Unfortunately, we are continuing to experience further significant impacts on the construction industry, so Sustainable® would like to update you with current critical updates and impacts. The majority of our suppliers and subtrades have refined their operational focus and coverage areas for their services due to fuel inputs and current supply as well as technical drain.

Further increasing cost pressures and supply chain disruptions

The continuing Middle East situation has placed considerably more pressure on our industry, energy prices and supply chains, creating further uncertainty. This ever-evolving situation has significantly affected our direct suppliers and subtrades.

All our major suppliers have advised they have significant building material delivery delays and now serious supply chain issues, with the average current delay being 3 weeks, some shorter and some pushed further out. For a simple example, there has been an increase in Aluminium up in some situations of 18% due to 10% of all Australian supply from the Middle East having ceased. There have been three price rises in 8 weeks of many items.

Please note, Sustainable® along with our subtrades and suppliers have all had substantial expenses, all labour costs have increased by about 10% to compensate individuals due to fuel costs. While suppliers are doing their best to try to control these additional costs due to continuing delays, our Team and our supplier’s current positions are being reviewed daily due to these ongoing pressures.

The supply chain has slowed with some stopping in some cases last week. Causing further delays on Bathroom fixtures and fittings, PVC and poly fittings/pipes/window fittings, some glass products as unfortunately they are all imports manufactured overseas. Given this information, our suppliers unfortunately have had to put some supply on hold and are experiencing some early lay off of shift staff.

Therefore, unfortunately, at this stage, at the very least we must ask for your patience as we are under enormous pressure to try and keep things moving for all our contracts, however all productivity has been totally disrupted. As supplier stock supply continues to be delayed and slowed down, this means contract timeframes are tentative and uncertain, both with recent as well as earlier placed pre-orders and deliveries.

We will continue to closely monitor the situation with direct advice from our suppliers and industry membership associations. Should you have any questions regarding the above information, please contact the Head Office on (07) 3201 1177.

With Regards,

Brett McKenzie | CEO Sustainable Pty Ltd

Unfortunately, we are experiencing another significant impact on the construction industry, so Sustainable® would like to share the current critical updates and impacts.

Increasing cost pressures, supply chain disruptions and interest rates

On the back of another interest rate hike, the current tensions in the Middle East have placed considerable pressure on the global economy, energy prices and supply chains, creating a period of heightened uncertainty. This evolving geopolitical situation is now impacting the Australian economy, and more directly, the building and construction industry.

With rising fuel costs and ongoing supply chain disruptions, combined with the recent decision by the Reserve Bank to raise interest rates to 4.1 per cent, this is already placing further significant strain on the building and construction industry and driving-up construction expenses, which is directly affecting construction project costs and timeframes on existing contract agreements.

All our major suppliers have advised they are already experiencing critical building material delivery delays and will be introducing additional charges to offset the sharp increase in fuel costs and delivery, along with the instant cost increase on most materials, especially plumbing, steel and concrete.

I am sceptical about the 26c reduction per litre in fuel costs as it may just be consumed in coming weeks, as it was last week, with further input costs for suppliers.

All our suppliers and subcontractors have gone off Contract Rates and are on Cost Plus Engagements, impacting Sustainable® exponentially.

Please note, whilst Sustainable® and some of our suppliers are doing their best to try to absorb these additional costs, I can assure you that this is a rapidly evolving situation and should these extenuating circumstances continue to escalate, our Team and our supplier’s current positions may be reviewed as we are also not immune to the ongoing pressures.

Unfortunately, at this stage, this means contract timeframes are tentative and uncertain if supplier materials, both with placing orders and deliveries, continue to be delayed and slowed down with the current global supply chain environment.

We will continue to closely monitor the situation with direct advice from our suppliers and industry membership associations. Should you have any questions regarding the above information, please contact the Head Office on (07) 3201 1177.

With Regards, Brett McKenzie – CEO | Sustainable Pty Ltd

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For additional information, we encourage you to read the following excerpt from Master Builders Australia CEO, Denita Wawn, on 17 March 2026.

“Builders around the country have been getting hit with fuel and product surcharges as a result of the Middle East conflict, with cost increases on inputs including transport and concrete.”

“Supply chains are also being disrupted, including for materials such as tiles and plastic. These cost pressures, on top of higher interest rates, will further delay the supply of new homes.”

“As we saw during the pandemic, when prices surge and supply chains are disrupted, the viability of many building companies comes under threat due to fixed price contract arrangements.”

“Even before this current crisis, a new house was 47 per cent more expensive than it was just before the pandemic. This interest rate hike plus the global instability will only make the situation worse.”

