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In this newsletter, you'll find:
Post 1
Building Homes, Not Excuses: A Real Plan for Affordable Housing
and
Post 2:
The C13B Waterproofing Installation Checklist.
Up Next:
We'll get back working on the fixing stage checklist which will take a couple of weeks to complete - its a beef cake.
📬️ Post 1: Building Homes, Not Excuses: A Real Plan for Affordable Housing
In our latest blog post, we look into the heart of Australia's housing crisis and explore how innovation could be the key to turning things around.
We examine successful models from Vienna and Singapore, where housing is treated as a public good rather than a commodity. These cities have implemented long-term strategies that prioritise affordability and community well-being.
We also discuss the potential of creating a "Housing Innovation Hub" right here in Australia—a space where startups, builders, and policymakers can collaborate to develop faster, smarter, and more affordable housing solutions.
Of course, innovation alone isn't enough. We also examine the political landscape, highlighting how property ownership among policymakers may be influencing housing policies.
If you're interested in understanding the complexities of Australia's housing crisis and exploring potential solutions, check out the full article on our website.
Anthony Painter
📬️ Post 2: C13B: Waterproofing Done Right: How to Avoid the #1 Building Defect
Let's talk about something that might not be glamorous but is absolutely crucial in home construction: waterproofing. It's the silent guardian that keeps your home safe from the perils of water damage.
In our latest blog post, we look into why waterproofing failures are the most common—and costly—defects in Australian homes. The good news? They're almost always preventable.
We've finally published the C13B Waterproofing Inspection Checklist, a practical tool designed for homeowners, site supervisors, and anyone involved in the construction process. This checklist helps you identify potential issues before they become expensive problems hidden behind tiles and walls.
You'll learn about common pitfalls like incompatible materials, improper application, and the importance of thorough inspections. The checklist is straightforward and doesn't require you to be a building expert—just someone who wants to ensure their home is built right.
So, if you're building a new home or overseeing a construction project, this article is a must-read. It equips you with the knowledge to prevent leaks, save money, and avoid future headaches.
Anthony Painter
Built something recently using a Builder or Trade Contractor? We'd love to know how it went?
It takes less than 30 seconds to complete—and no, we won’t email you. We're interested in the result of the survey, the general consensus. We promise - No spam, no BS.
Cant see the survey below? Click here to open it
💾 Software of the Week: Filestage.io
Stay organised with plan markups, comments and approval workflows
This is not a sponsored post - just software we're currently using and are sharing it with you
Software of the Week: Filestage
Ever found yourself drowning in a sea of email threads, trying to gather feedback on a project? Or perhaps you've experienced the chaos of multiple file versions and conflicting comments? Enter Filestage—a user-friendly online platform designed to streamline the review and approval process for all your creative content.
What is Filestage?
Filestage is an online proofing software that simplifies how teams review and approve files. Whether it's documents, images, videos, or designs, Filestage brings all your content into one centralised hub, making collaboration seamless and efficient.
Why Use Filestage?
Traditional methods of collecting feedback can be time-consuming and disorganised. Filestage addresses these challenges by providing:
- Centralised Feedback: All comments and annotations are stored in one place, eliminating the need to sift through countless emails.
- Version Control: Easily track changes and ensure everyone is reviewing the most up-to-date version of a file.
- Automated Workflows: Set up review stages and automate reminders, keeping projects on schedule without manual follow-ups.
Who Benefits from Filestage?
Filestage is ideal for:
- Marketing Teams: Streamline the approval of campaigns and promotional materials.
- Creative Agencies: Collaborate with clients and internal teams efficiently.
- Media Professionals: Manage feedback on video and audio projects with ease.
Its intuitive interface ensures that even those without technical expertise can navigate the platform effortlessly.
System Requirements
Being a cloud-based solution, Filestage is accessible through any modern web browser on both Windows and macOS platforms. There's no need for complex installations or specific hardware—just log in and start collaborating.
In summary, Filestage offers a streamlined, efficient, and user-friendly approach to content review and approval. By centralising feedback, maintaining version control, and automating workflows, it helps teams deliver high-quality projects faster and with less hassle.
👉 Explore Filestage
Ethan Lott
ICYMI - the most important construction news from this week
🚀 The latest residential construction news from new sources around Australia for the news week ending 09-05-2025 🔥
This Week’s Theme: "Shut up and get on with it now! (shut up and dance?)"
Election = Done!
Now shut up and dance already—it's time to steer the nation towards improved housing supply!
Housing demand remains high, immigration isn't slowing (or wont be slowed), and industry output continues slightly below normal seasonal levels. Money is about to become cheaper as the "Big 4" banks signal preemptive interest rate cuts, aimed at staving off a looming worldwide economic mess—thanks largely to the USA's chaotic policy decisions, reversals, partial continuations (who really knows?), all of which create uncertainty and make planning nearly impossible. Expect house prices to rise.
