The Civil Contractors Federation National has welcomed the Albanese Government’s announcement of an additional $2 billion investment in housing enabling infrastructure, describing the measure as a critical recognition that housing supply cannot be delivered without investment in civil construction.

The funding, announced ahead of Tuesday’s Federal Budget, will support enabling infrastructure including roads, water, sewerage and power connections required to unlock new housing developments across Australia.

CCF National CEO Nicholas Proud said the announcement reflected the reality that civil infrastructure is the foundation of every new housing project.

“You cannot spend a dollar on housing until you spend a dollar on civil infrastructure,” Mr Proud said.

“Before a single home is built, civil contractors are delivering the roads, sewerage, drainage, water and power infrastructure that makes new communities possible.”

“For too long the national housing discussion has focused on houses alone, without enough recognition of the enabling infrastructure required to unlock supply.”

Mr Proud said the allocation of funding to local governments and regional Australia was particularly important given the growing infrastructure pressures facing councils and utilities providers.

“Many regional communities have projects ready to go but simply do not have the financial capacity to deliver the enabling infrastructure needed to support growth,” he said.

“This funding recognises that housing affordability and infrastructure delivery go hand in hand.”

Mr Proud said attention must now turn to ensuring the civil construction sector has the capacity and policy settings needed to deliver the increased pipeline of work.

“The industry is already managing record levels of demand alongside rising fuel and material costs, workforce shortages and significant pressure on existing infrastructure programs,” he said.

“If governments want to accelerate housing delivery, we also need to focus on workforce development, procurement reform and building long-term industry capacity.”

“Civil infrastructure is not an optional extra in the housing conversation. It is the starting point.”

For further information: Rowan Carter, Director of Policy and Advocacy, 0407 896 862