Construcciones Yamaro, by Armando Iachini

Builders have been appointed for major upgrades to three community-based youth centres in Victoria. Victorian Minister for Mental Health Gabrielle Williams announced the appointment of Bowden Corporation to refurbish and modernise the existing Youth Prevention and Recovery Care (YPARC) centres in Dandenong and Frankston, while Alchemy Construct will oversee upgrades to the Bendigo YPARC centre. “The recovery environment is so critical to mental healthcare – we’re proud to be upgrading our YPARC facilities so young people feel safe, supported and at home while they are being cared for,” said Minister Williams. Construction is about to get underway on the three centres, with the project including upgrades to the main lounge and living areas, kitchen, and outdoor areas – which incorporate barbecue spaces and a sensory courtyard. Victoria’s Member for Frankston Paul Edbrooke said the upgrade to the Frankston centre is good news for the local community. “This is an exciting upgrade fo...

This month’s Spotlight on Safety Wear provides you the opportunity to showcase your business’s personal protective equipment (PPE) products and solutions for construction. The protection of our nation’s construction workers is of upmost importance. They help deliver the buildings and infrastructure that we need to live, work and play, and one simple way we can ensure the safety of the construction workforce is to deliver high-quality, safe and comfortable PPE. Construction is among the top three industries with the highest proportion of serious work-related injury claims in Australia, accounting for approximately 12.3 per cent of all claims, according to Safe Work Australia’s 2020-21 report, Australian Worker’s Compensation Statistics . PPE can reduce and even eliminate exposure to site hazards and protect workers against health and safety risks on the construction site. The June 2023 edition of Inside Construction will put a spotlight on the businesses that are manufacturing and...

Looking forward to the year ahead, Australian Constructors Association’s Chief Executive Officer Jon Davies shares the organisation’s ambitious goals, with the help of government and key stakeholders, to help transform the construction industry in 2023. Jon Davies, CEO, Australian Constructors Association. By Jon Davies, CEO, Australian Constructors Association. ‘Woman’, ‘teal’, ‘gaslighting’… these were some of the words that dictionary publishers say captured the spirit of 2022. For the construction industry, undoubtedly, the word for 2022 was ‘productivity’. The industry concluded the year with the realisation that improving industry productivity was an imperative. The productivity performance of Australia’s construction industry is lower today than it was 30 years ago, and the opportunity presented by just bringing the industry’s performance in line with other industries is significant. Aside from the enormous $47 billion in savings it would contribute back to the economy, i...

Designers have now been appointed to lead design works of two new purpose-built sports venues in Geelong for the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games. Warren and Mahoney has partnered with Four18 Architecture as design consultants on the Armstrong Creek Aquatics venue, which will host swimming, para swimming and diving. ARM Architecture has been appointed to lead the design of the gymnastics, weightlifting and para powerlifting venue on Baanip Boulevard in Waurn Ponds. The Victorian Government has committed an investment of up to $292 million for the new venues. Parliamentary Secretary for the Commonwealth Games Darren Cheeseman said the venues will benefit local communities long into the future. “We’re delivering world-class sporting venues in Armstrong Creek and Waurn Ponds that local communities will enjoy for generations,” said Secretary Cheeseman. Related stories: Support for construction of Paralympic Centre of Excellence Expression of Interest open for Commonwealth Games V...

Three developers have begun construction on Melbourne’s Younghusband in Kensington heritage site to upgrade it into a carbon-neutral adaptive reuse precinct. Built, Ivanhoé Cambridge and Irongate joined forces last year to acquire the historic woolshed site and have since been working on upgrading plans to improve the design and sustainability aspects of the 1.57-hectare precinct. Built Managing Director and CEO Brett Mason said tenants are being sought for stage one, which offers first-mover advantage in the Macaulay precinct and flexible floor plates. “Younghusband will create Melbourne’s largest carbon-neutral adaptive reuse precinct, reimagining and revitalising one of the city’s largest heritage sites and creating a connected and sustainable destination for work and play,” Mr Mason said. “With a design and construction principles guided by sustainability and heritage preservation from the ground-up, Younghusband will create an environment where the past is respected and eng...