There still haven't been any meaningful discussions about genuine supply-side housing solutions; instead, conversations remain stuck on infill strategies and making property purchases marginally easier.
I genuinely hope the recently re-elected party pursues something more substantial than short-term policies that merely treat symptoms without addressing the underlying issues.
We've highlighted our favourite news articles for the week by marking with a 🌯 or five
03-05-2025
National housing accord on track to be at least 300k homes short - [LINK]
Chilling reason Aussie home projects abandoned before completion - [LINK]
Stamp duty axed for Queensland first-home buyers – what your clients need to know - [LINK]
04-05-2025
🌯🌯🌯🌯 Everyday Australians the biggest election losers - [LINK]
05-05-2025
Labor Just Won the Election—and They’re About to Pour Petrol on Our Housing Crisis - [LINK]
Homes to become much easier to buy - [LINK]
Aftermath: The campaign dust will settle on major challenges ignored and unimproved - [LINK]
06-04-2025
Plans revealed for three major suburb rezonings in NSW - [LINK]
Labor landslide will drive house prices up – Economist - [LINK]
🌯🌯🌯 Australia’s land price bubble chokes housing supply - [LINK]
$4.4M investment fast-tracking 100,000+ NSW homes - [LINK]
🌯🌯 No time to demolish - [LINK]
07-05-2025
🌯🌯 The new housing program allowing mates to buy together - [LINK]
The housing debate might be settled, but Boomers can’t let one thing go - [LINK]
Government at risk of missing housing target by 20% - [LINK]
Reusing empty city buildings could help solve the housing and homelessness crisis - [LINK]
Our Comment: We know these buildings have sufficient car park density per floor area to make this approach viable.
Dwelling approvals fall in March - [LINK]
Our Comment: This is most likely due to the timing of Easter and the recent election cycle.
Apartment approvals tumble as federal government now turns to delivery phase - [LINK]
08-05-2025
‘Single biggest issue’: Bank boss says Labor needs to deliver on housing - [LINK]
Our Comment: Not that my opinion counts for much, but this time I agree with the NAB boss.
Key factors behind the housing supply crisis - [LINK]
What’s old is new again: how this international trend could ease Australia’s housing crunch - [LINK]
09-05-2025
🌯🌯🌯 Australia’s housing crisis takes ugly turn - [LINK]
Article excerpt: "Financial markets expect the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to slash interest rates four more times this year, with the cash rate expected to fall to 3.10% by the end of 2025. Lower interest rates will increase borrowing capacity and buyer demand, lifting prices. House prices will also rise significantly when Labor’s 5% deposits for all first-time purchasers come into effect on January 1, 2026."
🌯🌯 Government re-election “historic opportunity” for human rights-based housing policy - [LINK]
Now it’s up to Labor to deliver its housing, wages, and other economic policies - [LINK]
Queensland’s North Harbour PDA unlocks 3,700 homes - [LINK]
Our Comment: Congratulations, Russell and Sam!
Understanding wind ratings and building resilient, cyclone-proof homes - [LINK]
Our Comment: We've discussed wind ratings in detail in this blog post (see the link to post below)
Anthony Painter
We’ve also covered related information in our post on the different types of loads on structures (see the link to post below)
Anthony Painter
The Last Word
A random musical track for the week.
No political commentary or housing commentary—just a song I recently discovered and thought I'd share. I’m usually late to the music party, so you might have heard this one before, many years ago. Either way, enjoy!
And a little Black Sabbath for the Chefs Kiss
The Constructor Forum
Got a question or want to post about some quality construction work, building detail or something that really impressed you about something (product/material) or someone (in residential construction) and why - head over to the forum and let everyone know.
The purpose of this forum is to discuss quality construction details, process, products/materials, people doing great work. Let's create a positive place and give thanks and support to great people and well made products, methods and processes that impress us.
To join the forum, click the button below. Thank you.
😶🌫️ That's all of today
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Feel free to reach out on X or Mastodon or Bluesky - @obiwonky - 👋 Anthony
PS: Quality Management Checklist Access
All our published checklists are available to download via the Checklists Link in the navigation menu or directly at https://www.constructor.net.au/checklists/.
To download, simply enter your email when prompted. This allows us to assign you a free license—nothing more. Once completed, you’ll be able to view and download the checklists.
Each checklist is formatted on A4-sized paper for easy printing. Be aware that the files are larger than typical PDFs, around 25–35 MB each, as they are saved in CMYK (print-ready) format. This ensures the best quality for printing, even if it makes the files a bit “chunkier.”
Enjoy the checklists, we hope they help you identify quality improvements in your new home or next project - or at least, get you thinking.
Anthony Painter
Please note: You’ll need to be a member and to log in to access the content.
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