New Norfolk high-tech homes plan a step closer to reality

Picture: Kensington Park in New Norfolk

A $159 million project to factory-build high-tech homes and erect them in the Derwent Valley – along with an associated trade school – has moved from the planning stage towards realisation.

A core element, to build a 100-plus home subdivision at Kensington Park in New Norfolk, moved ahead this week as contracts were signed between the Derwent Valley Council and developer, TFS Investment Group. The price of the property was $2.5 million.

Called Derwent Seventy 10, the larger TFS project is a multi-faceted construction trade venture drawing on the private sector as well as Federal and State governments. More, it links multiple locations and positive outcomes across Southern Tasmania.

The “10” refers to its expected 10-year rollout, and the “Seventy” to the benefits its advocates say it will bring to the state. 

Among the elements is development of a 650-student technical skills training college, with a possible site adjacent to New Norfolk High School. That site is on State Government land and also abuts Kensington Park.

At a cost of an estimated $45 million, funding for the college would be divided between the Federal Government and the project’s backers.

The foundation of the Derwent Seventy 10 project is a factory already fabricating specialised deck sections for the new Bridgewater Bridge. That custom-built industrial site and operation on Cove Hill Road represents an existing $45 million outlay by TFS Investment Group. 

Brighton Council recently approved an expansion of the Bridgewater complex. 

When the bridge subcontracting job is complete, likely by the end of 2024, the DS10 project envisages switching its production to fabricating advanced concrete wall sections for new homes.

The output of high-tech homes will, in the company’s plan, go towards supporting the State Government’s forward commitment to build 10,000 new houses in Tasmania.

The innovative sectional building technique introduces lighter, insulative materials and faster, more efficient construction methods to local homebuilding.

And the technologies are already established in Europe. An Italian firm is creating a prototype of the homes TFS wants to build, while the machinery to form the concrete wall panels on a large scale is expected to be engineered in Austria.

Between them, that’s a further $30 million to be invested in the project.  At the Bridgewater industrial site this week, TFS principal David Marriner spoke to a large group of those involved in the three-part project, including senior officers from local government and companies and unions involved in construction.

He said the European-built machinery would manufacture enough panels for one house in about 20 hours at the Bridgewater factory. Production should reach a maximum rate in about three years, at which time the plant should produce about 1700 homes a year.

The pre-fabricated panels enable rapid construction of homes from one to five bedrooms,

The company has already begun to prepare a building site for the prototype on a property overlooking Bushy Park. Site preparation is already well advanced, with the prototype to become a display home there before the end of 2024.

The third element of DS10 _ a proposed training college, a 7000 sqm facility for 650 students – is still in negotiation, initially over its site. Funding of the campus will be split with the Federal Government. 

While Mr Marriner confirmed that his preferred option is for the college to be built adjacent to the Bridgewater plant, he has not been able to reach agreement with Boral, the owners.

Another option is Defence Department land adjacent to Elwick Racecourse and third, the land adjacent to Kensington Park.

The chief advantage of the New Norfolk site is that it’s next door to New Norfolk High School, many of whose students come from families with strong trades backgrounds.

The project would “bring New Norfolk closer to the city,” Marriner said this week. “We like New Norfolk,” he emphasised. 

DERWENT SEVENTY 10: Project costs, contracted and committed

• Kensington Park: $2.5 million. Contracts being exchanged.

• Cove Hill, Bridgewater: $45 million paid for existing factory complex, as well as acquisitions of businesses and land.

• Cove Hill, Bridgewater: $6.5 million for factory extension, Stage 2 of master plan. 

• Cove Hill, Bridgewater: $30m plant and equipment for new, world-class precast concrete technology. (Project to seek government grants and government commitment to housing order.)

• Bushy Park: $30 million for site works, prototype R&D 

• Technical Trades College: (Sites identified at Bridgewater, Elwick or New Norfolk) $45 million, with half coming from project investors, and half from the Commonwealth Government.