Construcciones Yamaro, by Armando Iachini

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

Artist’s impression: 899 Collins Street. (Image: Lendlease) Lendlease and Nippon Steel Kowa Real Estate (NSKRE) have announced their first-ever partnership to deliver a waterfront build-to-rent apartment development at 899 Collins Street, Docklands, with an estimated end value of around $500 million. Under the terms of the new partnership, NSKRE will take a 40 per cent equity share in the venture, while Lendlease plans to bring in additional partners as the project progresses. Tom Mackellar, CEO of development at Lendlease, said the partnership with NSKRE to deliver a waterfront build-to-rent development in Melbourne offers a strategic opportunity to leverage both companies’ global expertise. “This announcement also highlights the continuing demand from our Japanese partners for high-quality opportunities across our development pipeline, and we look forward to working together to deliver on NSKRE’s first project in the Australian market,” said Mackellar. Headquartered in Japan,

South Australia Police Gepps Cross facility. (Images: BESIX Watpac) BESIX Watpac has completed Stage 1 of the Gepps Cross project for South Australia Police (SAPOL), and the Mounted Operations Unit has now moved into the facility. Al Crosby, BESIX Watpac’s general manager for Victoria and South Australia, noted that the project required a builder with experience in managing complex and unique builds to deliver this critical piece of police infrastructure. “We’ve delivered this first stage on time and now move onto Stage 2, which entails completion of the Dog Operation Unit at Gepps Cross and City Staging,” said Crosby. In collaboration with key stakeholders, including South Australia’s Department for Infrastructure and Transport and SAPOL, BESIX Watpac ensured that the facility was built to meet the specific design requirements of a highly specialised and fit-for-purpose structure. Related stories: Construction begins on new Shellharbour Hospital BESIX Watpac tops out Eastwo

Artist’s impression: Quest Bairnsdale. (Image: Supplied by Quest Apartment Hotels) Construction has started on the $40 million Quest Bairnsdale, a mixed-use property in Victoria’s East Gippsland region. Scheduled for completion by mid-2025, the project is progressing rapidly, with work already reaching the third floor. Representatives from Quest Apartment Hotels (Quest), developer Dahlsens, builder BFN Developments, and architects Fenton Design Group gathered onsite last week to … The post Construction begins on new Quest Bairnsdale appeared first on Inside Construction . View Source

Danala | Education and Community Precinct is now open in Darwin City. (Image: Charles Darwin University) Charles Darwin University (CDU) has officially opened the doors of its new city campus, Danala | Education and Community Precinct (ECP), following over 550,000 hours of construction work. The campus developer, Capital Insight, reported that of the 1,526 employees involved in the build, 984 were employed by Northern Territory companies. Danala, named after the Larrakia word for dillybag, was constructed by local contractor DCOH (formerly known as Halikos), who led the project. The project employed 173 First Nations people, who collectively contributed 70,701 hours of labour. Notably, First Nations employees comprised 12.62 per cent of DCOH’s total workforce, surpassing the contract target of 8 per cent. CDU vice-chancellor professor Scott Bowman expressed pride in the skilled trades professionals of the Territory for their contributions to this significant addition to the CDU

Google 3D Tiles of Vancouver, enabled through Cesium technology, will be available within iTwin. (Image: Bentley Systems) Bentley Systems (Bentley) has formed a strategic partnership with Google to integrate Google’s high-quality geospatial content with its infrastructure engineering software and digital twin platform. This collaboration aims to enhance the design, construction, and management of infrastructure by providing real-world geospatial context and immersive 3D capabilities. Digital twins, which offer a digital representation of physical infrastructure, unlock valuable insights throughout the lifecycle of projects – from planning and design to construction and asset operation. By combining Bentley’s engineering data with Google’s geospatial data, artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud technologies, engineers can design and manage infrastructure at scale and in context, addressing today’s most pressing challenges, such as mitigating climate risk and maintaining ageing i

Queeness Gutierrez – LEGO x Multiplex Unstoppable Academy participant. (Images: Multiplex) The Jump Start Juniors Multiplex x LEGO Australia Schools Program is paving the way for future female participation in the construction sector, aiming to spark early interest in construction careers among young girls. Over 600 Year 5 and 6 students in New South Wales have already taken part in the program, with another 1,000 expected to complete it by year’s end. This milestone coincides with the United Nations’ International Day of the Girl on 11 October, a day dedicated to promoting education, equal opportunity and human rights for girls worldwide. Female representation in construction is crucial for the industry’s future, especially as Master Builders Australia’s The Future of the Workforce report reveals the need for 130,000 additional workers by the end of 2024. The report indicates that the sector is still grappling with significant skills shortages, with women comprising only 13.6 p

L-R: Health Infrastructure NSW acting chief executive Emma Skulander, NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park, NSW member for Shellharbour Anna Watson, BESIX Watpac construction manager John Mattock and Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District general Julie Carter. (Image: BESIX Watpac) A sod-turning ceremony has officially launched the construction of the highly anticipated new Shellharbour Hospital, which aims to transform healthcare delivery for the Illawarra community. BESIX Watpac joined New South Wales Minister for Health Ryan Park and member for Shellharbour Anna Watson at the ceremony. The commencement of construction signifies not only the physical start of the project but also the promise of a meaningful and lasting impact on the local community. The new hospital is expected to generate $780 million in economic activity for the Illawarra region and create around 800 construction jobs. Giovanni Polimeni , general manager for NSW at BESIX Watpac, emphasised the company’s comm

