General News
3 February, 2026
Budget housing
TRAVELLERS on the Bruce Highway may have recently spotted convoys of wide load trucks carrying demountable housing units bound for Cairns.
These buildings are part of the new affordable housing development project on the old drive-in site movie site at White Rock.
With the federal government struggling to make a dent in their target of 1.2 million in public affordable houses, is a production line of demountable buildings built in the south-east Queensland corner and then transported 2000km a truly most efficient solution?
Tully Heads resident Peter Swann believes there is a better way.
With experience in project and marine management, he has developed container homes which cost less than half the price of a conventional, similar-sized residential dwelling.
The containers are fully clad, roofed and finished with internal plaster walls, making their origins invisible from the outside.
Mr Swann argues that small scale developers like himself could play a key role in easing the housing crisis if the government adopted a more flexible, multi-pronged approach. This would enable small developers like himself to develop low-cost infrastructure, while also providing a highly competitive alternative to major players.
His biggest hurdle is Queensland’s owner-builder restrictions. After completing a house and granny flat, government limits prevent him from building another dwelling for seven years.
He plans to keep the properties as affordable rentals and said he could deliver six more dwellings within three years with the removal of state government red tape.
He claims local builders show little interest in collaborating with him, citing low profit margins and his transparency around material costs.
Young couples who are looking to build their first home and contemplating the owner-builder option can be scared by the requirement for structural integrity of the building.
Yet, Mr Swann says container homes offer strong structural integrity and faster approvals thanks to standardised designs.
He has already shared his plans with a friend living near Mareeba who is preparing to build their own.
Mr Swann is also calling for broader reforms to promote affordable housing, including reduced red tape, removal of stamp duty on insurance, and improvements in coordination across all levels of government.
Despite writing to his local representatives, he feels there is little appetite for change to these long-standing practices, although he hopes the new Hinchinbrook MP Wayde Chiesa may be more receptive.
Those interested in building their own container home or learning more about the process, can contact Mr Swann via email: peterswannshipping@gmail.com.
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