NSW Government Retracts False Claim on 3D-Printed Housing Timeline

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The New South Wales (NSW) Labor government has corrected its earlier claim that it built a 3D-printed social housing unit in just three days, revealing the project actually took 20 weeks to complete. The initial statement was part of a marketing effort to promote innovative housing solutions but has drawn criticism for overstating the Minns Labor Government’s progress in addressing the state’s housing crisis.

The NSW government’s original press release stated that two social housing duplexes in Dubbo, constructed using 3D-printing technology, were finished in a mere three days. This was intended to showcase the potential speed of modern construction methods. However, according to reports including The Guardian (16 July 2025), the project, delivered by Aboriginal Sustainable Homes (ASH) in partnership with Contour3D, spanned 20 weeks overall. The concrete structures themselves were printed over 16 days using approximately 70 tonnes of Contourcrete, a proprietary 3D-printable concrete mix. Although this is a substantial improvement over the roughly 40 weeks typical for conventional builds, critics say the initial exaggeration risks damaging the government’s credibility.

Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson had described the Dubbo development as a “game-changer” for accelerating social housing delivery, especially for tenants of the Aboriginal Housing Office (AHO). The inaccurate three-day claim sparked criticism from opposition figures. Liberal MP Alister Henskens described the claim as “typical Labor spin” and questioned the government’s ability to solve NSW’s growing housing shortage. The state faces rising demand, with social housing waitlists increasing and median rents reaching $627 per week last year.

The project’s total cost of $814,000 for two units has also raised questions about whether 3D printing can achieve the anticipated 10-20% cost savings compared with traditional building methods. With plans to extend 3D-printed housing to locations such as Shellharbour and Wollongong, the government faces pressure to ensure transparency and rebuild public trust.

This episode underscores the importance of accurate communication about innovative housing solutions, particularly as NSW grapples with one of the most severe housing crises in Australia.