Construction of the new Marriott Hotel in South Australia is now rising above Adelaide’s iconic General Post Office (GPO) building in King William Street. Led by BESIX Watpac on behalf of developer Greaton, construction has reached Level 4 and is on track for completion in early 2024. BESIX Watpac CEO, Mark Baker, said the company was excited to be delivering the landmark, 5-star accommodation to support economic growth and tourism for South Australia. “Construction is now rising up above the original GPO building which is a reflection of more than 120,000 hours worked on site, and 3,100 cubic metres of concrete poured to date,” Mr Baker said. “The new build sits on the site of what was an office tower addition to the original post office in the 1920’s.” “The remainder of the building, constructed in the late 1860’s and early 1870’s, will remain with some sections being incorporated into the new hotel. “Currently, new structural and seismic upgrades are taking place between the ...

Multiplex has topped out the Canberra Hospital Expansion Project’s new nine-level Critical Services Building. Celebrating with an event on the development’s new rooftop helipad some 35 metres above street level, Minister for Health, Rachel Stephen-Smith MLA, joined Multiplex and Major Projects Canberra to mark the milestone. Multiplex Regional Managing Director David Ghannoum said during the Early Contractor Involvement phase in 2020, Multiplex worked with the ACT Government to create a design that would support its ambitions for an emissions-free health sector – with the hospital to be powered entirely by 100 per cent renewable electricity. “It’s been wonderful to help bring that design to life and reach this significant milestone, particularly given the challenges presented by working within a live hospital environment, with limited access and the added impacts of COVID-19,” said Ghannoum. Related stories: Multiplex supports local jobs with 14th Connectivity Centre Multiplex...

The finishing touches are being applied to the first stage of works for Tasmania’s $27.48 million redevelopment of Sorell School. Minister for Education, Children and Youth, Roger Jaensch , said the Tasmanian Government was investing in the modern, high-quality education facilities local learners need. “Stage 1 works at Sorell School have delivered a new administration centre, car park and main entrance to the school, as well as a Years 9-12 learning hub and a Years 3-6 learning hub,” Minister Jaensch said. “The final elements of Stage 1, which include the fit-out of the new food building, are expected to be completed in the next couple of weeks.” Related stories: Upgrades and expansions for Tasmania’s women’s shelters Funding secured for Tasmania’s Midlands Health Centre Construction kicks off on Tasmania’s new Burnie Ambulance Station Work on Stage 2 of the redevelopment has already begun and will include the demolition of old buildings and construction of a new K-2 learni...

Construction for the Queensland Regional Aeromedical Base development at Brisbane Airport has been given the green light. Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King made the approval announcement, with the $72 million hub set to connect Queenslanders to major hospitals and life-saving medical treatment. Once complete, the Aeromedical Base will feature patient facilities to care for people as they transition between aircraft and ambulance transfers, state-of-the-art hangers for aeroplanes, helicopters and administration, and a medical base for regional patients and donor transfers. Martin Ryan, Executive General Manager of Commercial at Brisbane Airport Corporation said the Brisbane Airport plays a vital role in ensuring Queenslanders have access to urgent medical care. “The Aeromedical Base will bring all providers together into one innovative world-class hub, with a transfer facility providing patients on the move with the...

Canberra school children have named the two tower cranes which will rise over the Australian War Memorial Development Project for the next two years, “Duffy” and “Teddy”. Duffy is named after Private John Simpson Kirkpatrick’s donkey that he used to transport injured men in Gallipoli during the First World War – because “Duffy is used to doing the heavy lifting”, said Dakota of Neville Bonner Primary School. The second crane was named Teddy, after Teddy Sheehan VC , Australia’s most recent Victoria Cross recipient, by Lara from St Gregory’s Primary School. Duffy will be used by Lendlease on the New Anzac Hall site, joining Teddy, operated by Hindmarsh, which has been onsite since December 2022 to deliver the new C.E.W. Bean Building. Related stories: Lendlease gets green light for $80 million development in ACT Lendlease to deliver new build-to-rent project in Queensland Residences One of Lendlease’s One Sydney Harbour tops out As development continues, these machines w...

