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How A Newcomer Scaled A Construction Company To $30M
Want the real reasons Canberra homes cost more—and what would actually move the needle on supply? We sit down with Taz Building Group CEO Suman Dhillon to unpack a 13‑year climb from one home to a $30 million operation, delivering 70–80 new builds a year while keeping clients coming back. From stable subcontractor teams to five‑month build timelines after approvals, Suman shares how paying trades on time, standardizing processes, and protecting the client experience compound into reliable delivery and word‑of‑mouth growth.
We dig into the numbers and the nuance. Canberra’s construction costs skew higher than Sydney and Melbourne, not because of materials, but because the trades pool is smaller and aging. With many seasoned carpenters and stonemasons retiring, the city needs more apprentices, stronger migration pathways, and better storytelling about why Canberra is a great place to live and work. Suman also breaks down where policy bites: lengthy DA and BA processes, entity clearances, and conditions that can stretch townhouse projects to nearly two years before ground is broken—costs that inevitably surface in final prices.
Prefab sounds like a silver bullet until local realities set in. Canberra’s varied block sizes, slopes, and a strong appetite for custom designs limit off‑the‑shelf efficiencies. The path forward, Suman argues, blends smarter subdivision standards, selective use of pre‑approved plans for standard blocks, and buyer acceptance of fewer variations when speed matters most. We also tackle developer licensing rules, quality assurance after the pandemic’s builder boom, and fresh zoning changes that open RZ1 infill to accelerate supply—provided approvals don’t remain the bottleneck.
If you’re weighing a new build, Suman outlines the sweet spot: a four‑bedroom, 250 m² home with above‑basic inclusions in the $500k–$600k band, plus true end‑to‑end support from land choice to handover. It’s a grounded look at what’s working, what isn’t, and where Canberra can credibly gain speed without sacrificing standards. Enjoyed the conversation? Follow the show, share this episode with a friend, and leave a quick review to help more Canberrans find it.
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By Canberra Business ChamberWant the real reasons Canberra homes cost more—and what would actually move the needle on supply? We sit down with Taz Building Group CEO Suman Dhillon to unpack a 13‑year climb from one home to a $30 million operation, delivering 70–80 new builds a year while keeping clients coming back. From stable subcontractor teams to five‑month build timelines after approvals, Suman shares how paying trades on time, standardizing processes, and protecting the client experience compound into reliable delivery and word‑of‑mouth growth.
We dig into the numbers and the nuance. Canberra’s construction costs skew higher than Sydney and Melbourne, not because of materials, but because the trades pool is smaller and aging. With many seasoned carpenters and stonemasons retiring, the city needs more apprentices, stronger migration pathways, and better storytelling about why Canberra is a great place to live and work. Suman also breaks down where policy bites: lengthy DA and BA processes, entity clearances, and conditions that can stretch townhouse projects to nearly two years before ground is broken—costs that inevitably surface in final prices.
Prefab sounds like a silver bullet until local realities set in. Canberra’s varied block sizes, slopes, and a strong appetite for custom designs limit off‑the‑shelf efficiencies. The path forward, Suman argues, blends smarter subdivision standards, selective use of pre‑approved plans for standard blocks, and buyer acceptance of fewer variations when speed matters most. We also tackle developer licensing rules, quality assurance after the pandemic’s builder boom, and fresh zoning changes that open RZ1 infill to accelerate supply—provided approvals don’t remain the bottleneck.
If you’re weighing a new build, Suman outlines the sweet spot: a four‑bedroom, 250 m² home with above‑basic inclusions in the $500k–$600k band, plus true end‑to‑end support from land choice to handover. It’s a grounded look at what’s working, what isn’t, and where Canberra can credibly gain speed without sacrificing standards. Enjoyed the conversation? Follow the show, share this episode with a friend, and leave a quick review to help more Canberrans find it.