 20/05/2020

A simplified planning system will protect jobs and create opportunities as WA recovers from COVID-19 and beyond says Master Builders Executive Director John Gelavis. “Master Builders has spent years promoting a clear, strong and functional planning system so we welcome the reforms put to Parliament today.”

WA Government cash saves building jobs 19/05/2020

Master Builders WA says the WA Government’s decision to dip into funds for a $150million housing support package for tradies and builders has come at the perfect time. Executive Director John Gelavis said bringing forward the jobs stimulus which was due to start in July is the move Master Builders had been asking for in recent correspondence with the government.

New approach clears path for government work 18/05/2020

Changes to procurement regimes for construction projects overseen by the WA Government are welcomed in as part of a push to modernise procurement processes for goods, services and works. Master Builders WA executive director John Gelavis congratulated Finance Minister Ben Wyatt on his resolve to cut red tape by introducing the Procurement Bill 2020 to Parliament and following up with the release of new guiding principles for managing government building projects.