Site 19, Dandenong – Big Housing Build

MBM Project Lead

Richard Smith

Client Name

Launch Housing | Donald Cant Watts Corke

Sector

Residential

Timeline

2024 - Ongoing

Project Value

$ 37m

MBM Project Team

  • Charlotte Jiang
  • Lexie Zhen
  • Sam Noorwaite
  • Jack Spellacy
  • Amber He

Services Provided

MBM are delivering full cost planning and quantity surveying services, including design stage cost plans, tender estimates and evaluation, contract administration, monthly cost reporting, and final account preparation.

Project Background and Scope

Launch Housing’s Site 19 Dandenong project will deliver 70 new social housing apartments in an 11-level building at 6 Abbott Street, Dandenong. The development will provide a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom dwellings, designed to Liveable Housing Silver Level and NDIS Improved Liveability standards. At least 10% of dwellings will be allocated to First Nations peoples, with priority given to applicants on very low to moderate incomes from the Victorian Housing Register. The project will also include resident amenities such as a lounge, bookable multipurpose room, Launch Housing staff office, and a culturally safe outdoor communal area, along with 35 car spaces. Delivered to a 4-Star Green Star rating, the development supports the Victorian Government’s target to deliver 1,000 new social housing dwellings under the $5.3 billion Big Housing Build program.

Project Challenges

The project faces a tight delivery program to meet critical State funding deadlines. Affordability pressures, coupled with the need to achieve the sustainability requirements, required a rigorous value engineering process to balance cost, scope, and sustainability. These challenges demanded proactive planning, detailed design reviews, and close collaboration across all parties to maintain viability while meeting program and compliance requirements.

MBM Solutions

Through detailed cost plans at each design stage, a deep dive into value engineering with monthly financial reporting, and robust analysis of contractor tenders, MBM have provided transparency and certainty for Launch Housing and its stakeholders. MBM’s proactive approach to risk identification, variation assessment and cash flow forecasting ensures the project remains financially viable and compliant with State funding conditions for completion by the targeted date.