Prefabricated homes a ray of hope

Written by Nicole Windley, Category Manager - Local Buy

Addressing a housing shortage is a complex and multifaceted challenge that requires coordinated efforts from all levels of government, private sectors, and communities.

In October 2023, The National Housing Conference was held in Brisbane where experts say that it could take decades to solve the current housing crisis. Although they say that there is no miracle quick fix on offer, they did recommend a number of possible solutions which included prefabricated homes.

As a temporary solution for managing the aftermath of natural disasters and as a rapid method for establishing permanent family residences, modular and prefabricated housing has been supported as contributing to the resolution of Australia's housing crisis.

Prefabricated construction accounts for approximately 3% of Australia’s building industry. Its once-negative reputation as a low-quality and inexpensive housing option is now being questioned, thanks to the emergence of sustainable, design-oriented, compact, yet spacious models.

Modular and prefabricated homes are constructed away from the actual site and can be tailored to specific designs before being transported and assembled on location. This option provides a swift and cost-effective alternative to conventional building methods in a fraction of the time.

With the rising population comes an increased demand for housing, which has led to a housing crisis. Combine this with high building costs, scarcity of supplies and lack of qualified labour, the building supply process has been reduced to dangerously low levels.

Barcoo Shire Council faced a similar and challenging situation when seeking housing options for their staff in the Jundah area, located just over 200 kilometres south of Longreach in central west Queensland. Despite receiving funding from the State Government, their efforts to engage builders resulted in disappointment. They approached more than 16 potential suppliers to construct these homes but received only one response, which greatly exceeded their budget.

Upon realising the unsuitability of the initial approach, the Council explored alternative accommodation solutions, opting for a transportable housing method where the structure could be prefabricated offsite and then transported to the location; their quest led them to Local Buy.

While there were no obvious arrangements for these suppliers, Local Buy suggested the 'Public Areas Facilities, Parks, and Amenities' arrangement which is a broad enough option to meet the Council's requirements, though there was an insufficient number of suppliers on the list. Subsequently, Local Buy sought out a selection of prefabricated/modular home suppliers who then tendered to be part of this arrangement. This lead to five new suppliers being added to this ongoing list of Local Buy's Pre-Qualified Suppliers.

Barcoo Shire Council engaged in a tender process with these suppliers which resulted with enlisting the services of Oly Homes, a reputable modular housing builder based on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland.

Oly Homes gave Barcoo Shire Council the flexibility to design  the homes, the fitout and supply of three full turnkey 2-bedroom homes within a couple of months.  All three homes are constructed to a standard that not only withstands the challenging conditions of rural and remote Queensland but also embodies  contemporary and chic design.

Oly Homes Managing Director and Owner, Dale Funston, said “The beauty of our modular systems is that they arrive quickly and are one hundred percent ready to live in, circumventing the problems many regional and remote communities face in sourcing tradespeople and cost-effective building materials.”

On October 8, 2023, the three 2-bedroom homes were delivered to the Jundah site, and the essential services connections (power, water, and wastewater) have already begun. The entire project, including carports, fencing, driveways, and landscaping, is set to be finished by the end of November 2023, marking a remarkable accomplishment that places them more than three months ahead of the scheduled timeline, enabling staff to relocate into these houses before Christmas.

“Barcoo Shire Council was fortunate to have engaged Oly Homes through Local Buy.  The company has been amazing to deal with, understanding and responding to all our requirements.  With the build and installation of our quality homes well ahead of schedule, we’ll have these homes ready for occupancy several months earlier than expected.” - Barcoo Council CEO, Mike Lollback

Could prefabricated homes represent the future for  regional and remote communities? These homes, erected within weeks using factory-made structures located hundreds of kilometres away, not only offer a cost-effective alternative but also have a minimal environmental footprint, providing a higher-quality, better-performing, and more sustainable home in a fraction of the time compared to traditional construction methods.

This instance of Local Buy aiding Barcoo Shire Council is merely one among numerous illustrations showcasing how Local Buy can assist you in your procurement. When you find yourself in need of solutions, do not hesitate to contact one of our Category Managers; they can offer creative perspectives to help you explore unconventional options.

While the Queensland housing shortage presents a daunting challenge, sometimes these types of innovative solutions can offer a glimmer of hope.