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Construcciones Yamaro: WT forecasts elevated Australian construction costs

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Brisbane is forecast to remain Australia’s most pressured construction market. (Image: THINK b/stock.adobe.com) Australian construction costs are set to remain elevated over the next three years, with national business-as-usual (BAU) escalation forecast at 5.5 per cent for building and 5.1 per cent for infrastructure in 2026, according to the latest Australian Construction Market Conditions Report by WT . Published twice yearly, the report provides city-by-city escalation forecasts across building and infrastructure. This edition separates BAU escalation from direct costs linked to global supply disruption, giving the industry a clearer baseline for decision-making. WT construction economist Damon Roast said the approach reflects the reality that external cost pressures vary by project type, materials mix and supply chain exposure. “The direct impacts on construction costs have been significant in some areas, particularly for infrastructure projects with heavy reliance on oil produ...

Construcciones Yamaro: Freecity gets green light for mixed-use precinct at Rouse Hill Metro

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The three towers will rise above a mixed-use podium. (Images: Freecity) Property group Freecity has received development approval for its three-tower, mixed-use development at 2–30 Tempus Street, Rouse Hill, in Sydney’s north west. Lodged as a State Significant Development Application and approved by the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, the project will deliver 548 new rental homes alongside commercial, retail and wellness spaces. Positioned opposite the Rouse Hill Metro station and adjacent to the Rouse Hill Town Centre, the project supports housing diversity, economic growth and community vitality in one of Sydney’s fastest-growing corridors. The development will comprise three towers of 11, 18 and 23 storeys above a three-storey mixed-use podium. The 18 and 23-storey residential towers will include 332 build-to-rent apartments across studio, one, two and three-bedroom layouts, with a flexible mix designed for a range of household types. The 11-storey buil...

Construcciones Yamaro: ACA’s Peter Colacino sets out construction industry priorities

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The Australian Constructors Association wants to see the industry change how it operates. (Image: MST/stock.adobe.com) The Australian Constructors Association’s new CEO, Peter Colacino, shares what needs to change to meet the nation’s growing infrastructure demands. By Peter Colacino, CEO of the Australian Constructors Association. Nation-shaping work has always been high stakes. However, the challenges faced by the construction sector today are the greatest in a generation. The scale of what we are being asked to deliver is extraordinary, but so too is the question of whether our existing systems and processes can deliver it. Over time, layers of complexity and cost have been built into project delivery. Outdated approaches, skills constraints and cost pressures are now converging at exactly the moment demand is peaking at record levels. Peter Colacino, CEO of the Australian Constructors Association. (Image: ACA) However, the flipside of these challenges is an immense opportunit...

Construcciones Yamaro: NAWIC awards celebrate excellence in construction

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The GO Company, co-founded by electricians Logan Barnett (left) and Jasmyn Smith, took home the National Crystal Vision Award. (Images: NAWIC) The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) National Awards for Excellence recognise contributions to industry growth and gender diversity. By Cathryn Greville, CEO of NAWIC. NAWIC’s vision is to build an equitable construction industry for all, and further change is still needed in the sector to achieve that. Progress is being made, and I believe we are on the cusp of a cultural shift in construction – one where workplaces accommodate the needs of all workers, regardless of background. Cathryn Greville, CEO of NAWIC. Our National Awards for Excellence recognise the achievements of those working on the ground to drive this cultural change. The awards celebrate the achievements and innovation of women, organisations and male allies across four categories: the Crystal Vision Award, the Business Award, the Presidents’ Choice Aw...

Construcciones Yamaro: Concrete becomes the finish at Skye by Pikos

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Maintaining a consistent finish was critical to achieving the project’s architectural design. (Image: ECOTONE) At Skye by Pikos in Brisbane, exposed concrete is both structure and finish, placing pressure on construction quality and long-term durability. Cadell Taye, CEO of National Precast. (Image: National Precast) By Cadell Taye, CEO of National Precast. Located at 8 River Terrace in Kangaroo Point, Skye by Pikos is a 69-residence development overlooking the Brisbane River and CBD. Designed by Conrad Gargett and constructed by Tomkins Commercial & Industrial Builders, the project uses concrete as the primary architectural expression across soffits, structural walls and precast façade elements. Construction challenge Using concrete as a finished surface introduces a high level of complexity. Unlike concealed structural elements, architectural concrete must achieve its final appearance during construction. Surface quality is influenced by formwork, concrete mix, placement a...

Construcciones Yamaro: KONE puts permanent lift systems to work from day one

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JumpLift is a self-climbing elevator solution for high-rise developments. (Images: KONE) KONE is helping projects move, build and rise faster by bringing permanent lift systems into the construction phase earlier. While pressure on construction businesses isn’t new, it has, of late, felt relentless. Contractors are expected to deliver projects faster as labour shortages and rising costs continue, with geopolitical uncertainty and fuel prices adding further strain. Site efficiency and unnecessary costs are receiving closer attention, with developers and main contractors looking harder at how projects are delivered and where costs can be reduced. The response isn’t simply to absorb it, but to adapt. Solutions that accelerate delivery are easing the load, or in KONE Australia’s case, lifting it. That capability is underpinned by global experience. KONE has delivered vertical transportation systems across high-rise construction for more than a century, including many of the world’s tal...

Construcciones Yamaro: Brookfield to sell Multiplex to Japan’s Obayashi Corporation

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Multiplex is set to join the Obayashi Group. (Image: tippapatt/stock.adobe.com) Brookfield, through its private equity strategy, has agreed to sell Multiplex to Obayashi Corporation, one of Japan’s largest construction companies, for US$650 million. The transaction includes about US$530 million in cash proceeds on closing and an earn-out based on future business performance. Multiplex was founded in Australia in 1962 and acquired by Brookfield in 2007. After spinning out its real estate assets and facilities management business in 2016, it became a standalone construction business as part of Brookfield Business Corporation, the flagship listed vehicle of Brookfield’s private equity group. With operations in Australia, the UK and Canada, Multiplex’s global portfolio includes complex developments across the commercial, residential, healthcare, infrastructure, hospitality and mixed-use sectors. Anuj Ranjan, CEO of Brookfield’s private equity group, said the transaction delivers a stro...