Image: Laing O’Rourke Working towards achieving its net zero goals, Laing O’Rourke is conducting trials of 100 per cent hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO100) on Australian projects. HVO100, derived from vegetable oils such as rapeseed or waste-based feedstock like used cooking oil, offers a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to diesel derived from fossil fuels. Recognising the construction industry’s significant contribution to global emissions, phasing out diesel is crucial for meeting net zero targets. Hollie Hynes, general manager of sustainability and environment at Laing O’Rourke, said that the adoption of renewable liquid fuels, like hydrotreated vegetable oil, is critical to the company achieving its 2030 near-term targets. “As the construction industry is heavily reliant on diesel, the transition to electric heavy machinery and plant will take time – beyond 2030,” said Hynes. “Hydrotreated vegetable oil is widely available in other parts of the worl

Artist’s impression. (Image: John Holland) John Holland has been selected by the NSW Government to deliver enabling works for Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2, which includes a public and active transport bridge linking Wentworth Point and Melrose Park across the Parramatta River. The bridge, a key feature of the project, will connect communities on both sides of the river. Its innovative long-span cast-in-situ balanced cantilever design requires only two piers in the river, minimising disruption to waterway users and protecting the sensitive marine environment. Related stories: John Holland to construct new train manufacturing facility in QLD John Holland takes a stand against domestic and family violence Expression of Interest open for Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 The 1.3km enabling works cover the bridge and its approaches on both sides of the river. This marks the first critical stage of the light rail extension, which will eventually connect the Olympic Peninsula with Gr

John Anderson, chief executive officer at DT Infrastructure. (Image: DT Infrastructure) DT Infrastructure (DTI) has announced the appointment of John Anderson as its new chief executive officer. Anderson joins DTI from Hazell Bros Group, where he served as chief operating officer. He brings over 25 years of global experience, having held senior leadership positions at John Holland in both Australia and Southeast Asia. Known for his operational expertise, collaborative leadership style and results-driven approach, Anderson is well-positioned to lead DTI into the future. Murray McArdle, DTI’s interim CEO, expressed enthusiasm about the appointment, stating, “We are thrilled to welcome John to DTI and the Gamuda Group at a time of substantial growth. His business strategy and leadership experience, and deep understanding of complex infrastructure delivery will be invaluable as we build on our success in our key sectors.” “John has left a positive legacy in previous roles, fosterin

Mick Slocombe, general manager for South Australia and Western Australia at McConnell Dowell. (Image: McConnell Dowell) McConnell Dowell has announced the appointment of Mick Slocombe as general manager for South Australia and Western Australia . With over two decades of experience in the civil construction industry across Australia and Southeast Asia, Slocombe brings extensive expertise in infrastructure, water, marine, ports and dredging. His proven track record includes delivering commercial value, providing strategic direction and leadership, while prioritising safety and client relationships. Most recently, Slocombe established a successful contracting business in the Philippines, delivering key projects for port operators, water utilities, renewable energy developers, and private clients. Prior to that, he led BMD Group’s expansion into Western Australia, overseeing projects in various sectors including airports, mining and roads. Related stories: Built Environs deliver

Image: Coates Coates has introduced building information modelling (BIM) solutions to enhance the efficiency of temporary works. Major construction and infrastructure projects are like intricate puzzles, where every piece – from architectural design to structural engineering – must fit together perfectly. The success of these massive undertakings hinges on the seamless collaboration of multiple disciplines, each bringing their own specialised knowledge to the table. But with so many moving parts, the risk of miscommunication, delays and costly errors looms large. This makes finding ways to simplify and streamline the process not just beneficial, but essential. For more than two decades, BIM has been key to reducing the complexity of these projects, integrating data from a variety of sources to create 3D virtual building models. David Dragicevich, national technical engineering manager at Coates Engineering Solutions , explains that BIM helps people visualise and comprehend the

RMIT University’s Dr Rajeev Roychand (pictured centre) celebrating the successful laying of coffee biochar concrete with Major Road Projects Victoria and BildGroup staff on the Pakenham Roads Upgrade. (Images: HiVis Pictures) Major Road Projects Victoria (MRPV) is driving innovation by partnering with RMIT University to introduce coffee biochar concrete to the Victorian Big Build. The initiative marks the first use of coffee concrete on the Pakenham Roads Upgrade, transforming spent coffee grounds into organic biochar. MRPV is working with project contractor BildGroup and RMIT University to implement the sustainable solution. Senator for Victoria Jess Walsh praised the project, saying, “Melbourne is known for its coffee culture, so using old coffee grounds in the concrete is innovative, practical and better for our environment.” With each spent coffee puck weighing approximately 10 grams, this approach could divert over 7.5 billion cups’ worth of coffee grounds from Australian la

Partnering with suppliers like Kennards Hire often saves construction companies time and money, helping boost productivity onsite. (Images: Supplied by Kennards Hire) Productivity in Australia’s construction industry is at a tipping point, according to Kennards Hire. With persistent skills shortages and skyrocketing material costs, construction projects are under unprecedented pressure to deliver on time and within budget. Recognising this, the government has tasked the Australian Constructors Association (ACA) with driving a transformative strategy that prioritises innovation and accelerates the use of modern methods of construction (MMC), including the effective use of equipment. The question is: how quickly can the industry adapt to secure its future? Recent ACA research found that unlocking greater productivity in the construction industry in line with the economic average would add up to $56 billion in construction capacity annually. With so much at stake on these large pr