“Policy measures to make housing more affordable are central to the battle against inflation, with the increasing price of housing being the largest contributor to inflation. A laser focus on increasing supply and increasing affordability is key,” said Ms Wawn.

HOUSING INDUSTRY AUSTRALIA (HIA) ALERT

International situation and current market impacts update                                25 March 2026

‘HIA is aware that the current situation continues to evolve both domestically and internationally, and members have been receiving a range of advice from suppliers on cost increases to several building materials and other related construction equipment such as skips, plant and equipment hire.

Members have expressed concern about the impact to construction project costs as well as the availability of materials and the effect this has on home building contracts, given the uncertainty of the evolving situation in the Middle East and causing large spikes in domestic fuel prices.

HIA is tracking this situation closely and we are in active discussions with Federal and State Governments and construction material suppliers, highlighting members’ concerns and discussing potential measures to mitigate and minimise impacts on current and future projects, including shoring up the supply of key building materials, investigating the prioritisation of fuel and material supply to essential industries, if fuel rationing is to occur, and advocating for Governments to place a minimum 6-month pause on any new industry regulations.

Whilst the situation continues to evolve, we are recommending members:

• Monitor price increases and adjust quotations accordingly, where appropriate.
• Have an open conversation with homeowners on project timings and costs given current volatility of the market.
• Consider project scheduling and timings, where appropriate.
• Consider the most appropriate contract and contract terms to use for the scope of work and changing conditions. This could include using prime cost and provisional sums for labour and materials or a cost-plus contract. In some States/Territories ‘rise and fall’ clauses can be included in fixed price contracts to provide for adjustments where there is a shift in the cost of materials due to unforeseen circumstances. Drafting and applying these clauses is complex and we recommend seeking legal advice prior to using a ‘rise and fall’ clause.’

Retrofitting your home is not just a trend; it’s a smart investment that can yield significant returns in various aspects of your life. By embracing Sustainable’s Retrofit solutions, you can effectively improve your property’s net worth, enhance your family’s lifestyle, and introduce relevant sustainable design to an existing building.

Transform your home with Sustainable’s complete Design & Construct Retrofitting solutions for your entire existing property!

At Sustainable, our approach to Retrofitting goes beyond the conventional. We refrain from simply ‘renovating’ by slapping on additions like decks or rooms without first assessing your needs and existing home.

Our aim is to ensure that your entire property is optimised for sustainability and longevity. That’s why we prefer the term ‘Retrofit’, emphasising our commitment to providing holistic, sustainable solutions for your home and family lifestyle.

The primary focus of Sustainable Retrofits is to view the property on a complete scale and craft a sustainable solution with a sensibly designed outcome. This not only gives comfort to future net worth, but also minimises your piecemeal spending on reactive renovations.

“Retrofit your eco-friendly space”

A Sustainable Landscape Retrofit: Project Exemplar

In 2009, Sustainable transformed this outdoor space at a family home at The Gap (Brisbane), which was once occupied with an unwanted pool, and retrofitted into a 45,000L water tank completed with a beautifully, eco-friendly landscaped backyard.

By undertaking a complete client and property audit Sustainable established key project goals and outcomes, and for this eco-conscious Client, drought proofing the property was a requirement.

Sustainable transformed the family pool into a water trap, designed specifically to save water on the property by simply re-directing it to feed the gardens. This 45,000L pool-turned-water tank ensures enough water to supply all the productive landscaping and eventually allowed the Clients to pump the water into the house.

But practicality was not the Team’s only goal for this project.

The brilliant architectural design of this Landscape Retrofit was disguising it as an outdoor living space on a floating deck. Not only were the Clients thrilled with the new look, but Sustainable empathised with the family’s wishes, creating a space that inspires and complements their desired lifestyle.

It is a place where you can be comfortable entertaining, lounging, gardening, or just hiding from the world. We have spent more time in the new space in the past couple of months than in the previous eight years.

The Sunday Mail: Dream Homes 2009 Article

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More Information

Sustainable can transform your existing home with a design-led, environmentally conscious, and sensory-orientated Retrofit and/or Landscaping solution to suit your individual needs and circumstances. Submit a Retrofit Enquiry to our in-house experts today to start Retrofitting your eco-friendly space!

It is already that time of the year where we take the time to catch our breath, reflect and celebrate our successes and challenges from the year that has passed.

We want to thank you, our valued Clients, Suppliers, Partners, Staff and Families for all your support in delivering our outstanding 2023 Design & Construction Projects through such continued difficult times.

We greatly appreciate and value the strong relationships we have developed and nurtured with you over the 30 years in our operations. Thank you for continuing to support us and may you all have a wonderful and safe Holiday season.

