Nation Building Jobs Plan (NBJP)
The Nation Building Jobs Plan (NBJP) goes by many names – Nation Building Stimulus Plan, Economic Stimulus Plan, “StimPac” (Stimulus Package) – and refers to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s $42 billion commitment to support Australian jobs and future economic growth. This article will outline what the NBJP is and how it is applied in Victoria.
Federal and State funding
$6 billion from the total $42 billion commitment has been allocated for the provision Australia-wide of 20,000 new social housing dwellings over the next three years.
$1.5 billion has been allocated to deliver 5000 new social housing dwellings in Victoria of which 75% is required to be ready for tenants by 31 Dec 2010. These figures translate to an average desired spend for each social housing dwelling of $300,000.
This $1.5 billion is to be administered in Victoria through the Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Housing.
In the latest Stage 2 round of funding, the Office of Housing stated that funding will be split in the following two ways:
- Projects that the Office of Housing will purchase to develop and own
- Projects that the Office of Housing will fund to be developed and owned by Registered Housing Associations
Mr Hamish MacDonald, Director of Development and Construction Nation Building (Housing) DHS, stated that the Office of Housing was targeting an even breakdown of homes funded across both streams ie. 2500 social housing dwellings to be owned by the Office of Housing and 2500 dwellings to be owned by Housing Associations.
Selection Criteria
Selection criteria for projects for Round 2 included:
- Company details & background
- Project location
- Project planning status
- Project costs & feasibility
- Dwelling configuration and diversity (1 and 2 bedroom units preferred)
- Economic impact (jobs created) of project
- Energy efficiency of project
- Universal design features of project
Funding Rounds
Two rounds of funding for the NBJP have already taken place with both rounds now closed. However even if you missed out, reading between the lines, the next three years will see an enormous ramp up of building activity from both the Office of Housing and the registered Housing Associations.
If you are a Melbourne based builder and/or developer and missed the two funding rounds, you may still have an opportunity to benefit from some NBJP funding by joining the tender Construction Supplier’s Register via the Department of Transport. By law, the Office of Housing must tender out its building and trades contracts so it would pay to be on this register.
Conclusion
In summary, the Nation Building Jobs Plan is an ambitious initiative by the Australian government to both stimulate the economy and provide much needed social housing dwellings. Of the $42 billion dollars committed, $1.5 billion dollars will be allocated to to provide 5000 new dwellings over the next three years in Victoria through the Department of Human Services, Office of Housing. Half of these dwellings are to be projects developed and owned by the Office of Housing while the other half are to be developed and owned by registered Housing Associations.
What have your experiences been like?
We would love to hear about your NBJP experiences. Please feel free to comment in the form below on anything related to this article and/or the following questions:
- Have you applied for NBJP funding? and/or
- Have you received a NBJP related tender/contract?
- What have your experiences been like?
Nation Building Jobs Plan Related Links:
- Australian Federal Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan site
- Victorian Office of Housing Nation Building Jobs Plan site
- Victorian Housing Registrar’s list of Registered Housing Associations and Providers
- Victorian Department of Transport tender Construction Supplier’s Register
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