An economic stimulus project in Melbourne is taking shape, using a cutting-edge modular construction method to build 199 apartments in half the usual time.
The new development is in Melbourne’s north, on Nicholson Street in East Coburg.
The Nation Building-Economic Stimulus Plan project has apartments being constructed at the Unitised Builders factory, rolled onto trucks using castors and driven to the site.
Once on site they are stacked like Lego and bolted together. The end result is apartments built to the exact same standard as any other Australian home, but with much less waste and twice as fast.
The apartments, some of which are already completed at the factory, are environmentally sustainable, featuring energy efficient appliances and gas heating. The building is stepped to increase natural light and ventilation and features a common vegetable garden.
The site will be managed by Urban Communities, a registered not-for-profit organisation dedicated to developing a strong, integrated and mixed community will be home to a mix of social housing tenants, private owner-occupiers and National Rental Affordability Scheme tenants paying 20 per cent below market rent, and employ social enterprises to ensure a healthy community.
The development will be completed by the end of June 2011.
More details are available on the initiative at www.economicstimulusplan.gov.au
