Construcciones Yamaro, by Armando Iachini

Construction for the build-to-rent apartment development at Melbourne Quarter has officially commenced, marked by a sod-turning event held yesterday. Being delivered in partnership by Lendlease and Daiwa House Australia, the 797-build-to-rent apartment building is located at the southern edge of Melbourne’s CBD at 646-666 Flinders Street. With a fully-leased estimated end value of $650 million, this project represents Lendlease’s inaugural venture into the Melbourne build-to-rent (BTR) market and Daiwa House’s first in Australia. Both companies leverage their combined international expertise to contribute to this emerging asset class locally. Koji Morishige, CEO of Daiwa House Australia, said once complete, the development will be more than a place of residence. “Today’s sod-turn event marks a huge milestone in our commitment to deliver to the city of Melbourne this build-to-rent opportunity in such a prime location, the Melbourne Quarter precinct, with our partner Lendlease and th

The Victorian Government has chosen CPB Contractors, a member of CIMIC Group, to deliver the first major tunnelling package on the Suburban Rail Loop East project, as part of the Suburban Connect consortium, alongside ACCIONA and Ghella. The Victorian Government values the package at $3.6 billion, with CPB Contractors holding a 40 per cent share. It includes construction of a 16-kilometre section of the project’s 26-kilometre twin tunnels, involving tunnelling between Cheltenham and Glen Waverley, two new underground station boxes and construction works at the Southern Stabling Yard. These endeavours mark a crucial initial phase in the transformation of the city’s public transport network. CIMIC Group executive chairman Juan Santamaria said CPB Contractors, with its extensive experience in complex construction, brings decades of expertise to the delivery of this first major package of Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) East. Related stories: CPB Contractors selected for Woomera Redevelopme

Last night, the City of Sydney Council unanimously endorsed the $44 million plan to revitalise Haymarket and Chinatown. The Haymarket and Chinatown Revitalisation Strategy  and  Public Domain Plan emerged from one of the most extensive multilingual consultations in the city’s history, involving over 1,150 residents, businesses and community members in early discussions, along with 350 responses during the formal public exhibition. Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore said the community warmly welcomed the city’s commitment to more space for people walking, sitting and dining outdoors, creative lighting, support for business and recognition of Asian culture. “Haymarket is one of Sydney’s most iconic urban villages and has long been recognised as a focal point for Asian food, cultures, and communities both locally and internationally,” said Moore. “But the last few years have been incredibly challenging for the area.” “This is a perfect time for a new overarching plan for the area, an

AECOM, a global infrastructure consulting firm, has recently published a report delving into the intricacies of the global energy transition. This report, The Future of Infrastructure: Lost in Transition?, examines key strategies and initiatives tailored to empower companies, including those in the construction industry, in achieving their energy goals. The findings presented in the report … The post New report outlines steps to speed up energy transition appeared first on Inside Construction . View Source

In New Farm, Brisbane, Botanic Residential stands as a boutique apartment complex with a stylish precast façade, offering a chic haven of tranquillity amidst the bustling city. By National Precast Concrete Association Australia. Project –  Botanic Residential Location – New Farm, Brisbane, Queensland Master Precaster –  Advanced Precast Precast staining – ECOTONE Builder – Tomkins Commercial Architect – Joe Adsett Architects Engineer –  EDGE Consulting Engineers With its exquisite design, lush surroundings and prime location, Botanic Residential has become a sought-after residence for those seeking a blend of sophistication, comfort and natural beauty. Aesthetic appeal and functionality Designed by Joe Adsett Architects, Botanic Residential boasts a stunning architectural design that seamlessly integrates with the surrounding environment. The precast concrete exterior features sleek lines, expansive windows and modern finishes, creating an elegant and contemporar

