Construcciones Yamaro, by Armando Iachini

Artist’s impression, subject to approvals: Honeysuckle HQ will sit on Newcastle’s harbourfront. (Images: DOMA Group) The NSW Government has selected DOMA Group as the delivery partner for Honeysuckle HQ, the final piece in the revitalisation of Newcastle Harbour. The mixed-use precinct will deliver around 1,000 new homes alongside jobs, public spaces, hospitality, tourism and cultural offerings on the city’s harbourfront. For decades, the Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation (HCCDC) has led the renewal of Honeysuckle , transforming former industrial land into a waterfront destination, with Honeysuckle HQ marking the final stage of the program. HCCDC chief executive Valentina Misevska said the announcement of DOMA Group as delivery partner is an important step in the Honeysuckle Urban Renewal Project, reflecting community calls for a precinct with quality public spaces, opportunities for activation, and stronger connections to the waterfront and transport. “It also deli...

Construction is progressing on the new $330 million Eurobodalla Regional Hospital. (Image: NSW Government) The façade of the NSW Government’s new $330 million Eurobodalla Regional Hospital has been revealed. Designed as a purpose-built facility, the development will expand access to healthcare services for communities from Narooma to Batemans Bay. Its façade features a light-filled glass-fronted foyer to welcome patients, visitors and staff, along with silver and bronze-toned cladding that reflects the surrounding landscape. Inside, new images show progress on the maternity unit, maternity staff station and a recovery-based space designed to support patient-centred care and contemporary work environments for clinicians and health staff. With the façade complete, construction will continue on the internal fit-out, services installation and external landscaping works. Related stories: Bays West Delivery Authority to progress Sydney’s newest suburb Stockland turns first sod at St...

Artist’s impression: The Bays West Precinct will be connected to a new metro station. (Images: NSW Government) The NSW Government has established the Bays West Delivery Authority to lead the development of the Bays West Precinct and Blackwattle Bay Precinct. Premier of NSW Chris Minns said the new authority marked the first step in turning the Bays West Precinct into a liveable suburb. “The authority will deliver well-located homes close to the heart of the city and integrate the new precinct with Blackwattle Bay and the new Sydney Fish Market,” he said. “This is a generational opportunity to build a new suburb on the city’s edge and open the harbour foreshore to the public for the first time in a century.” The Bays West Precinct will deliver up to 8,500 homes, including a minimum of 10 per cent affordable and essential worker housing. It will combine new housing with public open space, open waterfront access for the first time in more than 100 years and retain deep-water facilitie...

NAIF supports projects across Northern Australia, including the Northern Territory and parts of Queensland and Western Australia above the Tropic of Capricorn. (Image: Adwo/stock.adobe.com) The Australian Government’s Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) has reached a new investment milestone. Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King said the facility has delivered $3 billion in funds to proponents through drawdowns for construction on projects across Northern Australia. “NAIF is continuing to build economic opportunities across Northern Australia, creating jobs and strengthening communities across the north,” said King. “The $3 billion drawn down by project proponents underlines how NAIF has become an important catalyst for growth, jobs and opportunities for people and communities across the north, including Indigenous businesses and communities. “NAIF capital is supporting more than 18,700 jobs and has so far secured more than $279 million suppor...

Queensland Minister for Education John-Paul Langbroek (left) and Member for Rockhampton Donna Kirkland. (Image: Queensland Government) The Queensland Government has awarded FKG Group the Early Contractor Involvement, Design Management and Construction contract for the new Gracemere High School. Construction is expected to begin by Term 4, 2026, with the school due to open to Year 7 and 8 students in 2028. The new campus will include 16 general classrooms, nine specialist learning areas, outdoor multi-purpose courts and an oval. FKG Group will hold industry sessions for local businesses, outlining opportunities to support the project’s delivery. Related stories: Kangaroo Point Bridge earns ‘Excellent’ sustainability rating Spatial intelligence solves progress tracking on a mega pipeline Construction begins on the Sunshine Coast’s Aura Town Centre The school forms part of the Queensland Government’s $21.9 billion education infrastructure program, which includes 15 new schools...

The development is located at 15 Ellis Street in the Chatswood CBD. (Images: Central Element) Central Element and builder Growthbuilt have completed Ethos Chatswood, a residential and mixed-use development in one of Sydney’s most connected urban centres. Located at 15 Ellis Street in the Chatswood CBD, 400 metres from the Metro train station, the $175 million project comprises 49 one, two and three-bedroom residences above about 1,200 square metres of retail and commercial space, activating three street frontages – Pacific Highway, Ellis Street and Crispe Lane. Designed by award-winning architects SJB, Ethos Chatswood has been created to meet growing demand from downsizers and owner-occupiers seeking spacious, design-led residences within a connected location. With limited residences per floor, the building prioritises privacy, natural light, cross ventilation and district views stretching from the CBD to the Northern Beaches and the Blue Mountains. Related stories: City of Sydne...

