Led by HIA Chief Executive – Industry & Policy, Simon Croft, the event brought together a broad cross-section of local building professionals and was attended by Federal Shadow Finance Minister Senator Jane Hume and candidate for Dunkley, Nathan Conroy and Liberal Senate candidate Chrestyna Kmetj.

“The issues facing builders and developers in Dunkley are not only pressing, but complex,” Mr Croft said. 

“From land availability and infrastructure bottlenecks, to mounting planning delays and workforce shortages - the feedback we heard today was clear: builders are doing it tough, and federal leadership is needed now more than ever.

“HIA was joined by a diverse group of industry voices participated in the roundtable, including home builders, tradies, land developers, manufacturers, planners and engineers. these conversations provided valuable insight into the local constraints holding back housing delivery.

“In Dunkley, we’re seeing a perfect storm, limited affordable housing supply, strong population growth, and regulatory barriers that are slowing down new builds.

“Participants also raised growing frustration with the slow rollout of critical infrastructure such as roads, water and sewerage and in turn new land releases to match a growing population across Frankston and the surrounding suburbs of Langwarrin, Seaford, Carrum, Carrum Downs, Paterson Lakes, Bonbeach, Sandhurst, Mount Eliza and Chelsea. 

“Many builders reported delays and added costs due to aging utilities and insufficient coordination between levels of government.

“Builders want to be part of the solution to the housing problem, but they’re being held back by red tape and rising costs at every turn.”

The key reforms raised at the roundtable included:

• Boosting investment in local infrastructure to unlock build-ready land;
• Easing the growing burden of regulations and planning delays on small and medium builders;
• Introducing meaningful tax relief on new housing projects to improve affordability;
• Supporting long-term workforce development to fill trade shortages; and
• Improving access to finance for first home buyers and low- to middle-income households.

"These ideas sit at the heart of HIA’s federal election platform, Let’s Build,” Mr Croft added.

“Our campaign calls for real action to make it easier — not harder — to get homes built. That means cutting unnecessary regulation, backing skilled trades, and making smart investments in infrastructure that actually support new housing.

“Everyone in the room agreed that business-as-usual approaches won’t solve Dunkley and Victoria’s housing pressures. We need bold, coordinated action from the next federal government, or this key growth region will fall even further behind,” concluded Mr Croft.

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