Construcciones Yamaro, by Armando Iachini

The proposed network would connect major cities along Australia’s east coast. (Image: Chalabala/stock.adobe.com) Bechtel has been appointed delivery partner for the development phase of the proposed Newcastle to Sydney High Speed Rail. The company will work with the High Speed Rail Authority as planning progresses for the project, which forms the first stage of a potential high-speed rail network connecting major cities along Australia’s east coast. According to the authority’s business case submission, the Newcastle to Sydney project could contribute $250 billion to the national economy and create up to 99,000 jobs. It is also expected to support housing development and improve access to employment and economic opportunities. Bechtel managing director of public infrastructure in Australia Dr Richard Freer said the company was proud to partner with the High Speed Rail Authority on the project. Related stories: Seven tenders released for High Speed Rail Newcastle to Sydney What ...

Interspan specialises in post-tensioning systems for buildings, bridges and civil structures. (Image: Mario Marques) DYWIDAG Group has finalised its acquisition of Sydney-headquartered Interspan, including Slabtec, expanding its post-tensioning, concrete repair and structural strengthening operations. Interspan founders Don Fraser and James Laws will remain with the business and oversee its next phase of growth. The acquisition combines Interspan’s Australian workforce and project delivery capabilities with DYWIDAG’s international operations. A €50 million bond issued by DYWIDAG supported the transaction and the group’s broader growth plans. DYWIDAG chief executive officer Hugh Pelham said the acquisition would reinforce the group’s position across several specialist engineering markets. “Interspan is an exceptional business with a strong track record of customer satisfaction and financial performance,” said Pelham. “The combination of Interspan and DYWIDAG reinforces our position...

Brisbane is forecast to become a construction hotspot ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. (Image: asab974/stock.adobe.com) Rapid growth in AI infrastructure and data centre development is intensifying labour shortages across Australia and New Zealand’s construction sector, according to a new Turner & Townsend report. Now in its 17th year, Turner & Townsend’s Global Construction Market Intelligence report analyses the global construction industry using data gathered from 112 markets across 44 countries. The report finds that increased demand from data centre construction and health and defence projects, together with preparations for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, is creating competition for skilled workers and driving the adoption of new delivery approaches. According to the report, AI adoption and the push for data sovereignty have made data centres one of the fastest-growing sectors across Australia and New Zealand. The data indicates the reg...

The program will give Curtin students hands-on experience using BIM software. Image: Andrey Popov/stock.adobe.com Octave Intelligence, an industrial software company, has launched a new initiative to equip students with practical skills for critical industries. The Octave NextGen Builders Program will prepare students to make decisions across the design, construction, operation and protection of assets, with Curtin University confirmed as the inaugural partner. Fabio Yada, vice president for Asia Pacific at Octave. Image: Octave Across Australia, demand for skills in construction, infrastructure and engineering continues to exceed supply. Similar pressures are evident across the Asia-Pacific region, where major infrastructure, data centre and energy-transition projects are increasing demand for workers with technical and digital capabilities. The Octave NextGen Builders Program has been created to help address this gap by giving students hands-on experience with how data and intell...

FTI Group’s BlueDeck Composite provides stay-in-place formwork for suspended concrete slabs. Image: FTI Group Composite slabs are an established construction method for suspended concrete slabs in commercial, industrial and multi-residential projects throughout Australia. Yet misconceptions persist about how composite action works, where it adds value and what needs to be considered to achieve optimal structural performance. By Harvey Arkcoll, national sales manager at FTI Group. Understanding the basic principles of composite slabs can help project teams make more informed decisions and recognise the efficiencies in design and construction, as well as benefits for long-term durability. What is a composite slab?   A composite slab is a reinforced concrete slab that has been designed so the metal decking formwork and the concrete act together as a single structural element after the concrete has cured. In a composite slab, the metal decking performs two important roles: it acts as...

The first tool pack was donated to Pyrenees Building Group carpentry apprentice Shannon Griffiths in Ballarat. (Images: Master Builders Victoria) A 19-year-old carpentry apprentice from Ballarat has donated thousands of dollars’ worth of new tools to support fellow apprentices doing it tough. Oscar Cherry received two tool packs valued at about $2,000 in total and an $800 clothing voucher after winning Regional Apprentice of the Year (Junior Apprentice) and MBV Apprentice of the Year (Junior Trades) at this year’s Master Builders Victoria Awards . Instead of keeping the prizes, Cherry divided them among apprentices nominated by Victorian training providers. He also added some of his own hand tools to the packs. “I understand how tough it can be for many young apprentices,” he says. “I’ve been fortunate to receive incredible support from my family, friends and trainers, and I wanted to give back by sharing that support with others who may not have the same opportunities.” The first...

