What's Your Big Idea

Tuesday 29 November 2011, at Stamford Plaza, Brisbane, Chameleon Group of Companies was placed in the top 5% of applications received from a highly competitive field of over 900 applications for the What’s Your Big Idea Queensland? Program run by the Queensland Government.  As a result of this placement the Chameleon Group of Companies was awarded funding of almost $50,000 to assist to bring their vision to fruition.  This award was presented by the Hon Jan Jarrett.

Managing Director, Geoff Clarke says, “The Chameleon Group of companies are focussed on R&D and innovation, committed to improving the sustainability, affordability and durability of homes.  Our vision is to empower people to access affordable shelter.  In response to the skills shortage in CQ, our clever interlocking design, reduces the need for a number of trades, making our homes an affordable option and taking only days to erect on site. 

Our potential market has grown significantly, over past months, from being mainly CQ based, to the wider Queensland and Australian markets, with global opportunities also emerging in PNG, the wider Pacific and locations such as Guam.  A key feature is being able to take our factory/building system to the market for on-site manufacturing and construction.  Being awarded around $50,000 from the “What’s Your Big Idea Queensland?” program provides Chameleon with a springboard to expand our on-site building locations. This makes our innovative building system even more affordable for families and developers facing high construction costs in CQ and the urgent need for housing.

Chameleon are currently forming partnerships with other innovative companies in Queensland to offer economic and environmentally sustainable housing options.  To respond to the increase in enquiries they are now establishing a branch office in Gladstone at the Old Court House building. Chameleon have a proven range of commercial and industrial applications and are now actively looking for suitably qualified licences in Gladstone and surrounds in the very new future.to produce their unique building system.  

The modular housing not only offers an affordable comfortable lifestyle, it can stand up to severe weather events, such as cyclonic wind gusts to C4 rating and debris impacts and are vandal proof.  They also bring a new level of style along with durability and sustainability. For further information please contact Geoff Clarke on: 0428 751 264

Further Background

Chameleon Research & Development (Australia) Pty Ltd, was registered in Rockhampton, Queensland, in 2006 to design and develop a sustainable and affordable building construction system which addresses a number of social and environmental considerations.

Since its inception and proof of concept for the affordable house product the company has established a production facility on the Bruce Highway, just south of Rockhampton.  The core business until recently, has been owner builders, building their own affordable homes, however strong interest is now coming from the multiple housing sector for double storey accommodation for mine workers and students, and general rental accommodation in ‘hot spots’ in CQ; mainly Gladstone.

Our potential market has grown significantly, over past months, from being mainly CQ based, to the wider Queensland and Australian markets, with global opportunities also emerging in PNG, the wider Pacific and locations such as Guam.  A key feature is being able to take our factory/building system to the market for on-site manufacturing and construction.

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What motivated you to start your business? 

The Chameleon Group of companies is a small company committed to improving the sustainability, affordability and durability of homes and has endeavoured to ensure their homes have general aesthetic and architectural appeal. 

The Chameleon building system not only responds to the urgent need for appropriately designed and constructed housing and other infrastructure in mainstream communities, but it also represents an exciting opportunity to create businesses and provide training and employment. In addition to the Indigenous housing sector, there is an opportunity to license the rights to the production process to any individual or company who may be interested in the commercial opportunity such an arrangement offers.  We are currently considering franchise and licencing opportunities.

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Be patient, persistent and have a steady nerve.

Keep in close contact will all of the various government agencies to obtain as much assistance as possible.

Create your own trusted network of advisers.

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Is there anything catchy, unusual, news worthy about you or your business or idea that may provide a good news angle?  Maybe it has strong social, economic and/or scientific impact or there’s a human interest element. If so please explain.
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Managing Director, Geoff Clarke says, “The Chameleon Group of companies are focussed on R&D and innovation, committed to improving the sustainability, affordability and durability of homes.  Our vision is to empower people to access affordable shelter.  In response to the skills shortage in CQ, our clever interlocking design, reduces the need for a number of trades, making our homes an affordable option and taking only days to erect on site. 

The genesis of the invention came when I was working with unemployed people who believed they would never be able to afford a home/shelter of their own.   This was particularly the view of indigenous groups I was training.”

Australian Business Acumen (June-July 2011) featured Chameleon Modular Concrete Buildings as part of the Australian Technology Showcase, highlighting:

“Chameleon Modular Concrete Buildings can stand up to severe weather events, such as cyclonic wind gusts to C4 rating and debris impacts and are vandal proof.  They also bring a new level of style along with durability and sustainability.”

Geoff Clarke, was nominated by DEEDI to attend the CRC conference in Brisbane in May 2011, representing SMEs in Central Queensland.  Outcomes from this conference include:

• Met with Major General Slater to discuss benefits of this affordable, sustainable and durable housing; particularly in response to the floods of 2011.
• Approached to do a case study of the company for Australian Concrete and Aggregates Association Journal.
• Ongoing sharing of knowledge gained in a number of forums, most recently invited to participate in an SME/CQU engagement event to identify opportunities for closer ties between the SME sector and CQUniversity Australia to increase investment in R&D through collaborative research.
• Approached by the Central Queensland University to participate in a collaborative research project for lightweight concrete using clean tech materials such as geopolymer.

The summer of floods in 2011 has led people to reconsider construction methods for buildings, with many now considering this long term sustainable option.  Enquires have increased significantly since our summer of floods. The durability of a Chameleon building meets the criteria being considered by the Insurance Council of Australia.

Access to these buildings enable faster rehousing after a disaster.  Whilst there is still need for the house to be cleaned out, there is no need to replace walls giving people shelter immediately after the event.  The homes offer a major economic event with flood affected residents moving back in their own homes quickly, reducing the need for temporary housing and major disruption to their lives.

To highlight the benefits of this system, you only need look at Japan where, following the 2011 tsunami, people are still living in cardboard shelters months after the disaster.  A similar story in New Orleans with people still living in tents years after the devastating floods.  Closer to home people in Ingham and Cardwell districts are still waiting for their homes to have walls replaced, months after the January disaster. So too are residents of Grantham and Ipswich.

The Chameleon Modular Concrete Building System is based on pre-fabricated concrete Panels, requiring the use of moulds, to produce a lightweight concrete roof panel that over-locks concrete wall panels which contain inbuilt concrete gutters and down pipes providing rainwater catchment capacity.

The modular concrete panels give the customer the flexibility to expand and add a cost effective second storey to their home.  This two storey option is most beneficial in known flood or cyclone risk areas – houses could be built with knowledge that the ground floor could or would be flooded, so when the time came, allow the water to pass through and once this has receded, hose down, bring the furniture back from upstairs and start living in it again.  No need to replace walls.

The Chameleon building system not only responds to the urgent need for appropriately designed and constructed housing and other infrastructure in mainstream communities, but it also represents an exciting opportunity to create businesses and provide training and employment. In addition to the Indigenous housing sector, there is an opportunity to license the rights to the production process to any individual or company who may be interested in the commercial opportunity such an arrangement offers.