Weekly Building Gossip - More Homes, Rising build costs and Silica Issues

Weekly Building Gossip - More Homes, Rising build costs and Silica Issues

From Mindful Builder by Matthew Carland and Hamish White

April 23, 2026 · 16 min · Season 1 · Episode 4

About this episode

Matt and Hamish discuss the latest housing developments, rising building costs, and silica safety issues.

Weekly Goss – April 23, 2026 Matt and Hamish are back from Adelaide to discuss the latest housing developments in Canberra, a major safety crackdown on silica dust, and the importance of representation in the trades. In This Episode: The Canberra Housing Deal: The ACT and Commonwealth governments have signed a $250 million deal to deliver 4,900 homes, with over 1,700 reserved for first-home buyers. The Rising Cost of Building: A look at the staggering 74% increase in building costs since 2009 and the impact of global events on the industry. Silica Safety Crackdown: South Australia is leading a massive compliance campaign targeting silica dust. Any material with more than 1% silica (including cement sheeting, bricks, and tiles) is under the microscope. Health & Prevention: Matt shares a personal story regard i ng silicosis and emphasises why tradespeople must prioritise using vacuums and wearing masks, even when under pressure. Design Responsibility: Why architects and designers should be conscious of the materials they specify to reduce on-site cutting risks. Women in Trades: A shout-out to Sophie (@sister.carpentry) on Instagram for her work in encouraging women to join the…

People in this episode

Hosts: Matthew Carland, Hamish White

Topics covered

  • housing developments
  • building costs
  • silica safety
  • women in trades
  • design responsibility

Keywords

  • housing deal
  • building costs
  • silica dust
  • trades representation
  • women in construction

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Climasure, Pro Clima, Endurobuilders

Places: Canberra, South Australia

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