Opportunities galore in CQ

MANY southern builders are shifting to Rockhampton where the outlook for work is far brighter than in Queensland’s sluggish south-east corner.

While Rockhampton’s building activity is not as strong as it was a few years ago, the market has picked up to its most active level for the past 18 months, an industry expert said this week.

And the outlook is even better on the back of Central Queensland’s huge resource sector.

Earlier this week the award-winning Gold Coast commercial builders Glenzeil opened a new office in Rockhampton.

“We are looking forward to expanding our business into Central Queensland,” a company spokesperson said.

It seems building is going on at just about every corner in Rockhampton.

Rockhampton Regional Council figures show 186 building applications were lodged with the council in July and 186 in June.

Master Builders Central Queensland regional manager Dennis Bryant said activity levels were picking up in Central Queensland, while other parts of the state were quiet.

“We are getting the movement because things are quiet on the Gold and Sunshine coasts so there’s been some migration,” Mr Bryant said.

“They can see the long-term value of the region with both Gladstone’s gas projects and developments in the mining industry.”

He said activity was about 60% of capacity, the busiest it had been for 18 months.

It has been a tough two to three years for the industry.

“We have lost people simply because there wasn’t enough work,” Mr Bryant said.

“That’s not just here, but everywhere.”

He said while the outlook was “tremendous” more needed to be done to encourage people to invest in rental properties.

“I think the problem with investment is people are unsure about the whole global financial situation at the minute,” Mr Bryant said.

“But now is a great time to build.”

Meanwhile some 160 people from the country’s major mining, resources and construction companies have spent the past two days at Yeppoon attending the 11th annual McCullough Robertson construction conference.

Construction industry specialist and Partner at McCullough Robertson, Brad McCosker said continued growth in the resources sector was boosting construction and infrastructure development in regional Queensland.

“Queensland’s construction industry continues to grow, despite the challenges posed by this year’s natural disasters and uncertainty in economic and regulatory areas,” Mr McCosker said.

Bright future

• Some of the projects in the pipeline that have been before Rockhampton Regional Council include:
• A major shopping outlet at Parkhurst;
• Another major shopping centre at Allenstown;
• A garden centre, restaurant, shop and showroom at Norman Gardens;
• Numerous applications to reconfigure lots for multiple dwellings;

Source: Rockhampton Regional Council