Manufacturing is being positioned at the centre of the NSW Government’s push to deliver greener housing and regional jobs, with a $4.8 million grant awarded to Orange-based manufacturer Green Timber Tech to support the production of more than 1,000 prefabricated homes a year.
The funding, announced by the NSW Government, is expected to create more than 50 local manufacturing jobs, with eight full-time employees already hired, including two apprentices specialising in carpentry and technology. The investment comes from the state’s $480 million Net Zero Manufacturing Initiative.
Green Timber Tech manufactures flat pack housing components in a factory environment, pre-building walls, floors and roofs before transporting them for on-site assembly.
According to the company, homes can be assembled in as little as two days, with the model designed to support housing delivery at scale across regional housing, community and social housing, disaster relief, schools and private developments.
The NSW Government said the manufacturing-led approach also delivers environmental benefits, with the homes expected to reduce the carbon footprint of a typical house by more than 60 per cent.
It noted that all timber used is regenerative plantation wood, and advanced manufacturing processes aim to minimise waste. The airtight design is also intended to reduce heating and cooling costs for residents.
Minister for Energy Penny Sharpe said the funding combined regional manufacturing growth with housing delivery.
“This is a real win for regional NSW with over 50 direct jobs created, and a real boost to adjacent workforces like transport, timber and trades,” she said.
She added that the airtight design would make homes cheaper to heat and cool, describing the project as an opportunity to respond to housing pressures while supporting sustainable manufacturing.
Minister for Housing Rose Jackson said the partnership would initially support the delivery of 32 new sustainable social homes.
“This is another example of how innovation in modern manufacturing is supporting the delivery of more homes, more quickly, right across New South Wales,” she said, noting that factory-based construction can reduce weather delays and speed up delivery.
Green Timber Tech chief executive Pete Morrison said the funding recognised the role of regional manufacturing in addressing housing demand.
“This investment is a major vote of confidence in regional manufacturing and modern construction,” he said, adding that the support would allow the company to scale production in Orange while creating skilled regional jobs and delivering low-carbon homes at greater speed and certainty.
