- Gooday Construction Newsletter
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- 18/09/2025
18/09/2025
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THE MORNING PAPER FOR CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS AND TRADIES
šØ Safety Updates
Building site fall prompts $580,000 safety spend
Following a serious fall at a Stirling site, AMS Built and Ruediger Constructions will invest over $580,000 in safety upgrades under Enforceable Undertakings. Measures include new equipment, training, and public safety campaigns. SafeWork SA sees this as a proactive alternative to prosecution, delivering lasting safety benefits across the construction industry.
SafeWork NSW and WorkSafe ACT are conducting joint unannounced inspections on construction sites from 16ā18 September, targeting fall hazardsāone of the industryās top safety risks. The campaign promotes a consistent safety approach across both jurisdictions, aiming to drive lasting improvements and ensure every worker returns home safely each day.
ā Headlines & Industry
The damning report says the āmonolithicā $945m project would cause āirrevocable and unacceptableā damage to Hobart.
The Albanese Government is investing $1.1 billion to boost Australian-made low carbon fuels like renewable dieselācutting emissions from construction machinery, trucks and equipment. The Cleaner Fuels Program will support local production, secure supply chains, and help the building sector transition to cleaner energy while creating jobs and strengthening fuel resilience.
Australiaās latest Capacity Investment Scheme secured 4.13 GW (15.37 GWh) of battery storage, surpassing targets and attracting 34 GW in bids. Sixteen projects, worth $3.8 billion, will create 1,900 construction jobs and deliver significant Indigenous and community benefits by 2029, boosting clean energy and local economies.
The Albanese Government has announced temporary cuts to fees and reporting requirements for offshore wind developers. In a bid to accelerate investment in the nascent sector and reduce financial hurdles, for the next two years, feasibility and research licence holders will have their annual levies waived.
šļø Projects
NSW
The Minns Government has introduced the NSW Planning System Reforms Bill 2025 to modernise outdated planning laws, streamline approvals, and accelerate housing delivery. Key reforms include faster assessments, a new Development Coordination Authority, and expanded complying development. The aim: more homes, less red tape, and a fairer system for all.
QLD
The Capricorn BESS is a 300 MW/1.2 GWh battery project by Potentia Energy near Rockhampton, QLD. It will connect to the NEM via Powerlinkās Bouldercombe Substation. Construction is set to start in 2026 and finish by 2028, with an estimated cost of $500 million. It joined the Capacity Investment Scheme in 2025.
Brisbane City Councilās new āanti-sprawlā plan aims to increase high-rise apartments near Indooroopilly, Carindale, and Nundah shopping centres to boost housing close to public transport and services. This supports population growth, reduces traffic, and protects suburbsā lifestyle by promoting well-designed, mixed-use developments. Community consultation begins in 2026.
Global design and engineering consultancy Arup has been appointed as principal contractor for a pivotal infrastructure project for the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane.
The $700 million infrastructure investments will see a suite of infrastructure upgrades and facilities works at RAAF Base Townsville, including supporting infrastructure for the relocation of 16th Aviation Brigade Headquarters from Brisbane, along with the relocation of the 1st Aviation Regiment from Darwin.
SA
Mount Barker is set to become South Australia's second-largest city, with population projected to hit 58,000 by 2036. To meet housing demand, over $2.8 billion in development is planned, including major estates like Clover Wood, Bluestone, and Larkview. Massive infrastructure upgrades are supporting rapid construction and long-term regional growth.
The Koolunga BESS is a 200 MW/800 MWh battery project by Equis, featuring up to 640 battery units near Adelaide. Construction is set to begin in 2025, completing in 2026. It will connect to the NEM via Brinkworth Substation and was awarded a Capacity Investment Scheme Agreement in 2025.
South Australiaās record investment in water and sewer infrastructure is not only unlocking housing growth but also creating new employment opportunities and strengthening local industry.
š§° Construction Au Other
The global modular and prefabricated construction market is projected to grow from $159.3B in 2024 to $203.8B by 2030, at a 4.2% CAGR. Growth is driven by urbanization, sustainability demands, labor shortages, and technological advances like automation, AI, and 3D printing. The market spans residential, commercial, healthcare, and disaster relief sectors, with increasing adoption of eco-friendly and smart building solutions globally.
š Innovation, Digital & Futuristic Technology
Autodesk launches Forma, the first AI-native cloud platform for AECO, integrating design and construction via Autodesk Construction Cloud. Revit connects directly to Forma, enabling seamless workflows. New tools like Autodesk Assistant, Estimate, and Tandem Insights automate design, estimating, and facility opsāunlocking faster, smarter, more collaborative project delivery across the industry.
New Zealandās APD factory floor is the first built using 100% manufactured sand from Kayasand, reducing cement use and boosting strength by 24%. This sustainable concrete innovation lowers carbon emissions and won a 2025 NZ Concrete Construction Award, marking a milestone in eco-friendly, high-quality construction materials.
Deal integrates BuildItās permit intelligence into Mercatorās AI-powered business development system, which aggregates early-stage signals such as rezonings, title transfers and preliminary filings.
š± Sustainability ā& Environment
Australiaās energy infrastructure is evolving with a pragmatic transition to renewables, natural gas, and storage. Expert advice and innovative financing are crucial as investors seek balanced, risk-adjusted returns. Key projects like HumeLink and hybrid renewables support this critical five-year shift shaping the nationās energy future.
A groundbreaking report that maps where renewable energy projects can be built without destroying nature shows good siting is key to speeding up Australiaās clean energy transition.
š Around the World
Japan faces significant labor shortages due to unfavorable demographics. While foreign worker inflows surged in 2024, political and societal resistance limits large-scale immigration and citizenship opportunities. At current immigration rates (~150,000/year), Japanās working-age population will still decline substantially by 2045. A higher intake (500,000/year) could stabilize it but would sharply increase the foreign population, which is politically unlikely.
Nuclear power plant developers have told NCE they hope to build more than 20 small modular reactors (SMRs), including advanced modular reactors (AMRs), in the UK by the mid-2030s. Amazon-backed AMR developer X-energy has joined forces with British energy giant Centrica with ambitions to build āup to 12 advanced modular reactors in Hartlepool, with a follow-on UK-wide programme targeting a fleet of 6GW of nuclear powerā.
š·āāļø Tradies and Resource
Traffic controllers in Australia have cast doubt on reporting they are paid up to $200,000 per year for turning a stop sign. The number frequently cited by many Australian outlets is based on the CFMEU Victoria 2023 Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA).
Rail industry organisations from across Australia and New Zealand have signed on to a new Rail Gender Equity Charter to commit to fostering inclusive, respectful and equitable workplaces for all.
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