Construcciones Yamaro, by Armando Iachini

Kapitol project managers use Asta Vision to check out programs and update status. (Image: Serhii/stock.adobe.com) Kapitol is using Asta to underpin both pre-construction planning and project delivery, supporting more than 50 users across the business. Kapitol is an Australian builder operating across multiple sectors, including data centres and critical infrastructure, residential, commercial, education, sports projects and, recently, modular construction. The business runs 10 to 15 projects in Asta at any one time, alongside a new business pipeline in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Garret Jackson, planning manager, joined Kapitol in January 2023 to lead pre-construction planning and support on-site delivery teams with standardised programs. With more than 10 years’ experience using Asta, as well as exposure to Oracle Primavera P6 and Microsoft Project, he was tasked with modernising Kapitol’s planning tools and workflows. The challenge Kapitol needed to keep pace as progra...

Construction workers are encouraged to connect over a cuppa and check in with their mates. (Image: NESCAFÉ) In construction, looking out for each other is part of a strong team culture. That’s why NESCAFÉ in Nestlé Professional has partnered with R U OK? as its official cuppa partner, encouraging workers to connect over a coffee and start meaningful conversations. To help businesses and site teams bring the message to life, Nestlé Professional is offering $100 off R U OK? merchandise with the code NP_RUOK26 . The merchandise can help create visibility and encourage more conversations across sites, sheds and break areas. Teams can also visit the Nestlé Professional website to download free R U OK? workplace resources and support everyday check-ins. Nestlé Smithtown joins Convoy As a cornerstone of the partnership, NESCAFÉ in Nestlé Professional supports the R U OK? Conversation Convoy – an initiative that travels to regional communities around the country, helping Australians unde...

Payapps helps reduce the admin drag behind progress claims. (Images: Payapps) As project values rise and delivery environments become more complex, the pressure on builders is not only being felt on site. It is also showing up in the workflows that sit behind project delivery – particularly in the way progress claims are managed. By Ian Moss, marketing leader for Australia and New Zealand at Payapps – An Autodesk Company. Hubexo’s 2026 Construction League shows just how large that challenge is becoming. According to the report, Australia’s top 50 builders commenced 722 projects in 2025, with the combined value of those starts rising 32 per cent to $43.9 billion. Against that backdrop, 34 of those builders are now Payapps customers . That is not simply a technology milestone. It points to a broader shift in the market, where builders are putting more focus on the commercial workflows that influence productivity, visibility and control. Misty Cronin, head of sales at Payapps. For ma...

Rheem’s grants support apprentice plumbers as they build long-term careers in the trade. (Image: auremar/stock.adobe.com) Rheem Australia has awarded $75,000 in grants to 25 apprentice plumbers across the country, including five recipients of the newly introduced State Excellence Awards. Established in 2012, the Rheem Apprentice Plumber Grants support apprentices who demonstrate commitment to the trade and its future. Each recipient will receive a $2,000 grant to support training costs and a $1,000 tool voucher. The 2026 program comes as apprentices face rising cost-of-living pressures and the upfront costs of entering the trade. A January 2026 Rheem survey of 178 apprentice plumbers found 60 per cent identified tools and training as their biggest financial challenge, alongside everyday expenses such as rent, food and utilities. Despite these pressures, many apprentices are pursuing plumbing as a long-term career. More than 76 per cent of survey respondents said they were drawn to ...

Opal Tower underwent an 18-month repair program following its 2018 evacuation. (Image: Australian Apartment Advocacy) Opal Tower has received the Champion Award at the 2026 NSW Apartment Awards for Excellence, marking a turnaround for the building following its widely publicised structural issues. More than 300 residents were evacuated from the Sydney Olympic Park tower on Christmas Eve in 2018 after serious defects were identified. The Owners Corporation Committee, led by chair Shady Eskander, then oversaw an 18-month repair program and pursued legal action to address the defects. Eskander stepped away from leading his own business of 200 staff to focus on the recovery effort. His leadership was instrumental in coordinating stakeholders, advocating for residents and driving positive outcomes. “This award recognises not just a building, but the unwavering determination of a community to restore trust, safety and pride in their homes,” said Eskander. “It has been an incredibly chall...