BESIX Watpac has announced the appointment of Giovanni Polimeni as the company’s new general manager for New South Wales. With a commendable 18-year tenure at BESIX Watpac and a total of 23 years of industry experience, Polimeni transitions from his role as the company’s operations manager for NSW. Mark Baker, chief executive officer of BESIX Watpac, expressed his confidence in the appointment of Polimeni to this role. “Giovanni is part of the fabric of BESIX Watpac NSW and his exceptional understanding of the region, honed over nearly two decades with the company, positions him as a valuable leader in his new role,” said Baker. “Giovanni’s appointment also demonstrates BESIX Watpac’s commitment to recognising and fostering talent from within – his unwavering dedication to our company and collaborative leadership style will be instrumental in his position as general manager for NSW.” Related stories: BESIX Watpac relocates NSW HQ to 210 George Street BESIX Watpac awarded Townsv

The Living Future Institute of Australia (LFIA), in partnership with Development Victoria, has announced the winners of the ILLUMANATE Living Building Challenge Design Competition. The competition, categorised into professional, student (university) and people’s choice, called upon the built environment sector to design the most regenerative and restorative heritage-listed building in Australia. Participants were challenged to meet precise environmental, self-sustaining standards, ensuring the proposed project could generate its own energy and capture and treat its own water. The focal point of the competition was a heritage-listed building from the 1970s located in Melbourne’s Sunshine North, part of Development Victoria’s sustainable mixed-use plan. LFIA CEO Laura Hamilton-O’Hara noted that the number and quality of entries in this year’s competition made the judging process particularly challenging. “Thank you to all the teams for the amount of time and care put into your entry

The New South Wales Government has launched a six-month campaign to address silica dust exposure in the construction and tunnelling sectors. While manufactured stone stands out as the primary culprit for silicosis, construction workers may also be exposed to silica dust during tunnelling, demolition and excavation work. Uncontrolled cutting, grinding and drilling of common building materials like bricks, concrete, sandstone and tiles can also result in exposure. SafeWork NSW inspectors will target these areas to ensure heightened awareness and compliance ahead of the upcoming ban on manufactured stone in the state. Inspectors will also engage with workers to discuss effective measures for managing the risk of silica dust exposure. NSW Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis said the campaign was created to safeguard workers at risk of exposure to the dangers of silica dust, promoting safer workplaces across NSW. “The NSW Government is committed [to] a nationally consist

Coates has established itself as a prominent player in equipment hire and solutions in Australia, with a clear focus on sustainability . Robyn Simpson, the company’s national manager of environment and sustainability, embodies this commitment. Her deep-rooted passion for the natural world, ignited during her childhood, underscores Coates’ dedication to environmental responsibility. Simpson recalls the moment when her environmental awareness was sparked on a farm in Dorrigo, New South Wales. “I’m eight, in pigtails and gumboots, and I saw, felt and tasted for the first time, a groundwater spring-fed creek and dam on the farm,” says Simpson. “It was a beauty, full of life.” This early connection to the natural world laid the foundation for Simpson’s career, spanning over two decades in environmental management. Her journey has encompassed diverse roles in the mining and industrial sectors, ultimately leading her to join Coates in 2022. “My mission is to lead to make a difference, and

Engineers from RMIT University and the University of Melbourne have enhanced 3D printed concrete by incorporating graphene oxide into the cement mixture, opening the door to the potential development of ‘smart’ walls capable of monitoring cracks. The research revealed that the addition of graphene oxide, a nanomaterial commonly used in batteries and electronic gadgets, imparted electrical conductivity to concrete and increased its strength by up to 10 per cent. Jonathan Tran, research supervisor and associate professor at RMIT’s School of Engineering, said this concrete had the potential to create ‘smart’ buildings where walls can act as sensors to detect and monitor small cracks. While current detection methods, such as ultrasonic or acoustic sensors, are non-destructive and widely used in the construction industry to detect large cracks in concrete structures, the early detection of smaller cracks remains a challenge. “The equipment for these methods is often bulky, making it d

