Construcciones Yamaro, by Armando Iachini

Image: neolko/stock.adobe.com In a world facing urgent environmental challenges, Dr Gretchen Gagel explores how leaders in the construction industry can be a driving force for sustainable progress – balancing the needs of people with the demands of the planet. By Dr Gretchen Gagel. Dr Gretchen Gagel. (Image: Heidi Victoria) Last month, I attended the Engineering and Construction Community (ECC) conference with 900 construction industry leaders at the beautiful Broadmoor Resort in Colorado Springs. This is a special place to me, as I have spent decades visiting, from learning to ski here as a four-year-old to being inducted into the National Academy of Construction here in 2021. As I was riding down from Denver, I noticed a scar on the beautiful mountain and foothills landscape. Then I began to think about the ‘green construction’ theme of this edition’s feature, and a vision came to me of looking at the Earth from far away. What will it look like in 50 years with nearly 10 bil...

Shell delivery. (Image: Viva Energy Australia, Shell Lubricants Macro Distributor) For Viva Energy Australia, proper delivery, storage and handling of industrial lubricants are just as essential as the formulations themselves. While innovations in lubricant technology continue to advance, even the highest-quality products risk contamination without careful management. Particulate contamination can cause premature wear and costly failures, particularly in the construction industry. To combat this, many construction equipment managers are now adopting proactive maintenance and storage practices to keep machines running longer and more efficiently. Effective storage and handling are key to preventing contamination, premature damage, misapplication, and even safety risks. Shell Lubricants closely monitors and controls the quality of products from the refinery to the blending plant. According to Silvana Farrugia, technical specialist at Viva Energy Australia (Shell Lubricants Macro Di...

Image: vetrana/stock.adobe.com The Australian Constructors Association is emphasising the importance of collaboration between government, industry and unions to achieve a sustainable and progressive future for construction. By Jon Davies, CEO of the Australian Constructors Association. The Australian construction industry is in the spotlight again, and unfortunately, for all the wrong reasons. However, behind the uncertainty surrounding the CFMEU, we have a unique opportunity to reshape the industry into something better – an industry that works for everyone. Jon Davies, CEO of the Australian Constructors Association. Right now, we have an opportunity to reset and recognise the roles of all parties in moving forward. By bringing together government, industry and unions, we can turn this moment into a turning point for a sustainable and progressive industry. For far too long, the relationships between these players have been marked by tension, with each side trying to gain th...

Incident animation – High-rise building. (Image: WorkSafe Victoria) WorkSafe Victoria is transforming real‑life incidents into powerful lessons to protect workers on construction sites. In the latest example, a 2020 incident involving a sprinkler head that fell 26 floors from a Melbourne construction site has been turned into a safety animation to highlight the dangers of high-risk construction work. Sam Jenkin, executive director of health and safety at WorkSafe Victoria. (Image: WorkSafe Victoria) In a visual representation of the incident, WorkSafe Victoria shares insights from its investigation, aiming to raise awareness of the dangers across the sector. Sam Jenkin, executive director of health and safety at WorkSafe Victoria, explains how even small falling objects can hit with devastating force. “The sprinkler head landed close to workers at street level, [hitting the ground] with the same force as being hit by a car – it was only good fortune that no one was injured,” ...

Bella Doyle, project coordinator at Icon, on The Brewery Yard project. (Image: Icon) From the stunning shores of Vanuatu to the vibrant Sydney Harbour, Bella Doyle is making her mark as a dynamic leader in innovative and sustainable project delivery. Growing up around construction, with her father and other family members working in the industry, it seemed inevitable that Bella Doyle would follow in their footsteps. Her love for design, technology and art at school – particularly projects involving ‘major works’ – further reflected her natural fit for the field. However, a career in construction wasn’t always on her radar. Initially drawn to architecture, Doyle’s path took a turn when an opportunity arose to join the commercial building company Icon, where her father worked. “As I got older, I edged less toward architecture and more toward construction design,” says Doyle. “As I started discovering the role design plays in the construction world and the opportuniti...

Built by Australians, for the Australian construction industry, Converge is set to unite key decision-makers from the municipal works, civil and commercial construction sectors. (Image: Prime Creative Media) As the only Australian‑owned major event showcasing the latest tools and technology in municipal works, civil and commercial construction, Converge is gaining unprecedented industry support. Date: 17-18 September 2025 Venue: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre Enquire now: Sponsorship and exhibition opportunities are available now. Visit convergeexpo.com.au or get in touch at converge@primecreative.com.au Positioned as a one-stop-shop event for subcontractors, project engineers, council fleet managers and large-scale contractors, Converge will feature live demonstrations, equipment showcases and dedicated conference spaces. This industry gathering aims to provide a platform for professionals to collaborate, share insights and discover practical solution...

Mario Russo, managing director of Australia at McConnell Dowell. (Images: McConnell Dowell) As a strategic powerhouse and a champion of construction excellence, Mario Russo is set to lead McConnell Dowell into a new era of growth and innovation in Australia. With a wealth of experience and a keen strategic mindset, Mario Russo has advanced from a graduate to a leader recognised for his successful project deliveries and deep expertise across various sectors and regions. His passion for people‑centric leadership and clear vision for the future position him to elevate McConnell Dowell’s Australian operations. Russo’s ascent to leadership was defined by pivotal moments that shaped his approach to project and business management. His professional journey began with a degree in mining engineering at the University of South Australia, but a significant experience in an underground Queensland mine led him to reconsider his path. “The realities of the mining lifestyle, particularly t...

