Hundreds of Tasmanians are realising the dream of building their first home with the support of the Hodgman Liberal Government’s extension of the First Home Builders Boost, creating a $60 million building boom.
“The latest data from Treasury shows that in the three months to June this year 336 Tasmanians have received the $20,000 First Home Builders Boost grant to enable them to build their dream home,” Premier Will Hodgman said.
“Importantly, this has created $60 million worth of building activity in this quarter alone. This means millions of dollars of work for Tasmanian builders, engineers, bricklayers and retailers.
“This is a significant boom for the sector, which employs thousands of Tasmanians and supports thousands more indirectly, and businesses including Wilson Homes.
“Since Wilson Homes opened its new premises on Murray Street Hobart in November last year it has employed an additional five full-time staff, and over the past year it has constructed 313 houses, that’s a 21 per cent increase on the previous year.
“Wilson Homes is a great example of a Tasmanian business that is thriving as confidence returns to our state.
“The latest ABS figures show we’ve had the strongest growth in building approvals in the country, with a massive 36 per cent increase in the 12-months to May.
“We want to see this trend continue, and that’s why we are supporting the sector through the First Home Builder Boost, fixing the planning system and introducing a headworks holiday that has slashed the cost of investing.
“In addition, we are building on the momentum in the industry with our $1.8 billion infrastructure investment program announced in the State Budget.”
Liberal Member for Denison and the host of today’s regional cabinet with community members, the Hon Elise Archer MP, said it was pleasing to see an increasing sense of optimism in the southern electorate over the past 16 months and that local businesses have been buoyed by the flow-on effects.
“We have no shortage of hard-working, innovative Tasmanians, but they need a prosperous economic environment in order to achieve their goals and reach their full potential,” she said.
“Having just increased its workforce, Wilson Homes is a prime example of how working alongside a government that is willing to listen, develop and implement tailored and sensible policies, can boost business confidence and help to deliver positive outcomes to our local community.”