A boom state of renovation

BEST MATES – NO KIDDING

BRISBANE SYDNEY OLIVE the baby goat has developed a case of puppy love for Charlie the kelpie pup.

Olive was just three days old when she was found wandering

QUEENSLAND is having its biggest renovation boom in almost a decade with many builders and tradies booked out until halfway through next year.

Homeowners are spending more than $500 million a month building their dream and economists say renovation spending was on track for a 7 per cent calendar year surge to $6.84 billion.

Record low interest rates are driving the boom as homeowners extend their mortgages to pay for alterations, with low impact on repayments.

Trade costs have also dropped slightly in Queensland compared to states like Victoria and Western Australia where prices skyrocketed by more than 6 per cent.

The Chamber of Commerce alone along a Bathurst road, while Charlie was among a litter taken in by an inspector.

The pair are now at the RSPCA’s Yagoona shelter. “They’re just the cutest pair. They’ve barely left each other’s side,” a spokesman said.

In terms of size, scale and cost, in the

last three years (activity) has doubled and Industry Queensland said the last renovation boom was seven years ago when DIY renovation shows first hit TV.

CIQ advocacy policy adviser Michael Paparo said the boom was creating thousands of jobs across Queensland, boosting the economy and offsetting the downturn in the mining and agriculture sectors.

The most in demand trades in Queensland were electricians, painters and plumbers.

MasterBuilders Queensland deputy executive director Paul Bidwell said almost half of builders had over six months worth of work on the books, while a third were sitting on three to six months’ worth.

JBS Builders director James Bragg hasn’t had to get out of bed for less than half a million in a while, with most of his renovations in the $800,000 to $1.1 million range.

“Generally demand is for extensions out the back, lifting and re-engineering buildings,” he said.

“Next year is also looking pretty good.”

Architect Shaun Lockyer said he was seeing “an unprecedented level of activity”.

“In terms of size, scale and cost, our experience in the last three years is it’s doubled.”

Among the most popular additions, he said, were wine cellars, gyms, more bathrooms and outdoor living zones.

ARCHITEC T SHAUN LOCKYER