NSW government forced to correct marketing strategy after falsely claiming it built '3D printed' social housing unit in three days instead of 20 week reality

Sky News AU

16-07-2025

Social media users have erupted after the NSW government falsely stated it had built a 3D-printed social housing block in Dubbo in three days - as opposed to the actual timeline of 20 weeks.
The NSW government, in partnership with Aboriginal Sustainable Homes, Contour3D and the NSW Aboriginal Housing Office, announced it had completed the state's first ever 3D-printed social housing project in Dubbo.
The government said the construction of the dwelling was a significant "milestone", with the two-bedroom home set to house Indigenous social housing tenants.
As the nation grapples with a debilitating housing crisis, the new sensation of 3D-printed homes have swept the country by storm – with governments and manufacturers touting the technology as a cheaper, quicker and more sustainable option.
Yet the 'first of its kind' feat was overshadowed when the NSW government inaccurately stated in a Facebook post that the development was completed in three days as opposed to 20 weeks.
The original post read: "NSW's first 3D printed social home is here!
"It was built in just 3 days, uses less materials than traditional builds, and could help more people get into homes faster and more affordably."
However the post was subsequently corrected to reflect a 20 week build time.
The post's comment section lashed the state government for the misleading error, with one user questioning 'how did this go from '3 days' to '20 weeks?''
Other users expressed their disappointment, with one stating 'So, 1 down, how many more to go?' and another said '20 weeks is not that different to a regular build of this size."
The government was quick to jump on the bungle, responding to almost every comment while explaining there was 'an error in our first caption."
It added that the caption had since been 'updated.'
Emails seen by SkyNews.com.au claim that the original post, drafted by a Social Media Advisor for NSW Government, was approved by Homes NSW director Adam Thompson.
However, the concept of a 3D printed home, which the state government said would serve as a major solution in tackling the national housing crisis, incited the wrath of users who were unconvinced if the house was safe to live in.
'I do hope the dividing wall is sound & fire proof' one person wrote, with another jibing 'what about when the big bad wolf huff and puffs?'
The house was created using approximately 70 tonnes of Contourcrete, a specially developed 3D printable concrete mix and was printed in 16 days.
The home was also delivered in less than half the usual 40-week timeline.
However, the government's assertions of budget savings have come under fire, with critics arguing that $814,000 was a steep figure in a highly scrutinised space such as social housing.
CoreLogic data showed that numerous regional homes in NSW were built for similar prices or slightly less as commentors stated two homes felt like a measley return for the hefty investment.
The alleged savings are also based on internal or project-linked estimates as there is no comprehensive Australian study to verify the cost advantages of 3D printing at scale.
Research from several Australian academic institutions including Charles Darwin University and Monash University have warned that 3D printing could also reduce onsite labour demand, particularly in regional areas whose local economies are reliant on traditional construction trades.
The NSW government has a target of delivering 377,000 new homes by 2029 through the National Housing accord which experts have warned is unachievable.
New figures from the Institute of Public Affairs revealed the Albanese government had failed to meet a single target in the first year of its flagship National Housing Accord, falling more than 55,000 homes short of its annual goal.
NSW Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said the Dubbo pilot was a 'game-changer' and that the feat was 'just the beginning.'