The HomeBuilder scheme has saved Tamworth builders from a 'valley of death', according to industry experts.
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Once all the tallies are added up, the industry right across Tamworth has seen an economic injection of $60 million, according to Sarah Knee of Single Builders.
"For us, HomeBuilder has been friggin' fantastic," Ms Knee enthused.
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"It's put us into a position that we haven't been in for a few years because of the drought, so the incentive has worked tremendously."
Jane Hamilton, office manager of Edwards and Frouds, said they'd been so busy they've been in a position to hire new staff.
"With all the sales of houses with building consultant reports, renovations, we've been flat out," she said.
[The HomeBuilder] incentive has worked tremendously.
- Sarah Knee
"I don't know if it was the scheme itself, because that was fairly targeted, or because more people were at home with some time and more money on their hands, and decided to do renovations or purchase a house for a tree change."
She estimates they've seen about a 50 per cent increase in work compared to this time last year.
"It might level off because it becomes the issue of properties being available to buy, but the building side will still perform well and keep increasing."
Despite seeing stages of housing estates sell out soon as they were on the market, Ms Knee said with the next stages of Redbank and Windmill coming there was still plenty of options for those looking to buy.
The "overwhelming success" of the Federal Government's scheme in driving economic recovery has been confirmed by new data released last week. HomeBuilder will support $18 billion in new home construction and $50 billion in economic activity.
Denita Wawn, CEO of Master Builders Australia, called it proof that a "stronger building industry means a stronger economy".
"HomeBuilder has been the star in the government's economic recovery plan since it was announced in June last year, along with measures such as JobKeeper," Ms Wawn said.
"The surge in new home construction being driven by HomeBuilder has averted the valley of death that was confronting residential builders and tradies due to the pandemic."
