❓ Hon Dr Brian Walker questions the Minister for Housing on adopting innovative social housing construction methods like 3D printing and hemp, referencing NSW initiatives. The Minister responds by highlighting existing processes for considering alternative building methods and the increasing use of non-traditional materials.
AnsweredQoN 1513Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
SOCIAL HOUSING — HEMP CONSTRUCTION
1513. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the minister representing the
Minister for Housing:
I refer the minister to the
announcement by the Minns Labor government in New South Wales that it has
entered into a groundbreaking agreement to cut the construction time of social
housing projects in half by working with a 3D printing company in conjunction
with local Aboriginal corporations.
(1) Are any such
innovative solutions to the housing crisis being considered by the Cook Labor
government?
(2) Does 3D
printing feature anywhere in the minister's plans going forward, given
that it is both a quicker and more cost-effective option in many cases?
(3) Is the
minister aware that it is possible to produce 3D-printed homes using hemp as
well as traditional concrete, allowing another level of affordability in terms
of the long-term liveability of the home?
(4) Will he
liaise with his colleague Minister Jackson in New South Wales to learn the
lessons from those already engaged with innovative design, rather than purely
an old-fashioned bricks-and-mortar approach here in WA?
1513. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the minister representing the
Minister for Housing:
I refer the minister to the
announcement by the Minns Labor government in New South Wales that it has
entered into a groundbreaking agreement to cut the construction time of social
housing projects in half by working with a 3D printing company in conjunction
with local Aboriginal corporations.
(1) Are any such
innovative solutions to the housing crisis being considered by the Cook Labor
government?
(2) Does 3D
printing feature anywhere in the minister's plans going forward, given
that it is both a quicker and more cost-effective option in many cases?
(3) Is the
minister aware that it is possible to produce 3D-printed homes using hemp as
well as traditional concrete, allowing another level of affordability in terms
of the long-term liveability of the home?
(4) Will he
liaise with his colleague Minister Jackson in New South Wales to learn the
lessons from those already engaged with innovative design, rather than purely
an old-fashioned bricks-and-mortar approach here in WA?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following response has been provided by the
Minister for Housing.
(1)–(4) The
Department of Communities already has an open and ongoing call for submissions
process by which builders and developers with alternative building methods can
submit proposals or projects at any time to be considered for future housing
delivery. To further support the delivery of housing projects, the state government has established a statewide Housing
Construction and Refurbishment Builders Panel, consisting of 145 small, medium and large companies from
across Western Australia, to support new construction and refurbishments. Of
the typical residential dwellings contracted by Communities in 2023–24,
approximately 40 per cent have been constructed from materials other
than traditional masonry. This compares with approximately 20 per cent in 2021–22.
some notice of the question. The following response has been provided by the
Minister for Housing.
(1)–(4) The
Department of Communities already has an open and ongoing call for submissions
process by which builders and developers with alternative building methods can
submit proposals or projects at any time to be considered for future housing
delivery. To further support the delivery of housing projects, the state government has established a statewide Housing
Construction and Refurbishment Builders Panel, consisting of 145 small, medium and large companies from
across Western Australia, to support new construction and refurbishments. Of
the typical residential dwellings contracted by Communities in 2023–24,
approximately 40 per cent have been constructed from materials other
than traditional masonry. This compares with approximately 20 per cent in 2021–22.
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