Pilbara’s Housing Crisis: Can Modular Homes Offer a Solution?
Australia’s regional housing shortages are worsening, driven by rising costs and a critical lack of skilled tradespeople. The northwest of Western Australia is already feeling the pinch, with local builders struggling to find available workers and a housing deficit hindering workforce attraction. Karratha, a city 1,530 kilometers north of Perth, is pinning its hopes on modular construction as a potential remedy.
The Tradesperson Bottleneck
The Housing Industry of Australia (HIA) warns that the current shortages are not isolated incidents. Finding qualified trades is becoming increasingly difficult across regional Australia. Tim Fleischer, executive director of local building company TIMIK, explains the challenges: “Our roof framing and wall framing guys are coming from Broome, so a thousand kilometres away, and our roof sheeting teams coming from Perth, so those guys fly up and back.”
This reliance on distant workforces isn’t just about distance; it’s about accommodation. Fleischer highlights the difficulty of attracting workers without guaranteed housing. “You can find carpenters sometimes and they’ll come through and go, ‘Have you got accommodation? No? OK, I’ll look somewhere else,’” he said. Delays in one area of construction can quickly snowball, pushing project completion dates further out.
Boom and Bust Cycles in the Pilbara
Karratha is currently experiencing the “boom” phase of its cyclical economy, typical of mining regions. This surge in demand exacerbates existing housing pressures. Michael McGowan, executive director of HIA Western Australia, notes the risk for builders: “It’s incredibly risky for them to look to meet the demand of regional WA when they’re not sure the skills are going to be there to support the construction.” McGowan suggests focusing on developing local apprenticeships as a more sustainable solution.
Modular Housing: A Faster Route to Completion?
In response to these challenges, companies like Ian Abbott and Carissa Ives’ firm are turning to modular construction. They are currently developing 12 build-to-rent properties in Karratha using modules prefabricated in Perth. Modular homes are constructed in a factory environment, complete with internal fittings, and then transported and assembled on-site. This approach aims to reduce costs and construction time.
Carissa Ives explains the rationale: “We looked at all of our options and time frames… For us, it was more of a time and cost-effective way to have them build modular in WA and then brought to Karratha.” The speed of modular construction is particularly appealing given land purchase time constraints imposed by Development WA.
Modular housing may the answer to shortages in Karratha. (ABC News: Kimberley Putland)
Each modular house boasts a four-week turnaround, encompassing manufacturing, assembly, and fit-out. The company anticipates completing all 12 homes within eight months. The City of Karratha is also embracing this approach with its Project Dorothy, which will see over 100 new rental properties installed via modular construction in the suburb of Bulgarra.
What Does This Mean for the Future?
The Pilbara’s experience highlights a growing trend: the need for innovative housing solutions in regional Australia. Modular construction offers a potential pathway to address both speed and cost concerns, but it’s not a silver bullet. Developing a skilled local workforce remains crucial for long-term sustainability.
The success of modular housing in Karratha will likely be closely watched by other regional communities grappling with similar challenges. It represents a shift towards more efficient and adaptable building practices, potentially reshaping the future of housing in remote Australia.
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