The ACT’s building and construction industry will look to Tuesday’s ACT Government Budget for a solid investment in infrastructure to support the ACT’s growth, support local businesses and employment, and underpin the economy, the Master Builders Association of the ACT, the building and construction industry’s peak body, states.

“The ACT’s building and construction industry is a significant contributor to the overall ACT economy,” Master Builders ACT CEO Michael Hopkins said.

“For every one dollar invested in the construction sector, there is a three-dollar benefit to the local economy; a strong building industry means a strong ACT economy.

“The MBA’s submission to the ACT budget has called for a substantial investment in a forward pipeline of infrastructure projects. This will have the dual benefit of supporting employment in local construction businesses while also supporting the local community.

“Around 20,000 Canberrans are employed in the building and construction industry, including more than 2,000 apprentices and trainees. It is vital that the ACT Government supports our local businesses by maintaining strong investment in infrastructure spending.”

The MBA has also called for the ACT Government to develop a long-term infrastructure plan to help the success of Federal Government funding requests.

“The key to securing a greater share of Federal funding for ACT infrastructure is having a long-term infrastructure plan which is supported by all stakeholders,” Mr Hopkins said.

“We have seen in successive Federal budgets that infrastructure spending flows to those regions where an agreed infrastructure plan is in place, with all stakeholders united in their infrastructure priorities.

“A long-term infrastructure plan for the ACT would enable local businesses to prepare for the delivery of major projects, retaining the majority of the benefit from the construction phase of major projects in the ACT community.

“The building and construction industry has weathered strong headwinds since emerging from the pandemic, and will be looking to the next ACT budget to support the sector through the recovery phase.”