NSW Building Commission Tour Timber Offsite Prefabrication Sector
30th August 2025
By FTMA News
By Julia Hall - Twenty Nine Ideas
In early August, I was asked to step in for Kersten (who was hosting the Victorian Seminar) to host a delegation from the NSW Building Commission. The aim of the day was to inspire them; showcasing industry capability, highlighting industry programs, and of course winning them over with our amazingly renewable product in timber framing.
As a background to the tour, it’s important to note that the reason the NSW Building Commission are looking to change policies around Prefab manufacturing is due to issues that have arisen. Issues include Steel frames and bathroom pods and other assembled elements. These parts are assembled off site and thus don’t fall under a usual building inspection regime. Issues included wiring, gas, water-proofing, and compliance to local codes. These issues are often costly from a monetary and time perspective.
We commenced the tour at Belmont Timbers, understanding the evolution from sawmill to prenail and Frame &Truss. Tim Rossiter (GM Building Solutions Asia Pacific at MiTek) and Gary Walker (Managing Director Belmont Timbers, FTMA Australia Board Member), took the tour adding in fun facts as we went. The topic around how many can you build came up and Tim Rossiter of MiTek responded like a professional: ‘Australians are addicted to different’. No-one buys the spec home, they always make changes to the plans resulting in extra costs. If we were able to build cookie-cutter homes over and over again we would benefit from economies of scale but it’s just not the Australian way.’
Of course we also discussed the ability to add a second shift, work extra days and work with builders around volumes.
We discussed other topics that impact on speed and Tim commented that ‘Deemed to Satisfy and standardisations lead to efficiencies which then save the consumer money.’ This was a discussion that engaged all and continued throughout the day.
A question came up around the numbers of women on site (or lack of) and we explained programs including the industry’s mentoring and Women in Timber programs, including Forestry Australia’s program, were highlighted as positive initiatives to address this imbalance, and support the future growth of gender equality in forestry and timber.
Skill level was a topic that was raised with delegates assuming that all factory floor were unskilled labourers. They were impressed that the team are trained and that there are a mix of skilled workers in carpenters and other building trades to compliment the software capability. The use of team members skilled in coding was also discussed with delegates being shown the screens that are used to help a truss Plant go paperless on the factory floor.
Hayden David (Senior Building Codes Officer - Building Commission NSW) asked “How much of the timber harvested is plantation vs old growth’ to which Gary explained that all MGP10 in Australia is plantation; either from Australia or imported. He then highlighted the Carbon Calculator showing how the plans highlight the carbon stores in timber framing. Gary also spoke about the offcuts being recycled through Borg in NSW and how this product was re-manufactured into Particle Board. The Team loved the recycling solutions and hearing that everything on site is used; from the offcuts in nogs and packers to the sawdust going to Borg. We are a true example of sustainable manufacturing.
Hayden later asked ‘how do you source the nail plates?’ assuming they come from overseas. Tim and Danny Fleetwood (Multinail) were happy to reply that ALL nail plates are manufactured in Australia across the three nailplate brands. Julia added to that the underlying need as an industry to be in control of our own destiny and that means manufacturing locally to ensure supply no matter what the global economy is doing.
At morning tea, we stopped at Belmonts to have a quick bite and Christine Briggs talked timber facts along with Gary Walker taking the group through the Carbon Calculator which is in every nailplate company’s software. The group were impressed with the technology and easy capture of information. If you have not enabled this in your software chat to your Nailplate rep to set it up.
We headed to a Mirvac site, where delegates observed frames and trusses in various stages of assembly. Site Manager Rowan Curtis explained why the company prefers timber over steel, noting that engineers actively design out steel wherever possible due to timber’s lower carbon footprint. Rowan gave examples of the homes we were viewing and how they slightly changed designs to use timber over steel. They are true Carbon Warriors!
It was evident on site with Mirvac that they are not comfortable outsourcing risk. They trust Frame & Truss and are comfortable working with it as they have done for years. When asked about SIPs and modular options Rowan replied – “we tried it but it didn’t work as well as hoped on site so we haven’t done it again. We’re comfortable with Frame & Truss and the process’.
An interesting question was raised - When does building start? You might wonder why this was being asked. The Building Commission are trying to map out when building starts so that they can determine at what point a Building Surveyor is required on site.
For context, they have launched a Voluntary Certification scheme. It is currently available for Frame & Truss, and any other Prefab manufacturing facility including overseas companies. This framework allows for manufacturers to gain certification and avoid requiring Building Surveyors or Certifiers on site, which could lead to extra costs for the build. In 2028 they plan to roll this out as mandatory, which will lock out some imports and manufacturers as they wont meet the standard or wont want to pay to meet the standard. How is this good for our industry? For Frame & Truss this could look like MiTek, Multinail and Pryda gaining the certification that could then overlay the industry. This will put us ahead of the curve as an industry and elevate our profile. It also allows for other elements to be easily implemented for instance SIP panels, Prefab Walls that are wrapped or even finished, and more modular componentry in our sector.
Last for the day we headed to Bunnings Frame & Truss at Minto. Trent Emmenis (GM Frame & Truss Bunnings) and Mark Tod (Sales Manager Bunnings), and Beau Griffith of Pryda took the groups through the plant and processes. Purpose built, with everything in its place and plenty of room to move, this site showcased robotic picking and placing of nail plates, optimisation saws, and everything that opens and shuts! The team were wowed and the oohs and aahs were heard from both groups as the tours progressed. This was an example of the future of Frame & Truss and how we are building a sustainable industry.
The team expressed their gratitude to FTMA for organising the trip. They all gained so much from seeing the plants and site view of F&T installation and all have a better understanding of the impact our industry has on the wider building industry.
What are the next steps?
- Continue inspiring the policymakers around Prefab
- Continue to promote timber framing
- Encourage Voluntary certification to avoid extra costs from 2028
Thank you to the wider team that assisted on the day:
Christine Briggs
Gary Walker
Tim Rossiter - MiTek
Andrew Dunn - TDA
Danny Fleetwood of MultiNail
Beau Griffith – Pryda
Julia Hall - Twenty Nine Ideas
Julia Hall hosted the tour on behalf of FTMA - we would like to thank her for undertaking this, bringing with her, her industry knowledge, and the immense passion for timber and carbon, making the day extra outstanding for those attending.
