Now with Beer Garden for our smoking patrons.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/ipad/shor ... 6009070435
Short-term pain for construction
GIUSEPPE TAURIELLO MARIA MOSCARITOLO
From: The Advertiser February 21, 2011 12:00AM
Artist's impression of proposed 11-storey office building at 400 King William St, Adelaide designed by Cheesman Architects.
Picture: Sarah Reed Source: The Advertiser
THE building industry expects a trough once the Building the Education Revolution reaches completion next month.
The sector's peak bodies expect six months of pain, especially for small to medium-sized businesses, but do not foresee job losses.
"I think we'll have six months of a quieter period but from then will pick up rapidly because the Australian economy is really going to improve from then on, for the next four years - that's the prediction anyway," said Robert Stewart, chief executive of the Master Builders Association of South Australia.
He said there were a number of commercial projects in the pipeline but they were being held up by strict lending requirements from banks, such as high pre-sales.
"If the banks ease off on those prerequisites, then that's going to stimulate the industry because there's a fair bit of work out there, ready to go, but it can't meet the really stringent requirements.
He said housing construction was "patchy" but still close to its 10,000 homes a year capacity and subcontractors would benefit from major projects such as the Royal Adelaide Hospital rebuild, the Convention Centre redevelopment and Tower 8 in the city.
Co-ordinator-general Rod Hook, who is overseeing the rollout of the BER in SA, said 99 per cent of school construction work would be completed by March 31, when the project will draw to a close nationally.
In the short-term, the industry would be propped up by government-backed projects, Property Council of SA executive director Nathan Paine said. Mr Paine said Watpac's carpark development at Adelaide Airport and Grocon's $50 million contract at the Edinburgh defence base indicated confidence in the state's future construction opportunities, both locally and from interstate.
Badge Constructions state manager Nick Abley has already noticed a slow-down in work but said there were still opportunities on offer, especially in aged care and health areas.
"Government (work) is prominent at the moment, but private investment is starting to show signs of life," he said.