Image: Coates With events like R U OK? Day in September and Mental Health Month in October, mental health is a focus across Australia, especially in construction. Yet for one in five working Australians , mental ill-health is a year-round challenge. Luke Pedras, national manager for health, wellbeing and injury management at Coates , highlights that mental health affects various aspects of life, including workplace safety and wellbeing. “For high-risk blue-collar professions – like tradies, truckies and farmers – a high stress load creates even greater risk of mental ill-health or injury at work,” says Pedras. Consider these alarming statistics: The Australian construction industry loses one worker to suicide every two days . Males are three times more likely to take their own life and account for 88 per cent of the construction workforce. Construction apprentices are 2.5 times more likely to commit suicide than other young men their age. Mental ill-health also impacts b...

Image: Autodesk John Holland is transforming its operations with a digital strategy aimed at efficiently managing and delivering its growing portfolio of projects. Matt Drake, senior digital engineering manager at John Holland, highlighted that the company is innovating through the adoption of Autodesk Construction Cloud, with positive results. “By centralising data, we have streamlined our operations and increased efficiency, leading to more effective resource management and knowledge sharing across teams,” said Drake. “A particularly notable achievement is the financial savings realised by shelving desktop products, which has led to cost reductions of up to $50,000 per month, depending on the project’s value.” “This move has not only saved money but also improved efficiency, as the reduced technology stack and phasing out of desktop products has cut the time spent searching for information by up to 15 per cent.” Established in 1949, John Holland has a long history of deliveri...

Tunnel boring machine Ruby. (Images: Sydney Metro) Tunnel boring machine (TBM) Ruby has begun carving out the final section of tunnel for the Sydney Metro West project. Launching from The Bays, TBM Ruby will join TBM Jessie in constructing the 2.3km twin railway tunnels, creating a critical new connection between Sydney’s west and the heart of the city. The tunnels will run deep under the harbour, enhancing transport links for future generations. Named after Ruby Payne-Scott , a pioneer in women’s rights and Australia’s first radio astronomer, TBM Ruby is the last of six TBMs deployed for the 24km Metro West tunnels. Weighing 1,100 tonnes, the machine will operate 24/7 to complete this highly complex section of the route, passing beside the Anzac Bridge and tunnelling beneath two sections of the harbour to reach the Sydney CBD. New South Wales Minister for Transport Jo Haylen highlighted the transformative nature of the project, stating: “Over the next 20 years, 420,000 people ...

Bentley Systems’ OpenSite+ software with copilot uses organisation-specific documents and design models for quick insights and edits. (Images: Bentley Systems) Bentley Systems (Bentley) has unveiled new generative artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities for civil site design, aiming to enhance productivity and accuracy. These innovations, which include a design copilot, site layout optimisations and automated drawing production, are set to transform the design phase of infrastructure projects. Building on its successful use of AI-powered digital twins for asset maintenance, Bentley is extending AI’s role into the design phase to automate repetitive tasks like drawing production, freeing engineers to focus on high-value activities. Putting AI into action Bentley’s OpenSite+ is reportedly the first engineering application leveraging generative AI for civil site design. It has been developed to help engineers quickly design residential, commercial and industrial sites, significa...

Artist’s impression: The Kangaroo Bay Hotel. (Images: Supplied by the Tasmanian Government) The Tasmanian Government has declared the Kangaroo Bay Hotel as a Major Project under its landmark major projects legislation . The $65 million development will feature 155 rooms and is projected to significantly boost the state’s economy. As demonstrated in the Major Project Proposal, the project is expected to generate 100 full-time equivalent jobs in the construction phase, and up to 443 full-time equivalent positions once the hotel is operational. Tasmania’s Minister for Housing and Planning Felix Ellis highlighted that the government introduced the Major Projects pathway to provide certainty for proponents while ensuring transparency for the community. “After consideration of the Major Project Proposal, and on advice from the State Planning Office, I am of the opinion that the project has the necessary attributes to be declared a Major Project,” said Ellis. “Developments like the Kan...

The Beaconsfield Parade bridge at Glenrowan was replaced to accommodate double-stacked freight trains. (Image: Inland Rail) The Inland Rail Beveridge to Albury (B2A) project has reached a significant milestone, injecting over $100 million into regional Victoria’s economy. Since October 2022, Inland Rail and partner McConnell Dowell have spent $118 million with 303 local Victorian suppliers to carry out work on the first four construction sites: Wangaratta, Glenrowan, Barnawartha North and Seymour-Avenel Road. Local workers have also benefited from employment opportunities on the first tranche of the project, with 1,279 (96 per cent) of the 1,330 jobs to date filled by local residents. The momentum continues as 22 local businesses secure contracts worth nearly $1 million as part of Tranche 2 of the B2A project, employing 156 additional locals. Inland Rail’s Tranche 2 construction partner, John Holland, is engaging further with local suppliers through a series of “meet the contr...