The housing crisis in Tasmania can’t be solved overnight. However, if we consider what has led to such a shortage of construction, we can find new ways to build the housing that is desperately needed.
What’s behind the housing crisis?
In a nutshell, the speed of construction to meet the housing demands is affected by high material costs, project time delays and workforce shortages.
High material costs + Project time delays + Workforce shortages = housing crisis
Tasmania has a demand for housing that far exceeds the current supply. Only nine multi-unit developments commenced construction in Tasmania in the March Quarter 2024, down from 80 in the previous quarter and the weakest quarter in over two decades. (source HIA Economy Forecast)
A lack of confidence that builders can complete these projects within reasonable timeframes continues to see these projects delayed. As we all know, long build times equate to higher risk and building costs.
HED Engineering Manager Dr Manikandan Muthiah recently presented at the Tasmania Major Projects Conference to share ways that material choices and technology can support better budgets and timelines to address the housing crisis and construction into the future.
New or alternative construction materials and methods
The Tasmanian construction industry relies on traditional materials and methods because we’re familiar with them. Timber is king in Tassie as the leading traditional choice and that is further reinforced through builder qualifications training.
Dr Mani says “There is the need for educational institutes in TAS to give equal weight to alternative materials and methods as they do to traditional timber structures (such as joists, bearers, and studs). It’s crucial to advocate for increased skill development or upskilling to address the real demand and help alleviate the housing crisis.”
Tasmania’s future construction growth will need us all to work together to make the change.
Alternative materials for construction
In giving equal weight to alternative materials, Dr Mani considers the viability of any construction material through analysing the following criteria:
- Structural strength requirements
- Architectural geometry
- Location (Tasmania’s topography)
- Budget
- Locally available materials/fabrication
- Handling and storage
- Required skills and availability
- Climate and sustainability
- Function of the building
- Aesthetic appearance
- Specifications
That has led the HED engineering team to incorporate materials such as:
- Prefabricated and timber houses
- Prefabricated steel
- Prefabricated cold form steel
- Core filled reinforced block basements/retaining walls
- Precast wall planets and pre-stress beams and slabs
- Post tensioning slab and band beams
- CLT panels and glulam mass timber
What is essential, however, is approaching construction without the traditional approach locked in. In fact, the answer to budget and time efficiencies in construction is a hybrid system approach that adapts materials and methods to each unique construction.
How to apply a hybrid approach
When using alternative materials, perhaps even a number of them within the one project, the method of design and engineering to manage the complexities is critical. For Dr Mani, BIM is the technology that brings all of the construction elements together with huge benefits.
BIM (Building Information Modelling) is a layered 3D,4D & 5D electronic model using software (ie. Revit, TEKLA plus many others) that represents exactly how the real building will be built in the field, with structural, architectural, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC components laid out in precise detail.
Dr Mani says “Technology such as BIM should be leveraged more to help the Tasmanian construction industry make better use of methods and materials that are currently under-utilised. Then we are actively helping to address the challenges that have led to the housing crisis and other construction issues”.
Housing solutions
Alternative materials and leveraging technology will lead to time and budget improvements, but where is it best to direct them to alleviate the housing crisis? Dr Mani suggests that multi-units are a strong opportunity for Tasmania to make tracks in overcoming the housing crisis and meet its quota of the overall target for housing builds over the next five years.
If developers, architects, designers, builders and engineers can collaborate and consider these alternative materials and methods as a hybrid approach, we can get out of a housing crisis and build a city ready for growth.
Would you like to know more about the alternative materials Dr Mani sees as options for construction in Hobart and Tasmania for your build? Contact our team to discuss what’s possible.