Crews have clocked up a whopping 40 million hours of work on Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel Project since work began in 2015. With Metro Tunnel’s stations quickly taking shape, Premier Daniel Andrews said the project will be a huge asset to the people of Melbourne once complete. “We’re a year ahead of schedule on the Metro Tunnel Project, the biggest transformation of our rail network since the City Loop – it’s incredible to see it taking shape beneath our feet thanks to millions of hours from dedicated crews,” said the Premier. Crews are still working around the clock to get the twin nine-kilometre tunnels ready for the first test trains to begin in the second half of this year. As progress continues, the focus of the project is shifting from building the tunnels and stations to making sure the high-tech signalling, communications and other systems that allow trains to run safely are in place – making Melbourne a “turn-up-and-go” network, similar to world-class commuter cities like Si...

As part of this year’s Inside Construction Expo , the Foundation Awards will be held on 20 September 2023 to celebrate the individuals, businesses and projects championing transformation in the construction industry. With a focus on showcasing the initiatives that seek to promote core standards around safety, diversity and environmental sustainability throughout major and local projects, the Foundation Awards will be a premier event on the construction industry calendar. Nominations are now open, providing a great opportunity to acknowledge your colleagues, and the projects and companies driving positive change within the construction and infrastructure industries. Open until 11:59pm Friday 14 July 2023, the organisers of the awards are calling for the industry to nominate now. Nomination Criteria Nominations must have been completed or introduced within the two years prior to the nomination close date. All products and/or technologies must be manufactured and/or commercial...

Numerous roads, bridges, dams, sewer systems, and many more can be found in almost every part of the country today. And with the advancements in technology, the construction of these infrastructures tends to get faster and more efficient as days pass by. But their success would still depend on the contractors and professionals who will be handling them throughout the project duration. If they are not knowledgeable and experienced enough, they might end up ruining the quality of the infrastructure. Later, some of them may deteriorate quicker than expected, which not only costs money but can also cost lives. Civil Construction is Important Civil construction, therefore, should be carried out optimally to avoid any inconveniences along the way. It is a branch of civil engineering that involves the design, construction, and maintenance of various infrastructures. These infrastructures include roads, railways, subdivisions, buildings, water reservoirs, bridges, airports, tunnels, dams, ...

The Queensland Government has announced it will provide funding for a Paralympic Centre of Excellence in the lead up to the 2032 Olympic Games. The centre, which would be built at the University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus, will help participation and training for para-athletes for the Games, and cater for 20 out of 23 Paralympic sports. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the State Government’s support was an example of the legacy hosting the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games is all about. “A Paralympic Centre of Excellence inspires more para-athletes to compete in 2032,” the Premier said. “But it also provides invaluable research and other opportunities for our community.” “This is what legacy is all about: the long-lasting benefits to our community long after the Closing Ceremonies.” Related stories: Expression of Interest open for Commonwealth Games Villages Northshore Hamilton road complete ready for 2032 Olympics Victoria’s Eureka Stadium upgrade underway The Quee...

Autodesk has partnered with Deloitte to conduct research on emerging trends impacting the construction industry and the state of technology adoption in Australia, Singapore and Japan. With a myriad of challenges including economic uncertainty, rising material costs, shortage of relevant skills and labour, the engineering and construction industries are under unprecedented pressure to stay profitable and achieve sustainable growth. In fact, public infrastructure projects face a shortage of 214,000 skilled workers and labour demand is expected to double the projected available supply this year, according to Infrastructure Australia’s 2022 Infrastructure Market Capacity report . Join the Autodesk webinar on 29 March 2pm AEDT, where Deloitte will share the research findings from its new industry report – State of Digital Adoption in Construction 2023 . The webinar will also discuss how you can unlock more business value through digitalisation best practices. Related stories: Autodes...

