The Northern Territory news Wed 28 Apr 2021
NT news
The Northern Territory news; NewspaperNT
2021-04-28
English
Community newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin.; Australian newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin.
News Corp Australia
Darwin
application/pdf
Copyright. Made available by the publisher under licence.
News Corp Australia
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/836559
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/836854
WEDNESDAY APRIL 28 2021 BUSINESS 27 V1 - NTNE01Z01MA machinery to design, print, post-process and supply as many metal parts as possible. The users score is determined based on how many high-quality metal parts they can deliver within a time limit. Craftspeople often require direct access to a technology to refine or develop their manufacturing capability, or if the technology is new, to learn how it works. Recent workplace COVID-19 safety restrictions, and postponed events that feature new tech has limited an individuals opportunity to augment their skillset. SPEE3DCraft was conceptualised to overcome these limitations, as an easily obtainable alternative for individuals to experience and learn about real-life metal 3D printing. To download SPEE3DCraft free visit spee3dcraft.com Darwin company pioneers worlds first end-to-end simulator A TERRITORY company has pioneered the worlds first end-to-end metal manufacturing simulator SPEE3DCraft. Darwin-based SPEE3D, an innovative supplier of metal-based additive manufacturing technology says its novel free-to-download additive manufacturing (AM) simulator enables people to explore genuine metal 3D printing technologies and processes in a way that is both fun and educational, directly from their PC. SPEE3D chief technical officer Steve Camilleri said SPEE3DCraft shows people how the companys metal 3D printing process works from start to finish in a way unlike anything seen before. From aspiring engineers to manufacturing craftspeople, we are excited to see how it inspires the practice of those who use it, Mr Camilleri said. SPEE3DCraft is a downloadable simulator that grants craftspeople and 3D printing enthusiasts the opportunity to discover real-life metal 3D printing workflows using the same technology and equipment developed by SPEE3D. Users play as a craftsperson. They are tasked to interact with additive manufacturing technology and GARY SHIPWAY Why turning on land supply is never quick Originally announced in June 2020 by the federal government as an industry stimulus measure, HomeBuilder has proved to be a wildly successful initiative across Australia for new-builds and significant renovations. The chief executive officer of the Urban Development Institute of Australia NT CATRIONA TATAM explains why the federal governments decision to extend its HomeBuilder scheme construction commencement requirements from six to 18 months is an important one for the Territory. IN THE Northern Territory, a typical year results in between 400-450 new home lot sales (greenfield lots), but 2019 was one of the lowest sales years on record, with fewer than 300 lot sales. This slow sales year and forward projections of more of the same, meant that developers slowed the rollout of new land releases going into 2020. This was then compounded by COVID-19, which effectively brought the industry to a halt in those initial uncertain times with a watch and wait approach. The Northern Territorys commendable handling of the pandemic and the strong border control measures meant that our way of life returned to normal faster than other areas. The announcement of the federal HomeBuilder scheme in June 2020, coupled with the (then) existing Northern Territory governments BuildBonus initiative meant a sudden rush of demand for land planned but not readily available. The process of turning on land supply is not a quick one. For those unfamiliar with the process, the release of land generally entails a threemonth planning and approvals period, followed by a three-month detailed design period, and then a three-tosix-month subdivision construction period. Lastly, the (often lengthy) land titling process occurs, before a lot can be transferred to the new owner and construction can even commence. The Territory is in an unfortunate position where the development industry is unable to undertake year-round civil construction works due to the seasonal monsoon wet season. From the June 2020 HomeBuilder announcement, the land supply time frame put the lot construction period right in the middle of the 20-21 wet season. And as it just so happened, it was one of the wettest seasons in 10 years, with almost 2 metres of rain falling on some land release sites. As a direct result of the volume of rainfall received to date, construction and civil works to deliver lots under the HomeBuilder scheme have been unable to progress between October 2020 and March 2021. Understandably, this hampered developers abilities to not only construct the lots, but also pushed back time frames on land titling, building permits and of course construction commencement a key criteria of the HomeBuilder grant eligibility. Now that the construction commencement requirements have been extended to 18 months, this gives us an opportunity to work our way through the construction pipeline in the dry season, and address the backlog of titles, approvals, and dwelling commencements. A more evenly spread construction time frame means slightly less pressure on developers, builders, trades, and labourers. Notwithstanding, developers are working hard to release advance stages stages waiting to be delivered to market once the ground is dry and this current bottleneck is worked through. The multiplier effects of the HomeBuilder scheme commencement extension are significant. More existing applicants receiving the grant. More money in the economy. More confidence in the industry. So will the future land releases sell even though the HomeBuilder and Build Bonus schemes are finished? My thoughts are yes, the desire for land sales will continue. Darwin has a unique microeconomy with a small population. Net increases or decreases in interstate migration can easily cause market flux. In this case, we have seen a small net increase in population, creating a strong demand in the development and housing sector. There have already been 150 lots sold in Darwin in the first three months of this year, with no signs of demand easing. Low interest rates are tipped to stay the same for the next few years. Greater personal savings due to lack of overseas and even interstate travel has resulted in a strong owner-occupier and firsthome buyer market with large cash deposits. Up to 7000 hospitality and tourism workers will be arriving for the dry season. Large personnel-intensive developments such as the Sun Cable project, the Santos expansion, and large defence force contracts will see a continuation of the strong industry position we are in. UDIA NT and UDIA National will continue to liaise with local and federal ministers to ensure there is clarity on what is happening on the ground, and make sure developers can respond to stimulus-driven demand moving forward. In the meantime, we are thankful for this extension and the ability to capitalise on the grants available to existing applicants to make their dream home a reality. Catriona Tatam is the chief executive of the Urban Development Institute of Australia NT A more evenly spread construction time frame means less pressure on developers, builders, trades, and labourers.