Darling Harbour stands at the cusp of a transformative journey, as a significant project progresses to the next phase of development and the New South Wales Government formulates a new 2050 vision . At the forefront of this transformation is the $764.5 million State Significant Development (SSD) of Harbourside, a project spearheading the evolution of Darling Harbour, guiding its transition from a 1980s landmark to a modern and vibrant destination for the next generation of visitors. With official approval now in hand, the SSD entails the demolition of the original Harbourside building to pave the way for a new 50-storey mixed-use residential and commercial building, featuring up to 265 new homes. As part of the project, Mirvac has agreed to a $5.2 million contribution to generate affordable housing, including in the surrounding Pyrmont area. The NSW Department of Planning and Environment is currently assessing a separate SSD for the design of Harbourside’s public domain. This SSD i

Amid economic uncertainty, the Australian construction industry continues to face significant challenges that impede productivity, with the digital skills gap emerging as a prominent obstacle. Autodesk’s Constructing tomorrow: building a dynamic workforce for the future eBook delves into the impact of these challenges on productivity in the industry, marked by inefficiencies, delays and cost overruns in project execution. Sumit Oberoi, senior manager, industry strategist, APAC at Autodesk, highlighted that the construction industry still confronts difficulties in the aftermath of the pandemic, such as an undersupply of skilled labour, costly materials and supply chain disruptions. “These challenges are being underpinned by a lack of digital skills and an ageing labour force – two key barriers to digital adoption,” said Oberoi. The digital skills shortage In the 2023 Deloitte and Autodesk report, State of Digital Adoption in Construction , 41 per cent of surveyed businesses cited

Geotab, a global provider of connected vehicle technology, has announced the availability of the solar-powered asset tracker TT600 series by Positioning Universal (PUI) on the Geotab Marketplace in Australia and New Zealand. The solar-powered asset tracker TT600 series offers fleet managers access to near real-time, detailed tracking data for assets like trailers, containers and generators. Easy to install, it provides visibility into metrics such as true utilisation, dwell time, yard movements, as well as entry and exit times of a fleet’s assets. The TT600 series utilises GPS-based tracking to provide insight into asset usage and location via the MyGeotab platform. By using data insights, fleet managers can better address issues such as underutilisation, effective lot management, maintenance, and solve for common trailer management challenges. Designed to withstand harsh conditions, the solar asset tracker is IP67-certified for rugged durability. Equipped with efficient solar cel

Discover the essence of concrete placement by Cycon Monero Group. Learn how it can be customised to meet your construction requirements. Call 0414 979 169. Concrete placement is a critical phase in construction, and the techniques utilised for this process can significantly impact the quality, strength, and durability of the final structure. The significance of getting concrete placement right cannot be overstated. When executed by Cycon Monero Group, this process becomes a customised approach that is tailored to meet the specific needs of the project. The Fundamentals of Concrete Placement Before diving into the customisation aspect, you must first understand the fundamentals of concrete placement. The process typically involves pouring, spreading, consolidating, and finishing the concrete to achieve the desired shape, surface, and structural integrity. Expertise in each of these stages is crucial to ensure that the concrete is placed correctly and can perform as intended. But e

After being named the preferred proponent in September this year, Georgiou Group has successfully secured the design and delivery contract for the Mandurah Estuary Bridge duplication in Western Australia. The project aims to alleviate congestion and improve safety in the Mandurah and Dawesville communities by constructing a second two-lane bridge on the south side of the existing Mandurah Estuary Bridge. It will also include construction of a new four-metre-wide shared path to enhance connectivity and access to recreational activities for the local community. Senator for Western Australia Louise Pratt said the bridge, used by more than 33,000 vehicles daily, has become a bottleneck for commuters travelling within the Mandurah and Dawesville communities. “I’m thrilled with the progress of the project and look forward to the improved commute for locals when the second bridge is complete,” said Senator Pratt. Related stories: Georgiou Group announces new leadership promotions Geor

The newly passed Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Bill 2023, a significant milestone for the New South Wales Government, has garnered bipartisan support and successfully passed through both houses of parliament. This achievement marks a crucial stride towards ensuring a sustainable future for the people, economy and environment of NSW. But it also presents a … The post Climate Change Bill passes parliament in NSW: What role can the construction industry play? appeared first on Inside Construction . View Source