The City of Sydney’s 2026/27 budget includes funding for streets, parks and community facilities. (Image: Lucinda Varney – Airview Group/City of Sydney) Over the next 12 months, the City of Sydney will invest more than $1 billion in infrastructure, services and projects supporting its 242,000 residents. The council’s 2026/27 budget includes operational expenditure of $671 million to back local businesses, fund essential infrastructure projects and maintain community facilities, parks, open spaces, roads, and waste and recycling services. More than $265 million will be spent on capital works projects to support the growth of the city and local villages, including $170 million on asset renewal. The budget is part of the City of Sydney’s 10-year plan that forecasts spending $2.3 billion to meet the needs of an evolving community and ensure the city remains vibrant, accessible and sustainable into the future. Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore said major projects over the next five yea...

A purpose-built ERP system can help contractors prepare for growth. (Image: BlazingDesigns/stock.adobe.com) The right enterprise resource planning (ERP) system can help construction contractors scale, but only if the business is ready to change how work gets done. By Alex Boury, general manager of Access Construction . Australia’s construction contractors are under pressure to do more with less. Margins are tight, the labour gap is biting and regulations keep on expanding. Some contractors are finding their old systems – a disconnected tech stack that’s looking wobbly or a legacy ERP with spreadsheets filling the gaps – can’t keep pace. For contractors serious about scaling, a purpose-built construction ERP has become the obvious next step: a single platform connecting financials, projects , procurement, plant and payroll, with real-time visibility over cost, cash and compliance . Done well, it’s the difference between doubling your project portfolio and doubling your administrati...

Left to right: JN Bentley director Steve Tetlow; Leed chairman of the board Andrew Millar; Mott MacDonald regional managing director for Asia Pacific, New Zealand and Australia Adrian Jones; and Leed managing director Craig Laslett. (Image: Mott MacDonald) Mott MacDonald, a global employee-owned engineering consultancy, has entered into an agreement to acquire Leed Engineering & Construction, a privately owned Australian civil contractor. The acquisition will enable Mott MacDonald and Leed to offer an integrated design and construction team, with a focus on the provision and remediation of water infrastructure assets. Leed is a multi-disciplinary engineering and construction company, specialising in complex infrastructure projects. Founded in 2001, the business has grown to become a national infrastructure contractor with a team of more than 350 people and offices in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. The company has civil construction experience across water, dams,...

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...

FF26 is supported by sponsors committed to a more progressive, productive and sustainable construction industry, including Access Construction, Autodesk, DroneDeploy, InEight, Maddocks, Revizto, RIB Software and Telstra. Foundations and Frontiers 2026 (FF26), the Australian Constructors Association’s (ACA) flagship forum, has announced its speaker line-up, bringing together leaders from government, industry and beyond to spotlight ‘pockets of potential’ across construction. ACA president Annabel Crookes said the construction sector is facing challenges, but also opportunities. “Foundations and Frontiers is about identifying what’s working and scaling it, so we can deliver better outcomes across the industry,” said Crookes. “It’s not just about conversation; it’s about learning from what’s already delivering results and applying it more broadly.” Radio and television presenter Adam Spencer will MC the forum, putting tough questions to the room on what’s working and what needs to cha...

HIRE26 will bring together hire and rental professionals from across Australia and abroad. (Image: Rix Ryan Photography) The Hire and Rental Industry Association (HRIA) has confirmed the full program for HIRE26, taking place at Sydney Showground in Sydney Olympic Park from 20 to 21 May 2026. The event brings together hire companies, equipment suppliers, industry professionals and decision-makers from across Australia and abroad for two days of education, exhibition and networking. This year’s keynote program will feature Australian athletes, industry experts and senior leaders. The line-up includes three-time Paralympic gold medallist Kurt Fearnley, documentary filmmaker and co-creator of Earth Hour Todd Sampson, and Olympic gold medallist and media personality Giaan Rooney, who will facilitate a panel discussion and host the Hire Industry Excellence Awards and Gala Dinner. “HIRE26 is the event where the industry comes together, and every year we aim to raise the bar to make it som...

Hospital staff, stakeholders, community members and the project team marked the start of main works construction at a sod turn event. (Images: NSW Government) Main works have begun on the $50 million Glen Innes Hospital redevelopment, with health staff, stakeholders, community members and the project team gathering to mark the milestone at a sod turn event. The project will deliver a new acute services building on the existing hospital campus, housing an expanded emergency department, medical imaging, ambulance drop-off and bays, back-of-house areas, mortuary and a new main entry. To support construction, a temporary internal access road is being built on the eastern side of the hospital campus. The next phase of works will include the creation of the new ambulance access. The Glen Innes Hospital will continue to operate as normal during construction, providing care for local and surrounding communities, and will remain as a district hospital networked to Armidale and Tamworth hosp...