“The single greatest honour that can be conferred on a member of HIA, is election to the status of life member,” said Greg Weller, HIA Executive Director ACT & Southern NSW.

“The conditions of eligibility are onerous, including that the recipient must have given outstanding service for a continuous period of not less than 15 years.

“Tony was instrumental in the formation of the HIA Wagga Branch, and in 2004, he became the inaugural Chair of the local Committee, a position he would hold until 2013. In 2019, Tony returned to the role of Branch Chair, for a further four years until 2023.

“Tony has been a fearless voice on behalf of the residential construction industry in Wagga, driving much of the advocacy at a local and state government level.

“The Housing Industry Association congratulates Tony Balding for being only the tenth member in the ACT and Southern NSW region to be elected to the status of life member,” concluded Mr Weller.

Following is the citation that was delivered with the presentation.

The single greatest honour that can be conferred on a member of HIA is election to the status of life member.

Life membership is a means by which HIA and its members recognise the exceptional contribution made by an individual to the residential building industry and the association.

The conditions of eligibility are onerous.  The recipient must have given outstanding service for a continuous period of not less than 15 years.

Previous life member awards in the ACT and Southern NSW region are:

• John Ainscough
• Phillip Moore
• Gary Willemsen
• Bill Kirkby-Jones AM
• Terry Chamberlain
• Alison Just
• Tony Marburg
• David Fogg
• Glen Dowse

The latest member of this exclusive group is Anthony Balding.

Tony Balding is the owner and director of the Building Supply Company, who have been a member of HIA since 2003. 

Not long after joining, Tony was instrumental in the formation of a new branch in this city. In 2004, he became the inaugural Chair of the HIA Wagga Wagga Branch Committee (WWBC), a position he would hold until 2013.  

In 2019 Tony returned to the role of Branch Chair, for a further four years until 2023. After serving a combined total of 13 years as Chair, he remains on the Committee in the role of Secretary. 

He has played an integral role in leading the events program, assisting in sourcing partners and speakers, and overseeing branch funds. 

Tony has been a fearless voice on behalf of the industry in Wagga, pushing much of the advocacy at a local and state government level. He has drafted submissions for important consultations, such as the Wagga Local Environment Plan, Spatial Plan and Development Control Plan, as well more recently for the local Health and Medical Precinct Master Plan and the Wagga Special Activation Precinct. 

Over the past 2 years, Tony has invested time supporting the work of the NSW regional staff and former HIA Board member Graham Walker, in advocacy efforts around the controversial NSW biodiversity offset laws. He has kept this on the agenda for his local state member and increased awareness in the industry in the region. 

In response to concerns by builders about the pipeline of land in 2013, and a gap in the information available to current and potential developers in the city, the Committee embarked on a project to survey and analyse all blocks available for residential building in Wagga. Tony took on this project with enthusiasm and has been a driving force behind the longevity of the resulting Wagga Land Monitor Report over the past decade. Tony was also central in the more recent commissioning of the report into the economic impact of underbuilding in Wagga.  

Tony Balding has been the mainstay of the WWBC since its inception 20 years ago and has seen it become a focal point for the association and residential building industry in the region. Congratulations Tony Balding.

Contact details: 
Tony Balding,  Life Membership recipient  0409 329 282
Martin Keogh,  Wagga Wagga Branch Chair  0419 212 586

For more information please contact: