Prefab in Focus: $54 Million Modular Housing Package Unveiled at Fleetwood
Fleetwood Australia was proud to welcome back Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic to our Smithfield manufacturing facility in NSW, joined by NSW Minister for Industry and Trade Anoulack Chanthivong and our CEO Bruce Nicholson, for a national announcement placing modular and prefab construction at the forefront of Australia’s housing strategy.
The Albanese Government announced a $54 million investment aimed at accelerating the delivery of modular homes across the country — selecting Fleetwood’s facility as the backdrop in recognition of our role in delivering high-quality homes with speed, innovation, and manufacturing precision.
“With modern, factory-built methods, prefab and modular construction can reduce build times from a year to just three months — without compromising on quality.”
— Ed Husic, Minister for Industry and Science
Why Modular? Why Now?
As highlighted in the Channel 9 broadcast, weather-related delays are a major issue slowing down traditional builds. Across the country, many sites have faced setbacks due to persistent rain. In contrast, modular buildings manufactured by Fleetwood Australia continue progressing uninterrupted — thanks to our controlled indoor environments.
This advantage was reinforced by new research commissioned by Fleetwood, revealing 1,908 construction days lost to rain across Greater Metropolitan Australia over the past five years. We’ll explore the full findings in an upcoming feature on rain and the real cost of weather delays.
Fleetwood Australia’s National Role
During the visit, CEO Bruce Nicholson walked the floor with Minister Husic and NSW Minister Anoulack Chanthivong, sharing insights into how offsite manufacturing is reshaping the housing sector across Australia.
“We’re proud to support this national mission. With the scale of our operations, our experience across multiple states, and our proven ability to deliver at speed — we’re ready to help build more homes for Australians, when and where they’re needed.”
Fleetwood is a proven delivery partner across:
- Queensland’s MMC Program (60 homes in 6 months)
- Remote and regional communities
- Emergency accommodation and village builds
- Social and affordable housing initiatives
With strategically located manufacturing hubs around the country, Fleetwood is ready to deliver under this new national strategy.
What Was Announced?
At Fleetwood’s Smithfield facility, Minister Ed Husic announced a $54 million federal investment into modular housing.
The announcement includes:
- $50 million in matched funding for states and territories to grow prefab and modular programs
- $4 million to develop a national certification system for offsite construction, supporting faster and more consistent approvals
This funding is part of the Federal Government’s broader effort to strengthen Australia’s manufacturing and construction sectors.
Looking Ahead
Fleetwood is proud to have hosted this milestone announcement at our Smithfield site — one of the largest modular housing facilities in the country.
The recognition from national leaders reinforces our commitment to providing faster, smarter, and more scalable housing solutions.
“Fleetwood is ready to scale. We have the people, the systems, and the manufacturing footprint to help tackle this challenge at pace.”
— Bruce Nicholson, CEO
More updates — including a deeper look at rain day savings and how we keep building when others stop — will be shared in our next blog.
To read more about this announcement featured on Channel 9 news read it here.
