The NSW Government has commenced construction on the state’s first 3D-printed social housing project. 

The project in Dubbo involves transforming a vacant plot into two modern, two-bedroom duplexes specifically for Aboriginal social housing tenants. 

The innovative project is spearheaded by Aboriginal Sustainable Homes (ASH) in collaboration with Contour3D, aiming to make housing construction faster and more cost-effective.

Using a specialised 3D printer and a proprietary material, Contourcrete, the printed structures of the duplexes are expected to be completed within just 16 days. 

Contour3D’s OPUS printer, manufactured in Australia, assembles homes layer by layer, depositing concrete at a rate of 1.3 tonnes per hour. 

The printer, paired with the TITAN batching plant, can print precise layers with millimetre accuracy. 

Additionally, the OPUS system features real-time monitoring and remote operation via tablet, with built-in systems for self-correction and weather adjustments, a valuable asset for handling Australia’s variable conditions.

Beyond speed, 3D printing offers significant sustainability benefits. The method generates substantially less waste than traditional construction, and the Contourcrete concrete mix incorporates 40 per cent recycled materials to produce a durable, energy-efficient home that requires less maintenance over its lifetime. 

This project, projected to be completed in just 16 weeks, starkly contrasts with the 40-week timeline often required for traditional builds.

Once the walls are complete, crews will install the roofs and begin interior work, with tenants expected to move in by February 2025.

“It’s very exciting that construction is now underway on the first 3D-printed social housing properties in the state, and I have high hopes that this approach can be replicated at scale,” said NSW Housing and Homelessness Minister Rose Jackson.

“We can’t solve the housing and homelessness crisis alone, and this project is a fantastic example of what can happen when council, government, and private businesses join forces.”

With support from the Dubbo Regional Council, which approved the project’s Development Application in July, the 3D-printed housing development serves as a pilot, testing the viability of scaling this construction method across the state. 

If successful, the NSW Government says it could be the first of many 3D-printed homes to address the demand for social and affordable housing. 

CareerSpot This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.