Construction capacity in regional Western Australia has received a boost following a new investment in prefabrication infrastructure in Esperance, supported through the State Government’s Regional Economic Development (RED) Grants program.

Local builder Drake-Brockman Building & Construction, a family-owned construction business, has expanded its existing workshop after securing a $250,000 RED Grant. The funding has enabled the development of a new prefabrication and assembly facility focused on house wall frames, aimed at improving productivity and supporting a more consistent construction pipeline in the region.

The investment comes at a time when demand for both residential and commercial construction remains strong across Esperance and the wider Goldfields-Esperance region. Like many regional centres, Esperance continues to face challenges around workforce availability, construction efficiency, and project delivery timelines, particularly as housing demand places pressure on local capacity.

Prefabrication as a Productivity Lever

The new facility allows Drake-Brockman to fabricate and assemble wall frames in a controlled environment before they are transported to site. This approach is increasingly being adopted across the construction sector as a way to reduce weather delays, improve build quality, and better manage labour resources.

Prefabrication can also help smooth peaks and troughs in construction workflows by allowing work to continue off-site, even when on-site conditions are not ideal. For regional builders, where access to skilled trades can be limited, the ability to streamline processes and make more efficient use of available labour can have a material impact on project delivery.

According to the State Government, the Esperance project is expected to support local employment and training while improving the capacity of the region’s construction sector to respond to ongoing demand.

Regional Development Focus

The RED Grants program is designed to stimulate economic growth in regional Western Australia by supporting projects that strengthen local industries, build capability, and create jobs. Since 2018, the program has supported 415 projects across the state, spanning sectors such as construction, manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, and energy.

Funding is typically directed toward initiatives that improve productivity, enable business expansion, or address regional capacity constraints. In construction, this has often included investments in new equipment, facilities, or processes that allow local businesses to take on more work or deliver projects more efficiently.

Applications for the most recent round of RED Grants have closed and are currently under assessment.

Workforce and Community Impacts

Beyond the immediate productivity benefits, investments like the Esperance prefabrication facility are also intended to support workforce development in regional communities. By creating more stable and predictable workflows, builders can offer greater certainty to employees and apprentices, which can help attract and retain workers locally.

Regional Development Minister Stephen Dawson said the project demonstrated how targeted funding could support both business growth and workforce capability.

“The Cook Government’s RED Grants program is delivering for regional WA businesses, and this investment is a great example of this funding in action,” he said.

“The project not only boosts local employment and training but also ensures that regional housing and construction projects have access to a highly skilled and capable workforce.”

Acting Goldfields-Esperance Minister Don Punch said the funding reflected a broader focus on strengthening regional resilience through local business support.

“This initiative is paving the way for a stronger, more resilient community by investing in projects that address the needs of residents and the wider region,” he said.

Responding to Regional Housing Pressures

Esperance, like many regional centres across Australia, has experienced sustained demand for housing, driven by population movements, infrastructure investment, and the relative affordability of regional living compared to metropolitan areas.

However, increased demand has also exposed constraints in construction capacity, particularly where builders are reliant on small teams and local supply chains. Delays in materials, labour shortages, and weather impacts can be more acute in regional areas, making efficiency improvements critical.

By expanding its prefabrication capability, Drake-Brockman is positioning itself to respond more effectively to these pressures, while reducing reliance on on-site labour-intensive processes.

Broader Industry Context

The Esperance project reflects a wider shift across the Australian construction industry toward modern methods of construction, including prefabrication and off-site manufacturing. While uptake has been uneven, particularly in smaller regional markets, government-backed investment programs are increasingly being used to encourage adoption where productivity gains are achievable.

For regional builders, these investments can also improve competitiveness, allowing local firms to retain work that might otherwise be awarded to metropolitan or interstate operators with larger-scale manufacturing capabilities.

As governments at both state and federal levels continue to focus on housing supply and regional development, programs like RED Grants are likely to play an ongoing role in shaping how construction capacity is built outside major cities.

Looking Ahead

With Round 8 of the RED Grants program now closed and under assessment, further announcements are expected in coming months. For regional construction businesses, the Esperance project provides a case study in how targeted capital investment can support productivity, workforce stability, and long-term capacity growth.

While challenges remain across the sector, particularly around skills availability and cost pressures, the expansion of local prefabrication facilities represents one practical pathway for regional builders to adapt to changing market conditions and rising demand.

Author: TGB Editorial