More than $5000 to be saved on housing construction from 2013
Posted on Monday, December 17 2012 at 4:39 PM
Queensland property investors building new dwellings from 2013 could save thousands of dollars following the Newman Government’s scrapping of compulsory rainwater tanks and gas, solar or heat pump hot water systems.
Minister for Housing and Public
Works Tim Mander says those building new dwellings could save more than $5000
when the new laws come into effect from early 2013.
“Taken in conjunction with the $15,000 First
Home Owner’s Grant for new dwellings, that’s a massive saving for anyone planning
on building a new home,” Mander says.
“People who want to install rainwater tanks or a particular type of hot
water system can still do so. The difference is that the decision is now theirs
to make.”
The new laws allow councils to make the decision on retaining mandatory
rainwater tank requirements where they can prove a net benefit to the community,
Mander adds.
“Under existing laws, owners of homes in
reticulated natural gas areas are restricted to gas, solar or heat pump hot
water systems, which often cost thousands of dollars more than the electric
model they’re replacing,” he says.
“Although solar or heat pump systems are more
energy efficient, they are more expensive to buy and often require extra
plumbing and electrical work to retrofit the existing property before they can
be installed.
“Replacing a broken hot water system is often a
significant, not to mention unexpected expense,” Mander says.
“It’s not fair to force people to choose the
more expensive product.”
The Housing Industry Association and Master
Builders applaud the move for housing affordability reasons.
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More than $5000 to be saved on housing construction from 2013
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