15/10/2025

October 15, 2025

THE MORNING PAPER FOR CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS AND TRADIES

🚨 Safety Updates

Amid a severe spring heatwave, Queensland's safety regulator has warned construction and mining sites to act against heat stress risks. With temperatures soaring past 40°C in some areas, employers must implement cooling strategies, hydrate crews, reschedule heavy tasks, and provide proper training to protect workers' health.

Research by Allianz Australia shows construction workers face rising mental health challenges due to heavy workloads and burnout. Managers cite lack of time, resources, and conflicting priorities as barriers to support. Allianz urges job design improvements, recovery time, and manager training to prevent stress, burnout, and enhance workplace wellbeing in construction.

âś’ Headlines & Industry

A Fair Work Commission inquiry revealed Master Builders Victoria and the CFMEU jointly profit from redundancy fund Incolink, exploiting workers’ entitlements through enterprise agreements. Despite claiming to protect workers, both organisations prioritize financial gain. The revelations expose deep collaboration between unions and business, undermining workers' rights and democratic oversight.

A new Australasian Railway Association report reveals rail construction and maintenance activity has tripled over the past decade, totalling $132 billion. Activity is expected to peak at $17.3 billion in 2025–26, driven by public investment in NSW, Victoria, and Queensland, with strong ongoing demand for skills and maintenance work.

Global construction faces rising uncertainty from political risks, tariffs, and delays, affecting project pipelines worldwide. Currie & Brown’s new Construction Certainty Index reveals this uncertainty is universal, with technology adoption boosting predictability. The $2.5 trillion impact underscores the urgent need for coordinated industry action and better risk management.

🏗️ Projects

NSW

EDP Renewables Australia will deliver 1.7GW of clean energy via two hybrid projects—Punchs Creek (QLD) and Merino (NSW)—after winning federal Capacity Investment Scheme support. The $2bn investment includes solar and battery systems powering 380,000 homes, creating 1,600 jobs, and advancing Australia’s renewable energy targets with construction starting by 2026.

Albury Entertainment Centre redevelopment moves to tender
AlburyCity Council has endorsed progressing the $39.5M AEC Convention Wing redevelopment to tender. Backed by federal and state funding, the project will double conference capacity, boost tourism, and deliver major economic benefits. It forms part of an $80M initiative positioning Albury as a key regional events and cultural hub.

Australian renewables developer ACEnergy has won approval from the New South Wales Independent Planning Commission for a 250 MW / 1,100 MWh battery energy storage system to be built in the state’s southwest.The New South Wales (NSW) Independent Planning Commission (IPC) has signed off on the estimated $297 million (USD 194 million) Yanco Battery Energy Storage System project being developed by ACEnergy in the state’s Riverina region.

The NSW Government is set to launch a $200 million pothole and road maintenance blitz across Greater Sydney’s busiest transport corridors.  This investment brings Greater Sydney’s total road maintenance funding for 2025-26 to $488 million, improving the safety, reliability, and resilience of the network by ensuring faster repairs, fewer potholes, and reduced vehicle damage. 

Construction has begun on a new suspension bridge over the Richmond River in Casino, NSW. Funded by Australian and NSW governments, the bridge will connect Casino’s CBD and Queen Elizabeth Park, enhancing pedestrian and cyclist access. Designed for flood resilience, it’s part of the Casino CBD Activation Project, completing by mid-2026.

TAS

Agreement signed for landmark Launceston building redevelopment
Construction on Launceston’s landmark Birchalls building will begin mid-2026, transforming the heritage site into a mixed-use precinct with 21 apartments, commercial spaces, and public amenities. Led by Birchalls Build Co., the $15M project will restore the historic façade and activate the Brisbane Street Mall, boosting housing, jobs, and city vibrancy.

Federal decision on scaled back Tasmania wind project delayed for fifth time
The 291 MW St Patricks Plains wind farm in Tasmania’s Central Highlands has seen its federal environmental approval decision delayed for the fifth time, now extended to November 28. Developer Ark Energy, which took over from Epuron in 2022, requested the latest postponement. Originally planned for 67 turbines, the project has been downsized to 47 turbines. Despite opposition from the No Turbine Action Group, Ark Energy secured state planning approval last month and is the first wind project approved under Tasmania’s updated noise policy, aligning with stricter standards in other states to better regulate noise impacts.

WA

Western Australia’s largest steel water pipeline is now being laid in Perth’s northern suburbs, marking a major milestone in the Cook Labor Government’s $2.8 billion Alkimos Seawater Desalination Plant (ASDP) project. The project will create more than 1,500 jobs and contribute an estimated $1.1 billion to the State’s economy, including $65 million in contracts awarded to Aboriginal businesses. The Alkimos Pipeline Alliance, a collaboration between Water Corporation, Georgiou Group and DM Civil, is delivering the Alkimos pipeline.

GenusPlus Group won $75 million in contracts with Western Power, including $50 million for expanding the Clean Energy Link – North project by designing and building a new 132kV dual circuit transmission line. A $25 million contract was awarded for the Network Renewal Undergrounding Power Project, enhancing WA’s electrical infrastructure.

Regis has received the green light to build a $24 million aged care facility on a former nursing home site, east of Perth.

