New Defence homes will benefit Brisbane community

32 new Defence homes are being built at Everton Park in Brisbane’s north-west with Defence personnel posted at the nearby Enoggera Barracks set to benefit from the new housing. The construction of these new homes has also aided the local community.

Tim McCann, Brisbane construction manager at St Hilliers, certainly felt the impact of the economic downturn, like a lot of construction businesses throughout the area, and has noticed the business change because of it.

“Our client base has substantially changed over the past two years and is particularly reflected in the increase of Government projects we are now constructing,” Mr McCann said. “Most of which are part of the stimulus initiatives introduced by the Federal Government.”

Luckily (though) the market seems to have bounced back a little and for DHA the extra 125 homes that they have been able to build in Brisbane using funding from the stimulus package has really helped both our Australian Defence Force personnel and the local construction industries.

“These initiatives under the Nation Building-Economic Stimulus Plan were very much appreciated by the construction industry,” Mr McCann said.

The site at Everton Park where the 32 new Defence homes are nearing completion has also alleviated some of the economic worries of the local community.

St Hilliers, who have a longstanding relationship with Defence Housing Australia (DHA), through nearly 20 years of working together, have hired local sub-contractors and materials where possible to support the local construction industry and this project alone will inject $11.71 million into the local economy.

“At its peak the Everton Park project will directly employ approximately 100 people, many of whom are members of the local community,” Mr McCann said. “I am sure they will utilise many local businesses within the area too.”

The Defence housing project at Everton Park has also considered energy efficiency and economical use of the land.

“The townhouses are of contemporary architectural design with high set split levels to make best use of the visual aspects of the steep gradient on the site,” Mr McCann said.
“All dwellings have been designed to a minimum five star Energy Efficiency Rating (EER) and rooftop water will also be collected for re-use on the gardens.”

Overall an additional 103 homes are being built in Brisbane in conjunction with business as usual for DHA which will inject about $32.48 million into the local area.

The homes at Everton Park are expected to be completed in September this year.

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