Episode 7: Modern methods of construction and scaling housing supply in Australia with Nicholas O'Neill and Damien Crough

Traditional construction now takes about 55 weeks just to finish one home and meanwhile more than 160,000 households are waiting for social housing. On top of that around 10,000 people fall into homelessness every month. We can’t keep up if we keep building the old way.

In this Episode 7 of Season 1 Australian Housing Challenges and Solutions I talk with Nicholas O’Neill, Managing Director at Moov Modular, and Damien Crough, Co-founder and Executive Chairman of prefabAUS, about how prefab and modular housing might help ease Australia’s housing crisis by delivering the speed, quality and affordability we desperately need.

What we ask

• How do prefab homes get built in 16 weeks versus 55 weeks and, if it works, why isn't everyone doing it?
• Why is some legislation e.g. NSW's Manufactured Building Act still blocking prefab homes that meet the NCC and even preventing the local governments from delivering affordable and social housing?
• Could prefab be the most practical option for regional and remote areas where builders are scarce and climate demands are tough?
• How do different transport rules across state borders create hidden costs and extra complexity for moving modular homes?
• Why does CommBank now back prefab mortgages and how do factory checks ensure fewer defects and lower risks thank traditional projects?

Things you will discover

• How the end of the car industry in 2010s transferred automation knowledge and skills into the prefab sector
• There are six categories of prefab with 1,190+ companies in the supply chain, creating resilience but requiring coordination for quality standards

• Upcoming release of a standardised contract backed by major banks will boost lender participation and build confidence in finance, planning and regulation.
• Channel 9 will air the TV program 'Epic Builds: The 90-Day Challenge' in 2026 showcasing the speed, quality and performance of prefab construction including its benefits for the housing sector.

Damien and Nick cautioned that not all construction companies and builders have the expertise in MMC. It requires knowledge of both factory manufacturing processes and site-specific solutions, from assessing access constraints to matching the right prefab methodology to each location’s unique conditions.

Stay informed about prefab housing regulations and certification schemes, and explore industry information plus a directory of local manufacturers and builders by state through resources such as the NCC Modern Method of Construction Handbook, prefabaus.org.au, CommBank Prefabricated Homes

Keywords: affordable and social housing, Australian housing crisis, housing finance, modular housing, modern methods of construction (MMC), prefab construction, sustainable housing