The Productivity Commission has recently released its 5-year Productivity Inquiry report, but Australian Construction Association Chief Executive Officer John Davies says its focus has fallen short of supporting short-term opportunities. By Jon Davies, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Constructors Association. The Productivity Commission’s final 5-year report isn’t productive at all, it turns out. As anticipated, the Commission’s final report is long on macro-economic reforms and broad principles such as adoption of new technologies and boosting the skill base of the workforce, but it lacks sufficient focus on specific issues and industries where short-term opportunities are ripe for the picking. The construction industry is the prime example. The industry’s productivity performance is now worse than it was 30 years ago, which incidentally is around the time of the last substantial report published by the commission on the industry. Wages typically grow with increased producti...

The Queensland Government has extended the commencement of the remaining phases of the Project Trust Accounts (PTA) framework to strengthen security of payment for tradies, in particular for smaller contracts. The date has been extended for eligible contracts for up to two years – between $3 and $10 million to 1 March 2025, and over $1 million to 1 October 2025. The PTA framework is in addition to the states Minimum Financial Requirement and Retention Trust Accounts security of payment frameworks. These frameworks are all designed to strengthen security of payments to tradies, ensure safe workplaces, and quality construction for consumers right across Queensland’s building and construction industry. Related stories: Queensland school upgrades to create “job bonanza” for tradies Queensland offers tradies $37.6M training package Fresh faces join Queensland’s QBuild Apprenticeship Program In recognition of the need to balance continued protections for tradies with a suitable so...

Head of Client and Strategy NSW & ACT at CPB Contractors Cathy Hayes shares her journey of championing positive change, collaboration, and sustainability in the construction industry. Driving a relationship-driven partnerships approach, Cathy Hayes joined CPB Contractors in 2017 in strategy and development. Now Head of Client and Strategy NSW & ACT, she continues to support a collaborative and inclusive environment. Hayes looks at projects holistically, ensuring the company is not only delivering physical assets such as a building or road, but also a legacy. Her position as Director on the Australian Constructors Association (ACA) board further facilitates a key objective of her role with CPB Contractors – helping the business better collaborate with its clients. “Being involved with the ACA provides insight into what our clients want now, but more importantly how we can work together to build a more sustainable industry,” says Hayes. “The projects we deliver can take year...

Bentley Systems (Bentley) has announced a collaboration initiative with WSB in an effort to boost the use of infrastructure digital twins across the construction industry. WSB has launched a new digital construction management solution and advisory service, based on Bentley’s SYNCHRO , to help the civil infrastructure market overcome challenges of adopting model-based digital workflows and leveraging the power of construction digital twins. Carsten Gerke, Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships with Bentley said many construction firms and owners are realising the importance of new digital workflows in meeting current and future infrastructure demands. “Applying these digital workflows successfully requires a deep understanding of technology, processes, and data,” said Gerke. “The Bentley Digital Integrator Program is built around combining technology with subject matter expertise for improved infrastructure.” “WSB joining the program provides a leapfrog opportunity for al...

Coates has continued its investment into the foundation of women’s sports across Australia, signing four key partnerships in 2023. Recently the organisation announced two key partnerships with the Australian Football league (AFL), signing on as an Official Partner and the Official Hire Equipment Partner of the NAB AFL Women’s Competition (AFLW); and Workplay, the AFL’s careers platform for AFLW players. Launched in 2021, the latest edition of Workplay, powered by John Holland, connects AFLW players with flexible employment, career and educational resources to further advance the opportunities for female athletes to thrive on and off the field. In addition, the company announced it has become the exclusive naming rights partner for the premier under-19’s Australian Rules competition for girls and boys – the Coates Talent League. Coates also announced it is an official partner of both the Newcastle Jets and Perth Glory Women’s A-League Football teams, with the company’s branding to ad...