Homes for Queenslanders: New modular homes for Torres Strait designed with community

• Torres Strait community and Miles Government develop new modular home designs
• First prototypes to be manufactured in QBuild’s Brisbane facility then eventually at the new Cairns QBuild factory
• Part of the Miles Government’s Homes for Queenslanders to build more homes, faster and boost social housing Big Build

Communities in some of Queensland’s most remote areas have helped co-design a range of new factory-built homes.

The one to four-bedroom designs and plug-in modules were developed by the Government Architect and QBuild in consultation with the Torres Strait Island Regional Council to ensure they are not only comfortable but also meet local cultural and environmental needs.

The first prototypes of the co-designed homes are being built at the Queensland Rapid Accommodation and Apprenticeship Centre (RAAC) at Eagle Farm in Brisbane.

The way they’ve been designed means bedrooms to be easily added or adapted, as required, and an additional breezeway can double as storage or functional space.

They will then be manufactured at the new RAAC facility in Portsmith, where trade training opportunities including apprenticeships are being boosted to support capacity building for communities across the far north and Torres Strait.

The Miles Government has already rolled out more than 100 modular homes across Queensland to boost stocks of both social housing and in-community accommodation for frontline workers.

The RAAC team which includes a growing army of apprentices, is simultaneously producing a range of modern components so more homes roll out the door, more quickly.

Quote attributable to Member for Cook Cynthia Lui:

“I’m proud these homes have been designed with our culture and environment in mind.

“If you’ve grown up on the Torres Strait, you know how humid it can get. The new designs are made of timber to ensure homes are more resistant to the salty, humid air of the tropics.

“What’s also neat is the approach to the home-builds allows for bathroom pods to be easily changed to extend the building’s life.

“These designs, coupled with the fact QBuild is establishing the new RAAC in Cairns and also upgrading the Thursday Island depot shows how serious they are about service.”

Quotes attributable to Housing and Public Works Minister Meaghan Scanlon: 

“Building homes in remote communities can be particularly challenging. That’s why rebuilding QBuild and deploying modular homes is so important.

“Having a factory in Cairns and a battalion of local builders combined with specially-designed homes for the region means we deliver more homes on the Torres Strait and roll them out as soon as possible.

“It’s also quicker to install the homes after they are transported by road and water as either flat pack or ready-built solutions.

“We’re rebuilding QBuild after the LNP cut 1,600 staff from its ranks – the people who are responsible for building, maintaining and repairing homes.”

Quote attributable to TSIRC chief executive officer, James William:

“This partnership with QBuild marks a significant opportunity for the Torres Strait Island Regional Council (TSIRC) to bring about newly improved homes designed with the community in mind.

“Our approach involves a Community-Led design process, ensuring these homes address our immediate needs while aligning with the strategic vision for our evolving communities in the future.

“In collaboration with QBuild, TSIRC remains dedicated to continuous engagement with Councillors, local communities, and the PBC. Together, we aim to streamline project delivery processes, consistently enhancing the livability of our communities in every aspect.

“TSIRC is also excited about ongoing discussions and potential collaborations with QBuild to establish training opportunities. This initiative is crucial for nurturing a sustainable future, fostering skills that contribute to maintaining not just these newly improved homes but also other dwellings across our diverse communities.

“I eagerly anticipate seeing these constructions on the ground, further solidifying our partnership with all stakeholders, working together as we strive to improve the livability and sustainability of our communities."

ENDS

Media contact: Francis Dela Cruz – 0420 592 078