Trades jobs in South West Sydney are at risk with a massive drop in home building activity projected to hit the housing industry due to the impact of Covid-19.
Anne Stanley, the Federal Member for Werriwa, says housing construction has been spared from lockdown measures but current projects are winding up, and new work is drying up.
“Right now, there is a risk that as Australia goes back to work, tradespeople will run out of work,” she said.
“Areas such as Edmondson Park, Bardia and Middleton Grange are all high growth areas and heavily reliant on tradies keeping up with demand.
“If they lose their jobs, growth will stall and will risk our local economy,” she said.
According to a survey by the Master Builders Association, 73 per cent of residential construction businesses reported a substantial fall in forward work, with 40 per cent being lost on average.
The projected number of annual new builds has already dropped significantly from over 160,000 in January to 100,000.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that for every $1 invested in new housing construction, $3 of activity is created for the broader economy. In times of economic shock, housing construction has played a vital role in national economic recovery.
“This is about people and their ability to pay their bills and look after their families,’’ says Ms Stanley.
“The Government and National Cabinet urgently needs to develop a plan with the housing industry to make sure tradies in Werriwa don’t lose their job,” Ms Stanley said.
“The economy won’t snap back if this industry snaps.’’
When does the subdivision stop homes have reached the base of the Blue Mountains and way down to Wilton will it stop at the Southern Highlands and when if ever will infrastructure catch up with the existing number of residents, hospitals and schools are at capacity,the heat from urban development and Climate Change is going to make our region unsustainable for people, demountable classrooms could not cope with the 45 degree heat this summer let alone the future where we can expect 50 degree heat as almost the norm, at this type of heat bushland will be subject to die back and koalas will be falling out of trees, bushfires will become more extensive and more lifes will be lost.