Building & Construction

The Building and Construction industry is one of the largest sectors in the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula region, employing thousands of people across a wide range of roles. With ongoing growth in housing, commercial developments, and infrastructure projects, the demand for skilled workers has never been higher. From carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work to drafting, site management, and surveying, there are rewarding career pathways for young people of all interests and skill levels. With strong apprenticeship options and room for progression, this industry offers the chance to build a hands-on career while shaping the future of our local community.

Current Scope of the Industry (2026)

Overall Size & Role

  • Building and construction is one of the largest local employment sectors across both Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula, spanning:

    • Residential construction (houses, townhouses, apartments)

    • Commercial and mixed‑use buildings

    • Civil works and infrastructure

    • Renovations, extensions, and tourism‑related builds
      This aligns with regional economic profiles identifying construction as a core growth‐enabling industry. [cfmp.org.au]

Frankston City – Urban Growth & Densification

What it looks like now

  • Frankston is transitioning from a suburban centre to a regional waterfront city

  • Residential approvals fluctuate year‑to‑year, but medium‑ and high‑density projects now dominate approvals rather than detached housing

  • In 2024–25, 332 dwellings were approved, following a cyclical post‑COVID slowdown in 2023–24 [profile.id.com.au]

Key drivers

  • Frankston Metropolitan Activity Centre (FMAC) Structure Plan

  • Preferred building heights of up to 16 storeys in parts of the CBD

  • A new Priority Development Program fast‑tracking major projects within 16 weeks
    Multiple apartment and mixed‑use towers (10–14 storeys) are already approved or under construction on Nepean Highway [mpnews.com.au], [stplnews.com.au]

What this means for the sector

  • Strong demand for:

    • Mid‑rise and high‑rise residential builders

    • Concrete, steel, formwork, façade, and services trades

    • Mixed‑use construction experience

  • Less emphasis on greenfield housing; more on urban renewal and infill

Mornington Peninsula – Controlled Growth & Low‑Density Housing

What it looks like now

  • The Peninsula deliberately limits growth to protect landscapes, coastlines, and town character

  • Construction is dominated by:

    • Detached dwellings

    • Dual occupancies

    • Renovations, extensions, and rebuilds

    • Aged care, lifestyle and tourism‑related construction

Planning framework

  • Housing and Settlement Strategy (2020–2036) guides growth at 1,200 dwellings/year

  • Growth concentrated in “activity centres” (Mornington, Rosebud, Hastings)

  • Strong controls remain in Green Wedge and coastal areas [mornpen.vic.gov.au], [nationaltr...une.com.au]

Recent shift (important)

  • Planning Scheme Amendment C219 proposes simplifying residential approvals

  • Many single‑dwelling builds and extensions may no longer require planning permits, only building permits
    Likely to boost small‑to‑medium builders and trades from 2026 onward [danckert.com.au]

Infrastructure & Civil Construction

Major Drivers

  • Ongoing Big Build projects across Melbourne’s south‑east:

    • Frankston rail line works

    • Road upgrades linking Peninsula to SE Melbourne

    • Station, level‑crossing and transport upgrades
      These projects provide steady demand for civil contractors, earthworks, utilities, and subcontractors [bigbuild.vic.gov.au]

  • Civil Contractors Federation identifies continued transport and utilities investment across Victoria through the late 2020s, despite some funding tapering after peak Big Build years [ccfvic.com.au]

Key Challenges Shaping the Sector

Across both LGAs, builders face:

  • Labour shortages, particularly licensed trades and supervisors

  • Higher compliance, insurance, and financing costs

  • Exposure to insolvencies following the post‑COVID construction downturn

  • Housing undersupply across Victoria, keeping demand high but margins tight [cassaform.com.au], [mfeg.com.au]

The construction sector in Frankston & the Mornington Peninsula is transitioning, not shrinking.

  • Frankston - city‑style growth, apartments, commercial scale

  • Peninsula - controlled, smaller‑scale but constant activity

  • Over the next 5 years:

    • Fewer speculative booms

    • More predictable pipelines

    • Strong ongoing need for skilled labour and capable SMEs