Mark Cliff from CMC Construction said interest in the cottage/housing building area was slow but other areas were doing better.

Figures from Shoalhaven City Council for July 1, 2008 to May 30, 2009, with two months worth of figures yet to tally, show council had approved 1596 developments and 314 new dwellings.

This compares to 2109 development applications for the last financial year with 423 new dwellings approved.

Mr Cliff said elements of the Federal Government’s stimulus package that involved construction projects at local schools would help the building industry.

He said extra funding for Community Housing and the Department of Housing could also help the industry pick up.

He had spoken to other people in the industry and was told things were ticking along.

Mr Cliff was told work on major projects like the $83 million HMAS Creswell upgrade could be farmed out locally.

Vice president of the Shoalhaven Business Chamber Chance Hanlon from Hanlon Windows said he hoped the Creswell upgrade would boost the local building industry.

“If local people get their fair share of the work then it will be good for the local economy,” he said.

Mr Hanlon said his company had supplied quotes for windows that added up to a sizeable amount.

He said local businesses needed to be shown how to get work on major projects.

Regarding quotes, Mr Hanlon said he had heard that on average six people were putting in for the same quote, which indicated things were still slow.

Another local builder said he had been doing lots of quotes but most had not resulted in work.

Mr Hanlon predicted the industry would soon pick up. In the last two to three weeks his company had been handling an increased number of enquiries.

However, he added the level of commitment was still low.

Mr Hanlon said he expected things to have improved by the end of the year.