Could ‘flat-pack’ homes help save this Aussie town?
- The remote Queensland town of Quilpie is exploring flat-pack housing as a faster and more affordable way to address its ongoing housing shortage, which is limiting population growth and worker retention.
- Locally, high construction costs, long build times, and a lack of available tradespeople have made traditional housing delivery difficult, prompting the council to look for modular and prefabricated alternatives.
- Supporters say flat-pack homes could be assembled quickly with fewer on-site labour requirements, but challenges remain around transport logistics, approvals, and ensuring homes suit harsh outback conditions.
An outback Queensland town is turning to “flat-pack” homes in the hope of solving a local housing crisis, as the high cost of building risks paralysing the community.
When the only childcare provider unexpectedly left Quilpie, a town of about 500 people, in December last year, families were left in limbo because there was nowhere for new childcare staff to live.
The centre reopened in May in a limited capacity, with residents growing frustrated by the “domino effect” of the housing shortage affecting other parts of the regional centre, 1,000 kilometres west of Brisbane.
Quilpie real estate agent Dannielle Stevenson said even with the centre reopening, places and times were limited due to the continued lack of housing.
“They’ve got educators willing to relocate, but no housing for the educators. That impacts how many children …
Photo by Ivan S, Pexels.
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Original article and photo by "ABC News"
