Tasmania's lack of skilled tradespeople affecting historic building upkeep

The current shortage of skilled tradespeople has been widely reported around the country - as have the various state and territory government initiatives to increase the support for training a new generation of tradies.

As each state's strategy to reduce the impact of this shortage is different, so too are the manifestations of the problem, region-to-region.

Tasmania's problem is a unique one - as host to 40 per cent of the country's heritage-listed buildings the state is experiencing a decline in maintenance for these historic sites.

The Tasmanian Building and Construction Industry Training Board (TBCITB) chairman David Hudson said last week (April 23) that if the number of skilled workers in traditional stonework and plastering is not remedied soon, Tasmanian historic buildings will be put at risk.

He explained: "Property owners are actually finding it difficult to find these practitioners, which means either the work isn't done or, sometimes even worse, it's done by someone who hasn't got the appropriate skills which actually makes the deterioration worse."

The TBCITB has commissioned research into the less common industry practises that are needed for the repair and maintenance of historic buildings.

"Perhaps it's perceived as an older skill, one that's not needed anymore," Mr Hudson posited.