Conference to examine alternative building methods and construction

13/02/07
Diversity of materials, cost and the speed of constructing homes will be the focus of a conference to be held in Perth next week.
Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said the conference, New Frontiers in Residential Building Materials, would examine the latest trends in alternative residential building materials and construction methods.
"While double brick homes have dominated the market in the past, we need to be open to other opportunities to improve price, sustainability and delivery times," Ms MacTiernan said.
"The State Government is committed to leading the drive to deliver building practices that use less water and energy.
"This conference will hear from leading national experts as well as companies that are actually constructing residential homes with alternative building materials and using alternative construction techniques.
"Leading national and local experts will provide insight about international trends and environmental drivers for alternative building materials and construction methods, emerging practices and innovative products, costs, construction issues, market acceptance, availability and industry capacity.
"Some of the companies presenting at the conference are offering highly innovative housing solutions, and are promoting vastly accelerated completion times over traditional methods for the construction of homes."
Ms MacTiernan said LandCorp, with support from the Armadale Redevelopment Authority, would stage the conference.
"We are leading by example through the development at Seville Grove near Armadale, which will incorporate 12 display homes demonstrating benchmarks for innovative design and construction techniques as well as water and energy efficiency," she said.
"These initiatives are not just centred in the metropolitan area, as LandCorp developments at Broome, Port Hedland, Karratha and Newman are all specifically investigating new design, building and construction methods."
The New Frontiers conference will be held at the Duxton Hotel, from 8.30am to 5pm, on Wednesday, February 21.
For more information or to register for the conference, visit http://www.newfrontiers.landcorp.com.au/.

Minister's office - 9213 6400