Project partners and local representatives marked the centre’s completion at a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony. (Images: Tiago Photography) Bennett Construction has completed a $9 million early learning centre in Howrah, Tasmania, following a 10-month construction program. Developed by Tipalea Partners, the 2,400-square-metre Green Leaves Early Learning Glebe Hill facility will provide 106 childcare places for children aged between six weeks and six years. The centre is located at 21 Commerce Drive, next to Tipalea Partners’ Glebe Hill Village retail development, which was completed in 2022. A recent ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the centre’s completion, attended by Tipalea Partners chief executive officer Scott Spanton, Tasmanian Treasurer and Member for Franklin Eric Abetz, City of Clarence Mayor Brendan Blomeley and Green Leaves business development and construction manager Stuart Andrews. Up to 30 workers were on site each day during peak construction, with about 200 workers c...

Johnathan Thurston (left) and James Durack, founder and director of Durack Civil. (Image: JTA/Durack Civil) Durack Civil has announced a three-year partnership with the Johnathan Thurston Academy (JTA) to support youth leadership, wellbeing and employment-readiness programs in remote and regional communities. The partnership will initially allow JTA to deliver programs in four schools each year, selected from communities connected to Durack Civil’s construction operations, including Milingimbi in Arnhem Land, Burketown and Doomadgee. Durack Civil’s work in remote Australia has focused on employing local people and developing skills alongside the delivery of infrastructure. Recent projects have provided more than 25,000 training hours for local Indigenous workers across Burke Shire and directed more than $10 million to Northern Territory suppliers and personnel during the Milingimbi subdivision project. The company has also met or exceeded contractual Indigenous employment targets, ...

PAD Civil delivers civil infrastructure projects across Victoria for public and private sector clients. (Images: Komatsu/PAD Civil) PAD Civil is using Komatsu machinery and digital construction technology to deliver safer and more efficient civil infrastructure projects across Victoria. Founded by managing director Ricky Thomson, PAD Civil has grown from its origins in commercial plumbing and drainage into a diversified civil construction contractor servicing both public and private sector clients. Today, the company delivers projects across road infrastructure, utilities, renewable energy, sports and recreation facilities, health and education precincts, rail infrastructure, industrial developments and commercial construction. With in-house capabilities across civil works, engineering, drainage and underground services, PAD Civil provides clients with an integrated approach to project delivery, helping streamline construction programs while maintaining a strong focus on safety, qua...

Payapps helps construction teams manage progress claims and approvals in one place. (Image: Ivan/stock.adobe.com) A recent Western Australian Court of Appeal decision has delivered a costly reminder that the statutory clock for responding to a progress claim can begin before anyone opens the email. By Ian Moss, marketing leader for Australia and New Zealand at Payapps – An Autodesk Company. In Co-Operative Bulk Handling Ltd v Martinus Rail Pty Ltd [2026] WASCA 82 , Martinus Rail emailed a progress claim (or payment claim) worth about $22.6 million to the principal’s nominated representative on Saturday, 31 August 2024. The email was not opened until Monday. The contract also stated that communications received on a non-business day were deemed received on the next business day, so the principal issued its payment schedule on Tuesday, 24 September. Claire Jenkin, product manager at Payapps. (Image: Payapps) The Court found that the contractual provision could not change when the ...

EY Centre is Mirvac’s fifth fully electrified office building. (Images: Mirvac) Mirvac has completed the electrification of EY Centre at 200 George Street in Sydney, bringing the number of fully electrified office buildings in its portfolio to five. Co-owned by Mirvac and M&G Real Estate, the office tower holds a 6 Star Green Star rating and a 5.5-star NABERS Energy rating. The upgrade involved replacing gas-based systems with high-efficiency electric heating and hot-water systems that use natural refrigerants. The upgrade replaced gas-based systems with high-efficiency electric heating and hot-water systems. Mirvac chief asset management officer Victoria Tavendale said the project supports the company’s target to decarbonise its portfolio by 2030. “Projects like this are critical to how we decarbonise our portfolio over time. They allow us to reduce our reliance on offsets, respond to tenant demand and position our assets for the future,” said Tavendale. “By removing gas fro...

