- Gooday Construction Newsletter
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- 15/09/2025
15/09/2025
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THE MORNING PAPER FOR CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS AND TRADIES
šØ Safety Updates
The Queensland Government is reviewing the Concrete Pumping Code of Practice 2019. Feedback is invited on proposed updates, including technical revisions from recent safety alerts and editorial changes for clarity and legislative consistency. This review ensures the Code remains current and effective under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.
Territorians are encouraged to provide feedback on Safe Work Australiaās review of model WHS laws. The review aims to strengthen national consistency, address jurisdictional differences, and consider recent recommendations. A discussion paper is available to guide responses. Visit Safe Work Australiaās Consultation Hub for details and submission instructions.
ā Headlines & Industry
Incoming Executive Director Matthew Pollock has called for the reinstatement of a national construction industry regulator, citing rising criminal behaviour and union intimidation since the ABCCās abolition. He urges the NSW Government to act now, empowering its Construction Compliance Unit to enforce procurement guidelines and address unlawful industrial conduct.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a $12 billion investment into a Western Australian defence precinct, which is set to bolster Australia's ability to build warships and host nuclear-powered submarines.
Australia will legislate āno-goā zones to protect sensitive environments and āgo zonesā for fast-tracked development. Environment Minister Murray Wattās reforms, based on Graeme Samuelās 2020 review, aim to fix broken laws, speed approvals, support renewables, and ensure community input, safeguarding nature while boosting sustainable growth.
Service Stream has secured a long-term Base Services Contract with Defence. From 1 February 2026, Service Stream will deliver Property and Asset Services (PAS) on behalf of Defenceās Security and Estate Group for South Australia and the Northern Territory.
SunCableās massive Australia-Asia Power Link project is shifting focus to build large-scale solar and battery storage in the Northern Territoryās Barkly region, aiming to supply local customers, including data centres, by as early as 2028. Exporting power to Singapore is now a longer-term goal, expected by the mid-2030s.
šļø Projects
NSW
The New South Wales (NSW) government has moved a step closer to opening a renewable energy zone (REZ) centred around the stateās coal-heavy HunterāCentral Coast region with planning approval granted for network infrastructure upgrades that will deliver an additional 1 GW of network transfer capacity in the region by 2028.
QLD
Efforts to rebuild Gold Coast beaches post-Cyclone Alfred face criticism as unrealistic, with experts calling the three-year recovery timeline ādestined to fail.ā Ongoing restoration includes dredging, sand nourishment, and seawall construction, but rising erosion and severe weather challenge progress. Critics argue nature is outpacing expensive, short-term engineering solutions.
The Queensland Government has announced that following the 2025 Ekka, early works to create the Brisbane Athletesā Village, upgrade the Main Arena will begin imminently at the Brisbane Showgrounds, located in Bowen Hills.
Nearly $49 million is being invested to rebuild eight state-controlled roads in Far North Queensland damaged by ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasperās floods and landslides. Funded jointly by federal and state governments, the works aim to improve drainage, pavement resilience, and flood mitigation to reduce future disaster impacts and road closures. Reconstruction on Kuranda Range Road and Captain Cook Highway is ongoing, with over 100 geotechnical sites under repair. Queensland officials emphasize building stronger, more resilient infrastructure to protect communities and maintain vital transport links.
Chatham Rock Phosphate is sounding out potential partners to deliver its planned RailPhos project, proposed to provide a new rail route to the Port of Karumba. The company said an invitation had been sent to selected parties to become a 49 per cent shareholder in the special purpose vehicle established for RailPhos.
TAS
The Tasmanian government and its industry allies are making waves by building Tasmania hydrogen refuelling stations right here on the island. Leading the charge is H2H Energy, the local whiz for hydrogen transport infrastructure since 2015.
VIC
The Allan Labor Government is investing in a new Beechworth ambulance branch to support growing demand in Northern Victoria. Construction by Zauner Construction will begin soon, featuring modern facilities for paramedics. While it's built, services will operate from temporary accommodation. This is part of a $280 million statewide upgrade program.
The Allan Labor Government is driving major housing construction across Victoria, with over 300 homes approved for Greenvale North and draft plans underway for 10,000+ homes in Ballarat and Warrnambool. These projects will deliver essential infrastructure, transport upgrades, and jobsāensuring growing communities have access to well-planned, connected, and sustainable housing developments.
The $415.7 million Pakenham Roads Upgrade will finish nine months early, delivering safer, less congested roads across Melbourneās south-east. Key works include Racecourse Road duplication, major intersection upgrades, and flood mitigation. This milestone adds to $1 billion in completed projects, boosting access to the Princes Freeway and the new community hospital.
