Greg Hankinson - Metropole Developments

17/03/2026

It Might Be Time to Rebuild the NCC — Not Just Keep Adding to It

If Australia is serious about delivering more homes, improving affordability and lifting productivity, we need to take a hard look at the systems shaping housing delivery.

One of them is the National Construction Code.

The Housing Industry Association recently called for a “knock-down rebuild” of the NCC, and it is not hard to see why.

According to HIA, the code is now more than eight times longer than when it was first introduced and references almost twice as many supporting standards.

Most of the changes made over time have come from the right place — improving safety, sustainability, quality and performance.

But good intent does not always produce good outcomes.

From a practical industry perspective, the NCC has become increasingly complex to navigate. That means more paperwork, more consultant input, more approval friction, more interpretation risk and, ultimately, more cost.

And those costs flow straight into new housing.

Housing affordability is not just about interest rates, land values or build costs in isolation. It is also about whether the broader regulatory framework supports efficient housing delivery — or makes it harder.

HIA has rightly argued that if we are serious about supply, the regulatory system needs to support it, not work against it.

Its proposed reforms are practical: simplify the code, improve usability, reduce unnecessary burden, provide greater certainty with a five-year amendment cycle, make referenced standards freely accessible, and create clearer pathways for innovation and modern construction methods.

None of that means lowering standards.

It means making sure the code remains fit for purpose — clear, workable and aligned with the realities of delivering homes in today’s market.

Because if we keep adding layers without asking what they are really achieving, we should not be surprised when housing becomes slower and more expensive to deliver.

At some point, patching around the edges is not enough.

It may be time for a genuine reset.

Not another amendment.

A proper rebuild.

Source: Housing Industry Association, “HIA calls for ‘knock-down rebuild’ of the National Construction Code”, 12 March 2026.

12/03/2026

I’ve been to 11 Wealth Retreats and I’ll keep going back.

That’s because every time I go, I get something out of it. New ideas, better perspective, great conversations, and time to really focus on the bigger picture when it comes to building wealth.

Wealth Retreat is a 5-day event with Michael Yardney and a team of experts, created for people who are serious about property, investing, and making smarter long-term decisions.

It’s not just about the content. It’s about being in the right room, around the right people, and taking the time to step back and work on your strategy.

That’s why I rate it so highly.

Comment WEALTH for more information.

06/03/2026

BBQ breakfast on site this morning with some of our legends 🍳☕

Every three months we run a Test & Tag Day with Dean Martin Electrical to keep the trades tools and our sites safe, compliant and ready to go.

Most of our trades have been on the journey with Metropole Construction for years and are well and truly part of the Metropole family.

These BBQ mornings are just a small way for us to say thanks and catch up over a coffee.

Big shout out to our delivery partner Bunnings for helping us fire up the BBQ. Ash and Dave on the tongs.

Good people. Good trades. Good sites.

👊

melbourne

20/01/2026

06/01/2026

What’s the point of approving more homes… if the infrastructure can’t keep up?

Sydney doesn’t just need housing, it needs the things that make suburbs work: roads, rail, power, water, and community facilities.

And the warning signs are pretty clear: Infrastructure Australia is forecasting a shortfall of 300,000 civil construction workers by 2027 which means delays and rising costs can hit infrastructure projects and flow straight into housing supply.

If you’re building or investing, this is a big takeaway: follow where infrastructure dollars are going.

The areas getting upgrades and new connections are often the ones positioned for the next wave of growth.

Read it here: https://metropole.com.au/sydney-infrastructure-shortages-put-housing-targets-at-risk/

Do you reckon Sydney’s bigger issue is approvals… or the infrastructure and workforce to deliver the homes?

06/01/2026

How would you deliver more homes?

Brisbane’s middle ring could be about to change in a big way.

Council is proposing zoning reforms that could deliver up to 6,000 new homes by 2032, by allowing more “gentle density” in well-located suburbs.

What’s being proposed (in plain English):
✅ 3 storeys allowed across the LMR zone
✅ Up to 4 storeys in some spots near transport and shopping
✅ Smaller minimum land sizes (260sqm down to 120sqm) — which can make more housing types viable

This is exactly how you take pressure off the housing market without pushing sprawl further out.

Full article here: https://metropole.com.au/brisbanes-middle-ring-suburbs-set-for-major-housing-shake-up/

What do you reckon — sensible “missing middle” housing… or a step too far for the middle ring?