The new index aims to improve transparency across Australia’s build-to-rent sector. (Image: richard pross/stock.adobe.com) The Property Council of Australia and MSCI have launched a new industry index, which shows Australia’s build-to-rent sector is gaining scale. The Property Council/MSCI Australia Build-to-Rent Property Index tracks 13 funds, 44 assets and 25 developments with a combined capital value of $10 billion. The index provides institutional investors with a performance benchmark for evaluating build-to-rent as a standalone allocation or comparing it with established commercial property sectors. Property Council group executive policy and advocacy Matthew Kandelaars said improved data and transparency will support further investment in the sector. Related stories: Freecity gets green light for mixed-use precinct at Rouse Hill Metro One Global Capital launches $1.5 billion Five Dock precinct Opal Tower wins big at NSW Apartment Awards for Excellence “Build-to-rent h...

Construction sites should prepare for wet weather to prevent sediment run-off. (Image: Happy Photo/stock.adobe.com) Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria has urged construction site managers to prepare for wet weather and prevent sediment from escaping into surrounding waterways. Rainfall after dry periods can wash exposed soil from construction sites, while sediment can also be carried off site by vehicles. EPA Victoria executive director operations Rachel Gualano said site managers should take preventative measures to stop sediment escaping. “We all have a duty to prevent harm to the environment, and sediment run-off creates a pollution risk. Erosion and sediment can pollute our waterways, impact water quality , and harm the animals and plants that live there,” she said. Related stories: Transmutation sets the terms for decarbonisation Expert Profile: Coates’ Aaron Smith First solar-powered level crossings delivered on Inland Rail “When sediment gets into our wat...

Australia’s infrastructure pipeline is increasing demand for skilled workers. (Image: Nuttapong punna/stock.adobe.com) Australia’s construction workforce shortages show why international expertise should be assessed on capability, not geography, writes Ajay Adhikari. By Ajay Adhikari, contract management and procurement professional. Australia’s infrastructure pipeline is placing heavy demand on an already stretched workforce. Infrastructure Australia’s 2025 Infrastructure Market Capacity report projects that the infrastructure workforce shortage could exceed 300,000 full-time-equivalent workers by mid-2027. Despite this demand, international construction expertise can be screened out through one familiar phrase: “lack of local experience”. From international experience to local practice Local experience can represent legitimate knowledge. Australian contract forms, legislation, procurement systems and workplace expectations all need to be understood. The problem arises when ge...

The 82-storey towers will be among the tallest in Sydney’s CBD. (Images: Billbergia Group and Metrics Credit Partners) The City of Sydney has approved plans for the $3.5 billion Castlereagh Place development, with demolition and early construction works now under way. The mixed-use project by Billbergia Group and Metrics Credit Partners will comprise two 82-storey towers containing 607 apartments above an eight-level podium with a 209-room hotel. The development will also include a 1,000-square-metre civic park at ground level, along with food, beverage and retail offerings. A three-level building on the corner of Pitt and Liverpool streets will form the gateway to the precinct and is designed to accommodate multiple hospitality venues. Billbergia Group director Joseph Kinsella said Castlereagh Place will create a lively mixed-use destination. “It will bring the vibrancy of places like Barangaroo and Darling Quarter into a more accessible, central destination at the very heart of...

L-R: Marcus Harrold, general manager, employment at Clontarf Foundation; artist Jermaine Miller-Lewis; Grant Morgan, senior people and culture manager at Komatsu Australia; and Glenn Swift, regional general manager, western region at Komatsu Australia. (Image: Komatsu Australia) Komatsu Australia has partnered with Noongar and Yamatji man Jermaine Miller-Lewis to create an Indigenous artwork celebrating its partnership with the Clontarf Foundation. The design will feature on a new employee polo shirt. Miller-Lewis, based in Perth, was part of the Clontarf Foundation during his teenage years. The not-for-profit organisation supports young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men through education, mentoring and employment pathways. Komatsu Australia has partnered with Clontarf for the past six years, supporting the foundation through mentoring and career opportunities, work experience, mock interviews and funding to help empower Indigenous students to achieve their potential. This ye...

Project representatives inspected TBM Mary as tunnelling commenced on the Southern Tunnel. (Images: South Australian Government) After months spent assembling one of the largest machines ever used in South Australia, tunnelling is now underway on the $15.4 billion River Torrens to Darlington (T2D) project to deliver a non-stop South Road. Tunnel boring machine (TBM) Mary has started excavating the first 4.5-kilometre Southern Tunnel from the Southern Precinct at Clovelly Park to Glandore. Operating 24/7, Mary will progress about eight to 10 metres per day, with up to 20 specialised workers inside at any one time as she embarks on the state’s first major underground road tunnelling project. Mary’s first components arrived in Adelaide in October 2025. Since then, each component has been lifted into the launch box by a 500-tonne gantry crane before being assembled into the mega machine. Measuring about 100 metres in length, 15 metres in diameter and weighing 3,500 tonnes, Mary is one...