HIA urges housing priority as data centre investment accelerates
The HIA has called on governments to ensure data centre expansion does not divert resources from new housing construction. The warning follows rising investment in data infrastructure across Australia.
Will data centre investment hurt housing construction jobs and costs for builders?
Builders and associated trades may face increased competition for land, labour, and materials as data centre projects ramp up, potentially pushing up costs and delaying housing jobs.
Key takeaways
- HIA wants governments to prioritise housing construction as data centre investment accelerates.
- Competition for skilled labour and materials between sectors could affect builders' project timelines.
- The call follows rising data infrastructure investment signalled at the federal level.
- Tradies in construction may feel the squeeze if resources shift toward commercial tech projects.
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Housing must not be collateral damage of data centres
HIA has welcomed the PM's statement that housing must not be sidelined as Australia expands data centre infrastructure. The industry body is pushing to ensure land and resources earmarked for homes are not diverted to digital projects.
Why it matters: Builders and developers could face tighter land supply if data centres compete for residential zoning. This affects project pipelines and workloads for builders, concreters and related trades.