Current at: 17 July 2006
The Housing Industry Association’s Coffs Harbour Forum is the ideal opportunity for the local building industry to send a united message to government on the issues affecting residential construction, HIA’s Regional Manager – Coffs Harbour, Graeme Partland, said today.
HIA, Australia’s peak residential building industry group, has brought together a wide range of speakers for the annual event, headed by the National Party State Member for Clarence, Steve Cansdell, who will open proceedings on Saturday at 9.15am.
He will be followed by HIA’s NSW President, Peter Morgan, who will speak on the problems of excessive red tape regulation in the building industry. Graeme Manning, from the NSW Department of State and Regional Development will provide an update on progress made by the NSW Regulation Review Taskforce.
Steve Murray, from the NSW Government’s Department of Planning, will outline the far North Coast planning strategy. HIA’s Regional Manager – Coffs Harbour, Graeme Partland, said the association is anxious about the impact of regional planning systems on both housing opportunity and affordability.
“We look forward to an update on this important regional strategy,” he said.
HIA’s Chief Economist, Harley Dale, will provide an update on the region’s economic performance with a particular focus on the housing industry. Mr Partland said the overall picture was bright with housing once again providing a stimulus to growth.
Paul Olive and Ritchie Green from WorkCover, will discuss the benefits of education in occupational health and safety matters rather than just focussing on policing regulations.
The conference will be followed by a dinner at which the 2006 HIA Regional Housing Awards will be announced. “These awards celebrate the very best in construction, design and innovation in the housing industry,” Mr Partland said. Both events will be held at the Novotel Pacific Bay Resort.