Easton Pty Ltd has been named Master Builders Victoria Residential Master Builder of the Year for its stunning construction of a prestige Toorak property. 

At a gala awards ceremony at Crown Melbourne last night (Friday), the impressive construction of the outstanding Toorak property took out the top prize.

Master Builders Victoria (MBV) CEO Rebecca Casson congratulated Easton Pty Ltd and the other major award winners on their success.

Maben Group Pty Ltd has been named Master Builders Victoria Commercial Master Builder of the Year for its stunning upgrade to the Highpoint shopping centre in Maribyrnong. 

Last night (Thursday) at Crown Melbourne, Master Builders Victoria (MBV) CEO Rebecca Casson congratulated Maben Group Pty Ltd and other major award winners at a gala awards ceremony. 

“Once again, our Excellence in Construction Awards were brimming with outstanding work that improves the lives of Victorians throughout our great state,” she said. 

The latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has revealed that the number of Victorian new residential building approvals has returned to pre-pandemic levels as the building and construction industry continues to lead the state’s COVID-19 recovery.

Master Builders Victoria (MBV) CEO Rebecca Casson said Victoria passed 70,463 new residential building approvals in the 12 months to November 2021 – the highest level for three years.

“Our state has not seen yearly residential building approval totals exceed 70,000 since 2018,” Ms Casson said.

Master Builders Victoria (MBV) fears soaring costs for materials, combined with labour shortages, will see more building and construction companies forced into insolvency.

The cost of building a home in Victoria is rising faster than in any other state because supply prices have hiked.

MBV CEO Rebecca Casson said one of the biggest challenges facing Victorian building and construction companies was escalating building product prices and supply shortages.

Master Builders Victoria (MBV) asks consumers to be kind and patient with builders and tradespeople this festive season as the building and construction industry continues to suffer from supply shortages.

MBV CEO Rebecca Casson said ongoing building materials shortages resulting from COVID-19 disruptions and shipping delays, along with natural disasters and industrial action, have increased the pressure on builders and tradespeople.

Master Builders Victoria (MBV) analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data from October 2021 shows more strong growth in the value of loans for housing but declines in owner-occupier lending.    

There has been strong growth in the number of loans to Victorian housing investors to construct new homes, purchase residential land, and do home renovations.  However, the number of loans for investors to purchase newly built homes has fallen back down to 375, the same figure as earlier this year.   

According to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Victoria’s booming building and construction industry brushed off the lingering effects of Melbourne’s sixth lockdown to powerhouse the nation in construction activity for the first time.

More than $15 billion of work was carried out in Victoria between July and September 2021, up almost 6 per cent from the previous quarter.

Australia’s leading property, construction, housing and development industry groups say the Windfall Gains Tax passed by State Parliament today is a blow to the homeownership dreams of thousands of Victorians.

The Property Council of Australia, Housing Industry Association, Urban Development Institute of Australia (Victoria) and Master Builders Victoria have been united in their opposition to the Windfall Gains Tax, the 19th new or increased property tax under the Andrews Government.