🧰 Construction Au Other

Caterpillar Inc. has entered into an agreement to acquire RPMGlobal Holdings Limited – an Australian-based software company. Headquartered in Brisbane, Australia, RPMGlobal was founded in 1977 and develops software solutions for mining customers to aid with asset management, scheduling, forecasting, budgeting and tracking of environmental and emissions data

🚀 Innovation, Digital & Futuristic Technology

SICK’s new Visionary AI-Assist sensor boosts construction site safety by using advanced AI-driven 2D/3D imaging for fast, accurate detection of people and objects around vehicles. Designed for harsh conditions, it aids collision avoidance, reduces downtime, and integrates easily with machinery, improving productivity and operator protection.

McConnell Dowell is building a digital backbone to strengthen project delivery and reduce risk. (Images: McConnell Dowell)

McConnell Dowell is building its digital foundations with the same intent as its physical ones, using data, AI and disciplined strategy. Digital capability now threads through the company’s operations, shaping how projects are controlled, risks are assessed and decisions are made. The goal is to create the conditions for sharper visibility, faster responses and a shared operating picture across teams and geographies.

Researchers at MIT have developed scalable supercapacitor concrete (ecÂł) combining cement, nanocarbon, and electrolytes to store and release energy. Using organic electrolytes, they built a load-bearing, energy-storing arch powering an LED. This breakthrough brings energy-storing concrete closer to real-world use, potentially replacing batteries in infrastructure.

Road construction is rapidly evolving with innovations like autonomous machinery, self-healing asphalt, smart sensors, and digital twins. These technologies boost efficiency, safety, and sustainability while cutting costs and timelines. Despite challenges like high costs and training, they promise smarter, resilient road networks, with AI-driven construction likely becoming standard within a decade.

🌱 Sustainability ​& Environment

ClearVue Technologies, a Perth-based, solar building materials company, has raised A$4.6 million through a strongly supported placement to institutional and accredited investors. In a sign that investors are increasingly embracing all things solar, the raise was over-bid at $5.5m and was scaled back to $4.6m.

Zeotech has signed an MOU with Cement Australia to develop and commercialise AusPozz™, a high-reactivity metakaolin for low-carbon concrete. The collaboration will assess technical performance, supply chain viability, and commercial potential, supporting Australia's shift toward sustainable construction materials and decarbonising the built environment.

In June, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) published the updated National Standards for Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) for England —  a watershed moment for surface water management.

🌏 Around the World

The Council on Vertical Urbanism named Brussels’ “ZIN in No(o)rd” Best Tall Building Worldwide 2025. The 111m former office tower was converted into a mixed-use vertical neighborhood with terraces, gardens, and energy-saving features, reusing 85% of its structure and 60% of materials, setting a European adaptive reuse benchmark.

Spain’s FCC Construcción is selling an additional 25% of its environmental arm, FCC Enviro, to Canadian CPP Investments for €1bn. CPP’s stake will rise to 49.99%, with FCC retaining majority control. The deal supports FCC’s strategic goals and CPP’s focus on the circular economy, pending regulatory approvals.

In a major move signaling expanded commitment to AI infrastructure in the United States, Google announced on October 13, 2025, that it will invest $9 billion through 2027 to expand and build new data center campuses in South Carolina. The investment forms part of Google’s broader strategy to scale cloud, AI, and computing capacity in key U.S. markets.

đź“– Miscellaneous

The Tasmanian Government is reviewing its Disaster Resilience Strategy. It considers responses for both natural and man made events. To read more about the strategy, the process to update it, and how you can have your say, please visit the Department of Premier and Cabinet’s website . 

Australia’s 10 biggest battery storage projects – and what they are paid to do
Australia’s large-scale battery construction is surging, with nearly 50 big battery projects built or underway since the Hornsdale launch in 2017. Projects like Brisbane’s Supernode (760 MW/3096 MWh) and NSW’s Eraring (700 MW/2800 MWh) are setting new benchmarks, supporting grid reliability, solar soaking, and coal transition. Battery tech now delivers up to 8-hour storage, powering jobs and cleaner infrastructure.

Australia’s population will grow by 3.3 million to nearly 30 million by 2035, driving demand for rail infrastructure. Rail construction and maintenance dipped slightly to $17.8 billion in 2024-25 but are forecast to rise with $162 billion expected over the next decade, focusing on publicly funded projects amid labour shortages.

👷‍♀️ Tradies and Resource

The Australian Antarctic Program has just launched a huge hiring blitz for the 2026-27 season and it's looking to employ people across 39 roles.

Thanks for reading,

If you have any comments or feedback, just respond to this email!

Alex

We monitor Australian construction 24/7—analysing thousands of articles from over 600 sources—to deliver the latest industry news straight to you.

⏳ Stay up to date in minutes

Read the most important construction related news stories of the day – Industry headlines, safety alerts, technology and innovations.

🏗 Get latest project updates

Get the latest project updates near you, contract awards, and global trends.

❌ No Noise news

Get the latest news in a simple format, with NO marketing emails, EVER.

 đź§  Get ahead

Stay a head with the latest information that will improve your knowledge, performance and increase your opportunities.

💰 Love Gooday Construction? Tell your friends and get a chance to win $20 amazon voucher ! We’re growing and the more we grow the more quality news we can get to you!

Want to advertise in Gooday Construction? đź“°

If your company is interested in reaching an audience of Construction professionals and decision makers, you may want to advertise with us. Please reply to this email.