Northern Territory builders benefit from Defence Housing Initiative

Builders and apprentices alike are speaking highly of the construction boom that the Australian Government’s Nation Building-Economic Stimulus Plan (NB-ESP) has brought to the Northern Territory.

Defence Housing Australia (DHA) has increased its housing portfolio in the Northern Territory with 185 homes being built in Darwin as part of the Stimulus Plan.

Brothers, Tony and Michael Papadakis, who run the family business, PTM Homes in Darwin, are just one of the builders that have reaped the benefits of the Economic Stimulus Plan.

“Business has really taken off for us. The last big [economic] push we had was in 2000, so the workload has been really full on, particularly with Defence Housing, and I think that has been great”, Mr Papadakis said.

As part of DHA’s Apprenticeship Support Scheme, which was brought in to complement the increase in construction from the stimulus package, Daniel Scullion a young cabinet maker has benefited from the increased work in Darwin.

“It’s booming at the moment”, Daniel remarked.

“I first started work here in Darwin but then moved to Brisbane when there was a lack of work. Now I’ve come back to Darwin as it is really picking up here.”

“There are a lot of new developments going up and I think I have a real future in construction in Darwin …well everyone needs a kitchen, don’t they?” Daniel said.

Fellow DHA apprentice, Michael Trikilis, agrees with Daniel and although born and bred in Darwin, doesn’t think he’ll be moving anywhere soon.

“I’m not planning on going anywhere else, and I think maybe in the future, I’d like to start my own business here. I think there is definitely a future for me in Darwin”, Michael said.

Although the construction industry in Darwin is certainly not slowing down anytime soon, Mr Papadakis does remark on the slow release of land in the region forcing a lot of constructions to follow the trends of other major cities like Sydney and Melbourne.

“We [in the NT] are just not developing land quickly enough and the blocks are getting smaller and smaller”, Mr Papadakis said.

“Certainly the days of buying a piece of land for house and land packages are made more difficult now.”

“It just means that we need to look outside the square more. It’s a challenge but we love to find ways to make the most of space and to provide affordable housing for our clients”.

“Being a part of the stimulus program now means that we can be a part of building modern family homes for Defence families which is really exciting, ” he said.

As part of the Nation Building-Economic Stimulus Plan, DHA received $245.58 million to build an additional 802 residential homes throughout Australia. The 185 homes will inject $74.4 million into the Northern Territory.

The final house constructed under the Defence House Initiative is scheduled for completion by March 2011.

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