The webinar explores how AI can support project workflows through Bluebeam Max. (Image: winnievinzence/stock.adobe.com) Bluebeam has released an on-demand webinar showcasing Bluebeam Max, a premium subscription designed to help architecture, engineering and construction teams improve efficiency and decision-making. Bluebeam Max enhances the capabilities of Revu with automation and AI-powered tools that reduce manual effort, improve accuracy and help teams identify potential issues earlier in the project process. The webinar demonstrates how Bluebeam Max connects teams, data and workflows while improving visibility across 2D drawings and 3D models. Key topics covered include: How to automate repetitive tasks and generate markups, updates and project insights using natural language prompts; ways to accelerate layouts and takeoffs with markup actions, including Duplicate As, Convert To and Offset; how Stitching combines multiple drawings into a seamless view to improve project cla...

Artist’s impression: The Grafton Base Hospital redevelopment will deliver a new multi-storey acute services building. (Images: NSW Government) Richard Crookes Constructions has been appointed to deliver the main works for the Grafton Base Hospital redevelopment, with construction set to begin in the coming weeks. The appointment follows a competitive tender process and planning approval for the project’s Review of Environmental Factors, which was placed on public exhibition in late 2025. The NSW Government has also announced an additional $20 million for the redevelopment as part of the 2026–27 State Budget, bringing its total contribution to $283.8 million. The funding will support a new purpose-built maternity unit with dedicated birthing rooms and improved inpatient accommodation. It will also enable the decommissioning and demolition of the existing maternity unit. The new unit forms part of the broader Grafton Base Hospital redevelopment , which will deliver a multi-storey ac...

A tree was placed at the highest point of the Queensgate development to mark the construction milestone. (Images: Decode Group) Decode Group and Iris Capital have celebrated the topping out of Queensgate, a mixed-use precinct at 18–32 Darlinghurst Road, Potts Point. The milestone was marked with a traditional ceremony, with a tree placed at the highest point of the development. Queensgate spans five interconnected buildings and will include 48 apartments, two pubs, a medical centre, ground-floor retail and laneway retail. Designed by TZG and Panov Scott, the project has retained and restored key heritage elements, including the historic façade along Darlinghurst Road and the Victorian-era Bourbon Bar. Decode Group CEO Divya Mehta said the milestone brings the project one step closer to completion. “Decode is proud to be one step closer to bringing Iris Capital’s vision to reinvigorate Sydney’s most famous nightlife strip while honouring and preserving its iconic heritage,” said Me...

Digital skills and budget gaps continue to shape technology use. (Image: ME Image/stock.adobe.com) A new report from Autodesk reveals the Australian construction industry is steadily increasing its use of technology amid ongoing operational challenges, stagnating productivity and geopolitical uncertainty. The  State of Digital Adoption in the Construction Industry 2026  is a study of 954 businesses across Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, India and Vietnam, assessing the gap between digital ambition and digital capabilities. The businesses surveyed, including 287 from Australia, operate across architecture, engineering, construction, real estate development and specialty trade contracting. According to the report, on average 48 per cent of Australian construction sector employees use industry-specific technology weekly. This is the second highest out of all countries included in the report, behind only Vietnam at 52 per cent. Australian businesses use an average of 7.6 technol...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Komatsu Rental gives contractors access to modern, well-maintained machines. (Images: Komatsu) Komatsu Rental is building out a national model for equipment hire, focused on availability, support and consistent performance. Utilisation is the primary measure in fleet strategy, and hire offers a pragmatic way to maintain control. Rather than tying up capital in owned plant, contractors can align fleet size with workload and respond to program changes without carrying idle equipment. Access to modern, well-maintained machines without long-term commitment supports productivity and compliance across staged programs, providing flexibility, cash flow protection and delivery certainty. For Komatsu Rental, that places emphasis on fleet readiness, with low-hour machines and integrated support enabling equipment to be deployed to match project demands. It’s structured to support customers across the full project lifecycle, from early-stage civil works through to large-scale commercial const...