Western Australia allocates $4 million to restart Brickworks' Cardup plant amid brick shortage

Three years after its closure, Brickworks will revive its Cardup plant south of Perth with a $4 million investment from the Western Australian government. The package includes a $3 million payment for equipment, a $500,000 incentive to resume operations by March, and an extra $500,000 bonus if the company delivers 17 million maxibricks in the first year. Officials expect the restart to boost the state's brick output by 10-15 percent, addressing a shortage that has forced Midland Brick to ration supplies and left builders uneasy.

Treasury Minister Rita Saffioti highlighted the urgency as annual housing starts have risen from roughly 13,500 to 24,000. Builders like Dale Alcock of ABN Group say the move will help but will not fully meet demand, while the Housing Industry Association WA notes that 70 percent of homes rely on double-brick construction, likely causing delays for the next year. Industry groups also urge the government to shift public housing projects to alternative building methods to free up bricks for the private market.