Federal government flags new kit homes investment
Federal Housing Minister Clare O’Neil has announced a $39.3 million investment into expanding the open-source flat-pack style “kit of parts” housing system developed by Building 4.0 Cooperative Research Centre and Homes NSW, known as System 600.
O’Neil said rather than designing everything from scratch every time, parts of the process of building a home can be standardised – especially when most homes use the same basic components.
The funding will go towards a system that will standardise building components that will be manufactured offsite and assembled onsite – meaning different manufacturers should now produce compatible parts using a common standard rather than developing their own proprietary systems.
Community advocacy group AMPLIFY, which previously pushed the federal government to follow in NSW’s footsteps, said its modelling shows modular could deliver up to 20,000 extra homes a year.
The announcement comes with the National Housing and Homelessness Plan and the Productivity Commission housing barriers review.
Tackling the “forgotten” emissions
A new report by Planet Ark and KPMG Australia found that the transition to renewables is only addressing 55 per cent of global emission reductions – with the 45 per cent linked to materials, products, waste and the way food is managed and used often “forgotten”.
The two sectors that need to take up circular economy practices to make the most difference are the built environment and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG). The report, which rounds up research, surveys and roundtables, offers case studies of sectors already applying the “R strategies”: reduce, redesign, reuse, refurbish, repurpose and recycle, in their practices.
The biggest barriers, however, are fragmented regulation, lack of reliable emissions data, upfront costs and limited awareness of circular opportunities beyond recycling.
What we’re reading
City of Sydney raises developer tax to fund more affordable housing
The City of Sydney is said to be raising its property developer levy to collect an extra $320 million over the next 10 years, which will go towards affordable housing for people on lower incomes. If a developer is building in expensive suburbs and failing to deliver actual apartments, they will be charged more, according to The Guardian.
At least $20 million is already collected annually and diverted to community housing providers. The program has so far funded 1525 affordable homes.
Greens councillor Sylvie Ellsmore said the council has the “most ambitious affordable housing program in the country” and that it already generates “millions in wealth for private landholders” when it rezones land.