Nation Building feeds Queensland’s construction industry

Just six months ago the future of construction in South-East Queensland looked uncertain, but today Prospero Homes is thriving.

Darryl Meehan, Prospero Homes General Manager, believes that some of the company’s success is due to work generated by the construction of Defence houses, funded by the Nation Building-Economic Stimulus Plan.

“Right now Defence housing takes up 80 per cent of our work, so without the increase in workload we would really be struggling,” Darryl said.

“The stimulus package and nation building has enabled us to maintain our workforce. We currently have about 80 subcontractors, and their families, that rely on us very heavily.”

“The reality is that six months ago we had four supervisors that we were seriously considering reducing to two. Now we have been able to maintain those supervisors and are advertising for another one.”

Darryl feels the most important thing is what the funding, and extra work, has done for the tradesmen and their families.

“We are finding tradesmen that used to have two or three men working for them, now have five or six and are looking to start up a second gang,” he said.

“The fact is that six to eight months ago they didn’t know what was going to happen. Now I can see the spring in their step. They are really happy to be working for Prospero Homes and DHA [Defence Housing Australia].”

“I think there are a lot of people out there that go home and look at the bread and butter on the table and thank god they have work.”

Prospero Homes has been building Defence houses for the past three years. They currently have contracts to build 57 Defence houses in South-East Queensland funded by the Economic Stimulus Plan.

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