- Gooday Construction Newsletter
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- 24/09/2025
24/09/2025
THE MORNING PAPER FOR CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS AND TRADIES
✒ Headlines & Industry
A new report details the adversity faced by women in the residential construction sector revealing there is a lot of work to do once women are in the job to keep them there.
Australia needs to add almost 140,0000 people to its housing construction workforce between now and 2029 in order to achieve national housing targets, a new report suggests.
Victoria has ordered four more tunnel boring machines for one of the state’s biggest ever rail tunnelling projects.
American asset manager Nuveen LLC plans to spend as much as A$500 million ($330 million) on a solar and battery project in Australia within the next year, as political uncertainty clouds the outlook for clean energy in the US.
🏗️ Projects
ACT
The ACT government has introduced draft planning reforms aimed at enabling new housing along transit corridors in Downer and Watson. The Draft Major Plan Amendment (DPA09) Northern Gateway reform proposes rezoning sites close to Northbourne Avenue and the Federal Highway to allow for more medium-density housing.
NSW
Albury City Council in New South Wales has awarded a $3.75 million contract to Excell Gray Bruni Pty Ltd for major upgrades at Australia Park. The project includes improved parking, pedestrian access, flood protection, and amenities. Funded by Council and the NSW Government, construction begins in 2025/26 as part of the Murray River Experience Master Plan.
QLD
Tropical Cyclone Alfred’s erosion exposed the need for rapid sand pumping infrastructure. Queensland councils use tailored pipelines and dredging to accelerate beach recovery, while NSW’s permanent systems improve navigation and resilience. Coordinated planning, advanced technology, and community engagement are essential for effective, adaptive shoreline management amid increasing climate challenges.
VIC
The Allan Labor Government has appointed Cathy Henderson as CEO of WorkSafe Victoria. With extensive leadership experience in local government, Henderson will drive efforts to reduce workplace harm, improve return-to-work outcomes, and ensure the sustainability of the WorkCover scheme. She succeeds in advancing WorkSafe’s ambitious safety and recovery goals.
The Allan Labor Government has launched a $976 million Better Roads Blitz, the largest single-year investment in road maintenance in Victoria’s history. Targeting key regional and metropolitan routes, the blitz includes resurfacing, pothole repairs, bridge maintenance, and safety upgrades, improving travel and freight routes across the state by mid-2026.
The Victorian Government has approved the 500MW/1,000MWh Kiewa Valley Battery Energy Storage System near Dederang through its Development Facilitation Program. Procured by Trina Solar, the $453 million project will support grid stability and energy storage, contributing to Victoria’s transition to a more reliable and renewable energy future.
The Suburban Connect JV (CPB Contractors, Acciona, Ghella) is reinforcing foundations beneath a pier on the Clayton viaduct in Melbourne for the SRL East tunneling. This work redistributes the bridge load to allow safe tunnel construction. The project includes 16 km of tunnels and innovative ground freezing for safety passages.
WA
A team of renewable newcomers are behind a $190 million plan to build a solar farm by the Forrest Highway which would feed power to industrial projects and the state’s first EV servo.
🧰 Construction Au Other
Australia’s construction materials sector supports the 2035 emissions target but stresses that procurement reform is key to success. CCAA urges government action to drive demand for low-carbon materials, warning that without clear procurement standards, innovation and emissions cuts risk being undermined. The industry is committed to a balanced transition.
🚀 Innovation, Digital & Futuristic Technology
Mulk International and Marses launched Mulk Marses Robotics to revolutionize construction through automated modular manufacturing. The JV will open robotic facilities in the UAE, Europe, and the US, boosting speed, precision, and sustainability. It aims to cut costs, reduce waste, and train workers for a tech-driven construction future.
Digital transformation is boosting construction safety by improving protective gear, using AI for risk prediction, and enabling smart site monitoring with drones and cameras. Automation reduces human exposure to hazards, while VR training enhances preparedness. These innovations help cut accidents, improve compliance, and protect workers in this high-risk industry.
The RICS AI in Construction 2025 report reveals high optimism but low adoption of AI in construction—only 45% of firms use it, with just 1% scaling it widely. Key barriers include skills shortages, poor data quality, and integration issues. Investment is rising, focusing on design, scheduling, risk, and cost control. The report calls for strong leadership, ethical frameworks, and upskilling to ensure responsible AI adoption delivering real value.
🌱 Sustainability & Environment
A comparative assessment of UHPC mixtures reveals non-proprietary options deliver equivalent performance to proprietary ones, with lower environmental costs.
Yarra Ranges Shire Council has turned the lights on Australia’s most innovative and sustainable light pole – the first light pole made with recycled plastic. Plaspole offers a sustainable solution to traditional light poles.
Australia’s construction materials sector supports the 2035 emissions target but stresses that procurement reform is key to success. CCAA urges government action to drive demand for low-carbon materials, warning that without clear procurement standards, innovation and emissions cuts risk being undermined. The industry is committed to a balanced transition.
Gas Infrastructure Research Australia is an exciting new research body that succeeded Future Fuels CRC. Gas Infrastructure Research Australia (GIRA) is an industry-led research organisation which builds upon the work of Future Fuels CRC, initiated as a collaboration between the Australian Pipelines and Gas Association (APGA) and Energy Networks Australia (ENA). Our inaugural Industry Foundation Members are Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG), APA Group and Jemena. Other participants of GIRA include the members of the APGA Research and Standards Committee (RSC) and the ENA Gas Committee.
Five innovative concrete technologies promise a low-carbon future: basalt fiber replacing steel reinforcement, waste-based sewer concrete, AI-optimized mixing, self-healing lichen-inspired concrete, and ocean-based carbon-capturing minerals. These smart, circular solutions improve durability, reduce emissions, and advance resilient construction, signaling a transformative shift toward sustainable infrastructure worldwide.
🌏 Around the World
In Kyrgyzstan, a failing dam holds nearly a million cubic meters of radioactive uranium waste. Engineers warn it can’t be repaired; relocating the toxic sludge is risky, costly, and urgent. Failure would devastate the fertile Fergana Valley, threatening millions with long-term radioactive contamination and economic collapse.
National Grid has launched the world’s first centralised, autonomous aerial inspection capability for electricity infrastructure — a milestone in its digital transformation journey and the UK’s energy transition.
UAE construction output is projected to reach $130.8bn by 2029, driven by economic diversification, tourism, and infrastructure investments. Dubai leads with 75% of project activity and is the top global FDI destination for greenfield projects. Major developments and metro expansion underpin strong, sustained growth across the sector.
👷♀️ Tradies and Resource
Research by the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) has highlighted the unique challenges women face in frontline construction roles. The report identifies integral opportunities for the construction industry to build more inclusive and supportive workplaces.
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