THEY suffered the slings and arrows of a collapsing construction sector but Cairns and Far Northern builders showed their class at the 2009 HIA CSR Housing Awards.

Held in Townsville recently, the awards recognised the top house builders from Rockhampton to the Torres Strait.

While Cairns has been hardest hit by the global financial crisis, it was the Cairns builders and cabinetmakers who claimed most of the regional awards.

Tropical Trend Homes on the northern beaches won five awards including best spec home, best townhouse/villa development, best special-purpose housing for serviced apartments, best use of glass and best use of timber.

Manager Alfi na Winter said it was great to succeed while representing Cairns.

“We are a small company and to win one award was great but to win five was fantastic,’’ she said.

Byrne Homes at Mareeba won energy effi cient home of the year while Better Homes Queensland won apartment project of the year for its Parkview Concepts construction.

Greg Byrne from Byrne homes said they won the energy effi cient home title for a house in Chewko Rd, Mareeba,with a “passive cooling system”.

“The house involved a 4.5 tonne blue rock wall which has a cooling effect and means there is no need for airconditioning,’’ Mr Byrne said.

“We have been building ‘green’ homes for the last eight or nine years, and this house has just taken energy efficiency to the next level.’’

Other features included a water supply based entirely on bore and rain supplies.

Ash Moseley Homes won project home of the year.

Udo Jattke’s Glencorp won Residential Lifestyle Development of the year while Ecogroup won the outdoor project of the year.

In the kitchen and bathroom awards, M&R Kitchens won both bathroom of the year and outdoor kitchen of the year.

Russell Kelly from Artizan Cabinets won kitchen designer of the year while the kitchen of the year went to CCW Cabinetworks with a “striking and contemporary entry”.

The winners in most categories will now progress to the Australian Housing Awards to be held early next year.

HIA Cairns manager Peter Collins congratulated all the finalists for their efforts.

Mr Collins said the finalists had maintained high standards in economically difficult times and should be extremely proud of their efforts.

“Keep in mind that our housing industry professionals face the toughest supply chain issues across the country, the toughest weather conditions and the toughest building regulations,’’ he said.

“The Housing Industry Association promotes the proposition that HIA members are the best in the business.”

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