- Gooday Construction Newsletter
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- 01/08/25
01/08/25
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THE MORNING PAPER FOR CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS AND TRADIES
šØ Safety Updates
CASM Construction Pty Ltd has been fined $750,000 and a company director fined $45,000 over an incident where a worker from another business was seriously injured in a fall. In December 2021, a worker at a private property in Wootatting, 69km east of Perth, fell 2.2 metres into an unfinished concrete swimming pool inside an undercover alfresco area that was under construction.
ā Headlines & Industry
The Queensland Government has released the terms of reference in the Commission of Inquiry into the CFMEU in what is expected to be a 12-month probe into the union.
The contentious VNI West transmission project in Victoria is likely to almost double in cost to more than $7 billion, fuelling calls to scrap it and other power cable schemes needed to underpin the transition to clean energy.
Queenslandās Productivity Commission has flagged a broad construction industry āresetā that could threaten existing enterprise bargaining agreements, arguing it may be required if the state is to build its way out of a housing crisis ā and host the Olympics. The commission released an interim report on Thursday into improving productivity in the construction sector that called on the Queensland government to permanently remove so-called āBest Practice Industry Conditionsā (BPICs) from its procurement policy.
UK utilities contractor OCU Group has made its first international move. Stockport-based OCU Group is now the majority owner of All Energy Contracting (AEC), an Australian contractor specialising in renewables and energy infrastructure services.
šļø Projects
NSW
New South Wales has launched a new competitive tender for 500 megawatts (MW) of firming capacity, targeting delivery before the forecast shortfall in the summer of 2027ā28. Announced by Energy and Climate Change Minister Penny Sharpe at the Australian Clean Energy Summit in Sydney, the tender will prioritise dispatchable assets capable of supporting the stateās largest demand centres (Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong) during peak periods. The tender, to be conducted by ASL (formerly AEMO Services) later this year, will seek proposals for fast-acting technologies such as grid-scale batteries, gas peaking generation and virtual power plants.
QLD
The Queensland Government has today declared a new priority housing development area in Cairns. The Mount Peter priority development site, located 15 kilometres south of Cairns, is set to unlock 18,500 homes and support delivery of coordinated infrastructure and community facilities.
A development application has been lodged for a residential building and ground floor retail, located on the corner of 53 Racecourse Road and Balowrie Street, Hamilton.
VIC
Demolition has begun at Warrnambool Base Hospital as part of a $396.1 million redevelopment. The project will deliver a larger emergency department, more beds, theatres, and a new paediatric unit. It supports 800 jobs and boosts regional healthcare, with completion expected in late 2027. Demolition is staged to minimise disruption.
WA
A $27 million self-storage unit facility has been recommended for approval on the corner of Sutherland Street and Roe Street in West Perth.
The centre is set to include a Woolworths, BWS liquor store , 13 speciality retailers, a gym and medical centre, and 252 parking bays.
The Western Green Energy Hub (WGEH) in Western Australia is planned to be one of the planetās most significant green energy projects. Spanning 15,000 kmĀ² of Mirning territory, this 75-quadrillion project will comprise 25 million solar panels and 3000 wind turbines to generate a new level of green hydrogen.
The biggest transformations of Perthās rail network in more than a century, the Armadale Line and the new Byford Rail Extension, are due to open in three months.
š§° Construction Au Other
Housing industry leaders have urged the Opposition to reconsider its objection to policy reforms, arguing it would block an estimated 80,000 new homes from being built. Shadow Minister for Housing Andrew Bragg announced on July 29 that the Coalition will table a motion to disallow changes to the Labor Governmentās build-to-rent scheme.
The Australasian Railway Association has launched several research projects to support rail industry growth. These include updates on rail's economic impact, future trends, market outlooks, and passenger attitudes. Projects also focus on First Nations engagement, competitive neutrality in freight, and skills needed for infrastructureās transition to net zero emissions.
Australiaās rail sector is shifting focus from megaprojects to operational maintenance, requiring new, specialised skills. Workforce sustainability is now critical, amid rising competition for talent. Emphasising training, flexible career pathways, and digital capabilities is essential to attract and retain workers, ensuring rail infrastructure remains effective, future-ready, and regionally supported.
š Innovation, Digital & Futuristic Technology
There is growing concern about the environmental impact generated by key industrial sectors, especially in areas such as construction and mobility, where achieving materials with good mechanical performance, lighter weight, and greater fire resistance plays a crucial role.
Chitosan-enhanced clay bricks offer improved thermal insulation and structural strength, paving the way for sustainable energy-efficient construction materials.
The podcast explains the concept of ādigital custodianshipā of structures and how Mind Foundryās new phone app is expanding the accessibility to its tools.
Raise Robotics , developer of the Raise Robotics construction platform, announced July 30 a $7.75-million seed funding round led by MaC Venture Capital with participation from Undivided Ventures and existing investors Cybernetix Ventures, Zacua Ventures, and Union Labs.
The company raised $3.25 million in March 2024 from Propeller, Aera VC and Anthropocene Ventures to scale production.
š± Sustainability ā& Environment
The Ellenbrook Wildlife Bridge in Western Australia represents a milestone in ecologically conscious infrastructure, demonstrating how engineered solutions can harmonise with the natural environment. Designed to provide safe passage for native fauna across Tonkin Highway, the 12-metre-wide bridge stands as a testament to sustainable design and thoughtful construction practices.
It is possible to create little to no waste from building construction in regional towns, according to new research. A team at Charles Darwin University (CDU) explored the barriers to adopting a circular economy in construction projects in Alice Springs, using the renovation of its own campus as a field test.
The construction industry generates 2,200 billion tonnes of waste each year. Ocskay Mark/Shutterstock JosƩ Manuel Cabrero, Universidad de Navarra and Rayder Willian Leonardo Laura, Universidad de Navarra Most of us are already quite comfortable recycling our household waste.
š Around the World
Construction will start shortly after planners green lighted the UKās first floating padel tennis courts at Liverpool Waters. The development will feature three courts built on state-of-the-art floating platforms and the worldās first floating clubhouse.
Dallas-based engineer Jacobs has been selected by Sound Transit to provide design services for a 6.6km expansion of Seattleās light rail network to the west of the city. The project, valued at $7.1bn, is expected to improve connectivity, reduce road congestion and stimulate the growth of retail and affordable housing. As well as the track, the West Seattle Link Extension includes building a 520m cable-stayed bridge over the Duwamish River, a tunnel and four stations.
Goldin Finance 117, a 597-metre unfinished skyscraper near Tianjin, China, is the worldās tallest abandoned building. Once a symbol of Chinaās overambitious real estate boom, it has stood incomplete since 2015. Now, after a decade of stagnation and controversy, change may finally be coming to this colossal structure.
š·āāļø Tradies and Resource
Australiaās renewable energy rollout is under threat unless urgent action is taken to address the nationās engineering skills shortfall, Engineers Australia has warned. In a submission to the Treasurerās Economic Reform Roundtable, the peak body called for a government-led āengineering surgeā to expand workforce capacity and remove systemic barriers that are slowing progress on energy transition projects.
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