Designs have been released for the next stage of the Eastern Freeway Upgrades from Tram Road to Springvale Road in Victoria. The Urban Design and Landscape Plan responds to close to three years of community consultation and more than 15,000 pieces of feedback received through the projectās planning stages.
š§° Construction Au Other
The study identifies interface conditions and alkalinity as critical to steel corrosion in concrete, challenging traditional chloride concentration beliefs.
Fortescue is marching towards zero emissions as it invests in new, zero-emission mining equipment options across its global operations. And that investment? Itās already paying off. One analyst says the companyās saving almost $400 million in fuel costs alone.
š Innovation, Digital & Futuristic Technology
Systems thinking can transform infrastructure performance by breaking down silos across sectors like transport and energy. Despite resistance over data sharing and legacy systems, integrated approaches and digital tools like twins boost productivity and resilience. Success requires honest collaboration, mindset shifts, and shared standards to deliver lasting value and inclusion.
Geotab has surpassed 5 million connected vehicle subscriptions globally, marking 25 years of innovation. Its data-driven fleet management platform processes over 100 billion daily data points, boosting efficiency, safety, and emissions reductions. With 630 patents and growing AI use, Geotab continues expanding its global ecosystem of partners and solutions.
Scientists have created living cement with electricity-generating bacteria, enabling self-regenerating supercapacitors for sustainable energy in infrastructure.
Slow but steady growth in the use of 3D printed concrete in construction brings in new firms and users, as the nascent industry finds the right market niches for a continually evolving technology.
š± Sustainability ā& Environment
A recycling facility at the heart of WA's mining industry aims to prevent 30,000 tonnes of waste from ending up landfill every year. With 95 per cent of mining tyres eventually buried, it is hoped the industry will adopt alternatives.
Biodiversity loss threatens half of Australia and New Zealandās GDP, making nature integration crucial. A new paper by the Infrastructure Sustainability Council and Jacobs urges water utilities to treat natural capital as a core asset. Drawing on UK lessons, it recommends assessments, collaboration, Indigenous knowledge, and nature-positive strategies for resilient, sustainable water systems.
A new report from the NSW Select Committee on PFAS Contamination in Waterways and Drinking Water Supplies is calling for an overhaul in how Australia manages āforever chemicals.ā The inquiryās findings reveal a stark reality: non-essential per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) must be phased out of consumer, commercial, and industrial products across Australia.
A report designed to inform coordinated, strategic investment in net-zero technologies in the mining and heavy industries sector has been backed by the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA).
š Around the World
Donald Trumpās aggressive policiesātariffs, labor raids, and shifting stancesāhave unsettled the US construction sector. Rising material costs and labor shortages strain infrastructure projects, causing delays and cancellations. Experts warn of uncertainty, comparing todayās volatility to the 1970s. Companies are advised to focus on stable sectors and nurture existing clients.
Lawmakers in the House of Representatives advanced an $892.6-billion annual defense policy bill Sept. 10 that includes billions of dollars for military construction and would make procurement-related changes for fiscal year 2026.
India is bolstering its northeastern frontier by investing $3.4 billion to construct 500 kilometers of railway lines, bridges, and tunnels. This strategic move aims to improve connectivity to remote regions bordering China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Bhutan, enhancing military readiness and logistical capabilities.
In July, Heidelberg Materials switched on the first continuous-mode enforced carbonation reactor at its GĆ³razdze cement plant in Poland.
š Miscellaneous
Plans to have first turbines spinning by 2032 look increasingly unlikely as investors back out of multiple projects ā but proponents say benefits will flow once industry established.
Infrastructure sector will become increasingly interconnected, with more opportunities for private investment, consultant report predicts.
June 2025 quarter saw a 3% rise in construction work, led by engineering (+6.1%) and residential (+5.3%) growth, while non-residential declined 4%. July inflation hit 2.8%, driven by a 13% electricity price jump. Builders should prioritize engineering, manage energy cost risks, and expect stable rates in September.
š·āāļø Tradies and Resource
Gold Coast man Kaleb Schofield is hoping retire by the time he is 40 and has already built up an impressive share and property portfolio. A 24-year-old construction worker has shared how he is planning to retire by the time he is 40 through a popular financial movement
A free Women in Construction careers event will be held on 19 November 2025 at the Tower Crane Training Facility in Campbelltown, NSW. Focused on lifting and crane industry careers, it aims to inspire womenācurrently just 14% of the workforceāto explore diverse roles, break stereotypes, and build a safer, more inclusive construction sector.
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