The Sustainable Team look forward to the New Year ahead and are excited to carry through and share in all of our valued Clients’ spectacular projects. Let us hope for a brighter and less stressful 2024.

Sustainable continues to remain committed as Major Partner to Warwick Horse Trials and share in their mission to become the International Multi-Discipline Equestrian Precinct of Excellence in south-east Queensland and bordering.

In 2024 we will continue to push boundaries and share in the Warwick Horse Trials’ expertise and vision, focusing on long-term Sustainable® Master Planning that delivers a world-class equestrian facility to support our current and emerging QLD athletes.

Sustainable Office Temporarily Closed

Please note, the Sustainable Office will be temporarily closed from Friday 22 December 2023 to Monday 15 January 2024 for the Holiday Season.

_{We apologise in advance for any inconvenience. If necessary, please contact our Head Office (07) 3201 1177, leave a detailed message and we will get back to you on our return. In the meantime, please peruse our website, submit one of our Expression of Interest Forms or send an email to reception@sustainabledc.au.}

Take care. Stay safe.

Warm Regards,

The Sustainable Team.

Sustainable’s breathtaking eco-friendly home designs simply embrace their local environments.

This stunning family Custom Home located in a vibrant rural town west of Brisbane, features innovative sustainable architecture and true individualism. With its rich agricultural heritage and strong community spirit, the local environment boasts picturesque countryside settings and stunning mountain views.

In fact, this spectacular site is the inspiration behind this striking designer home. Sustainable naturally found creativity in the local landscape, colours and culture, delivering a stylish sustainable home standing in harmony with its natural surroundings.

The key to all eco-friendly home designs is to not only enhance natural environs, but also capture the Client’s quintessence and maximise passive site performance.

This timeless outdoor entertainment space is completely tailored to the Client’s needs and lifestyle. And, the site’s passive cooling and heating elements were carefully considered to establish optimal orientation, roof articulation and material use.

Sensitive design such as this is imperative to eco-friendly homes and to the occupant’s overall living experience. Hence, this inspirational outside space effortlessly inspires creativity and social connection, and allows the family to enjoy and occupy the space all-year-round.

The unique Sustainable® Design & Construction package promotes social, environmental, economic and cultural sustainability, placing Client’s and their site at the forefront of design inspiration. It is the Sustainable Team’s passion and ability to work with local environments to create sensational eco-friendly home designs.

More Information

NEWS Story: Eco-friendly Home Designs

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Sustainable Domain Transfer

Dear Clients, Suppliers, Partners, Staff & Families,

Due to recent changes to the Australian Domain Administrator’s (auDA) .au domain policy, the Sustainable Team has chosen to transition from our previous domain – sustainable.id.au – to sustainabledc.au. The Sustainable IT and Website Teams registered this domain last week and are currently conducting a seamless transfer of the website, emails, and related business items. At present, the new domain – sustainabledc.au – is active and operational across both the website and business emails, whilst our old domain is acting as an alias.

Please note, after Sunday 4^th June 2023, the old Sustainable website and email domain will no longer be in service and will not redirect to the new domain. As a result, we do ask to please be mindful that the new Sustainable website domain (URL) is: www.sustainabledc.au. In addition, please take note that all Sustainable business emails have been updated accordingly: accounts@sustainabledc.au, reception@sustainabledc.au, marketing@sustainabledc.au, design@sustainabledc.au and brett@sustainabledc.au.

The Sustainable Team believes it important to keep our valued Clients, Suppliers, Partners, Staff & Families up to date with critical business changes. Therefore, Sustainable apologises for the late notice and any inconvenience this change may cause now and in the future. The Sustainable Team is working diligently to ensure this business change is as seamless as possible, providing essential support where necessary. For future reference, if you are having issues contacting the Sustainable Team, please ring the Head Office on (07) 3201 1177 to seek direct assistance.

Sustainable thanks you in advance for your understanding and support through this process. If you have any questions regarding the information enclosed in this statement, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the Sustainable Team via phone (07) 3201 1177 or email reception@sustainabledc.au. 

Sustainable is dedicated to our valued Clients, Suppliers, Partners, Staff & Families by remaining authentic in our business operations and committed to creating and delivering cutting-edge sustainable homes beyond Client expectations. Owing to your ongoing support, Sustainable has been recognised by our Industry peers since 1994 with over 70 high-level awards. Sustainable thanks you for allowing our Team to deliver truly design-led sustainable living and sensible city infill communities of the future that are always committed to our belief – “By creating better buildings, we create better people.”