Construcciones Yamaro, by Armando Iachini

Artist’s impression: PAYCE’s Melrose Park development. (Images: PAYCE) Sydney developer PAYCE has received planning approval for a 351-apartment development in Melrose Park. The NSW Department of Planning has granted rezoning and development approval for the Hope Street development, which will include 197 units and 154 co-living units. Evolve Housing will own the 197 units, which will be leased as affordable housing under the Australian Government’s Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) . The homes will contribute to NSW’s delivery targets under the National Housing Accord. The 154 co-living units will provide rental accommodation for more than 700 residents. PAYCE chairman Brian Boyd said the project will boost affordable rental accommodation in an area with strong demand and amenity. “The project is situated within 100 metres of the new Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2, currently under construction, which will provide a much-needed transport link to not only the new Sydney West Met...

Bluebeam Max brings AI-powered tools into familiar project workflows. (Image: Bluebeam) Bluebeam , a developer of solutions and services for architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) professionals worldwide and part of the Nemetschek Group, has made Bluebeam Max available to all customers globally. The move gives teams the option to upgrade to a premium subscription with AI-powered automation and review tools. First unveiled at Bluebeam’s Unbound 2025 conference, Bluebeam Max was made available to select customers under a beta program. Now widely available, Bluebeam Max expands Bluebeam Revu with automation and AI tools designed to help AEC teams reduce manual work, identify issues earlier and improve collaboration across the project lifecycle. “AI is ushering in a new era for the built environment – one where complexity becomes manageable and data becomes actionable,” said Usman Shuja, CEO of Bluebeam. Related stories: Bluebeam announces Unbound 2026: World Tour Bluebeam...

Construction activity remains steady, but rising costs are weighing on the sector. (Image: Fathor/stock.adobe.com) The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has released its Q1 2026 Global Construction Monitor , with the latest results pointing to steady headline activity but rising pressure across costs, workloads and credit conditions. Globally, the Construction Sentiment Index edged up from +7 to +8, suggesting overall activity remained relatively stable. However, 12-month material cost projections rose across the board, while the outlook for credit conditions weakened. Infrastructure expectations remained one of the brighter areas. In Australia, the Construction Sentiment Index fell from +21 to +11, with RICS pointing to the impact of geopolitical tensions, rising material costs and tighter credit conditions. Current workloads declined across all major sectors. Private residential fell from +16 to +3, private non-residential moved from +11 to -6, and infrastructure an...

Glenn Merkel has joined NAWIC’s Board of Directors. (Image: NAWIC) The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) has appointed a man to its Board of Directors for the first time in the organisation’s 30-year history. Glenn Merkel’s appointment to the seven-member board reflects NAWIC’s commitment to inclusive leadership and the role of male allies in advancing gender equity across the construction industry. He joins national chairperson Jennifer Gillett, national vice chairperson Susan Mercer, and fellow directors Anna Broughton, Alison Fietz, Talia Keyes and Stefanie Nutt. “Glenn brings skills and experience that will strongly complement the existing expertise across our board and support NAWIC’s strategic priorities. This appointment reflects our commitment to building a balanced board with diverse perspectives and strong governance experience,” said Gillett. “Our board remains committed to driving our organisation forward with the support of our members, volunteer c...

Project stakeholders marked the topping out of the Manly development. (Image: Multiplex) Multiplex has reached the highest point on Royal Far West’s Aurora residential development in Manly, marking a milestone for a project that will help fund health services for country children and their families. Located at 19-21 South Steyne on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Aurora will deliver 58 one, two and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses across three buildings of two, five and eight storeys. Sale proceeds from the development will support Royal Far West’s work providing paediatric and allied health services to children from rural and remote communities. Designed by architects Glenn Murcutt and Angelo Candalepas, Aurora sits on a 6,398 square metre coastal site and forms part of the broader Royal Far West Neighbourhood. The mixed-use precinct will feature public retail, commercial and lifestyle spaces, as well as 20 rooms of revitalised accommodation for visiting Royal Far West children a...

A local support team helps keep fire alarm monitoring connected and compliant. (Images: Romteck Grid) Slow approvals, compliance hurdles and service issues can turn the final stage of a construction project into an unnecessary headache. For commercial builders and developers, fire alarm monitoring is often the last piece of the puzzle, and when it’s mishandled, it holds everything up. Fire alarm monitoring is not necessarily top of mind during the planning and build phases of a commercial project. It’s a compliance requirement, a final sign-off item, something to sort out closer to handover. But for builders and developers racing toward practical completion, it’s this mindset that turns a straightforward process into a costly delay. Fire alarm monitoring sits at the intersection of technical compliance, contractor coordination and regulatory sign-off. Get it wrong and the consequences ripple out across the project timeline. Australia’s construction sector faces increasing regulator...