This article has been reprinted with the kind permission of Defence Housing Australia. For more information about Defence Housing Australia visit www.dha.gov.au

The South Queensland community of Ipswich is reaping the benefits of an increase in Defence housing constructions, generated by the Nation Building-Economic Stimulus Plan (NB-ESP).

Among the NB-ESP projects are 31 Defence houses being designed and constructed by St Hilliers in Ipswich.

Tim McCann, St Hilliers Queensland Operations Manager, believes the extra construction activity has had a positive impact on local businesses.

‚Äö?Ñ??The stimulus is definitely creating more work for subcontractors and suppliers in the immediate community and we have also employed additional staff both in Queensland and nationally,‚Äö?Ñ?? he said.

‚Äö?Ñ??But the benefits go further than just the construction industry with local retailers receiving a boost in trade.‚Äö?Ñ??

Mr McCann feels a good example of this is the local pie shop, which seems to be busier than ever.

St Hilliers is also seeing first hand the opportunities these Defence housing projects are giving the youth of Ipswich.

‚Äö?Ñ??We have had local schools knocking on our door looking for work experience opportunities for their students,‚Äö?Ñ?? Mr McCann said.

‚Äö?Ñ??We hope to assist the schools with several placements to enable the students to gain experience working in the construction industry.‚Äö?Ñ??

St Hilliers is currently celebrating its 20^th year of operations. The company has had a long relationship with Defence Housing Australia (DHA). This relationship was established in the early years of the company. St Hilliers has designed and constructed more than 100 Defence houses in the Northern Territory and New South Wales.