Construcciones Yamaro, by Armando Iachini

Converge Expo 2027 will bring Australia’s civil and commercial construction sectors together in Melbourne. (Image: Prime Creative Media) Converge Expo will focus on how Australia’s construction industry can successfully deliver the next wave of major projects when it returns to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on 15 to 16 September 2027. Bringing together the civil and commercial construction sectors, the event will give industry professionals a place to share knowledge, discover practical solutions and address issues affecting project delivery. The Converge Expo 2027 conference will look at the factors shaping major project delivery, including productivity, workforce capacity, resilience, procurement and project decision-making. The program will examine the role of AI in construction and how global approaches to sustainability can be applied in the Australian market. Greater coordination across the industry will also be on the agenda, including what civil and commer...

More than 29,000 daily journeys are expected on the new road by 2036. (Images: VIDA Roads) The $194 million Ison Road project will open to traffic today in Melbourne’s west, three months ahead of schedule. The project includes the new $114 million bridge over the Melbourne-Geelong rail line jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian governments, and the connecting $80 million Ison Road extension funded by Wyndham City Council. It delivers a new way for Werribee and Wyndham drivers to access the Princes Freeway, improving access to jobs and services while making it safer and easier for locals to walk, cycle and drive. The new overpass across the rail line links to the new 1.3km, four-lane road connecting Ison Road to Geelong Road and the Princes Freeway interchange. The local community will also benefit from new walking and cycling paths, an upgraded Geelong Road and Werribee Main Road intersection, and new traffic lights. Related stories: Inland Rail completes Hume Freeway ...

Simon Barnes, incoming chief executive officer, Australia at Fulton Hogan. (Image: Fulton Hogan) Fulton Hogan has appointed Simon Barnes as chief executive officer, Australia, as the contractor prepares for its next phase of growth. Barnes brings more than 30 years’ experience across infrastructure, construction, energy and mining, having held senior leadership roles with major construction and engineering firms across Australia. He joins Fulton Hogan from Decmil East, where he served as managing director. Barnes has also held senior positions with Acciona, Lendlease and Abigroup, building experience across civil engineering, contracting, project delivery and business leadership. Related stories: ACA Board leaders named in Top 100 Women list Aaron Kumar reflects on 20 years at Komatsu How McConnell Dowell’s Tanuj Juneja leads complex projects He succeeds Graeme Johnson, who has led Fulton Hogan’s Australian business since 2022 and recently returned to New Zealand to become F...

Construction and development accounts for 15.8 per cent of waste at the Shoal Bay Waste Management Facility. (Image: dmmarychev/stock.adobe.com) A new Charles Darwin University (CDU) pilot program will connect Darwin businesses with community organisations that can reuse surplus materials that might otherwise be sent to landfill. The 12-month Darwin Business-to-Community Material Matchmaking (BCMM) initiative is funded through the City of Darwin’s 2026/27 Environment and Climate Change Grants . The program will connect businesses with schools, artists, makers, community groups, social enterprises and other local organisations seeking materials for reuse. According to the City of Darwin’s Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy, the Shoal Bay Waste Management Facility – the only licensed landfill in Greater Darwin – accepts more than 200,000 tonnes of waste and recyclable materials per year. Commercial and industrial activities account for 43.9 per cent of waste received at the facilit...

Engineers support projects across a range of sectors. (Image: Wosunan/stock.adobe.com) Engineers Australia’s 2026 Excellence Awards will bring engineering communities together in the coming weeks to celebrate the people and projects making an impact across the profession. Local events will be held in Victoria, Western Australia, Sydney, Newcastle, Canberra, South Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland and Tasmania, with achievements recognised across infrastructure, technology, sustainability and community outcomes. Engineers Australia CEO Romilly Madew said the awards are an opportunity to shine a spotlight on a profession that often works behind the scenes. Related stories: The engineer’s role doesn’t end when the drawings are issued Young engineers go behind the scenes at Cross River Rail TAFE NSW helps engineer return to the construction industry “Engineering touches almost every part of our lives, from the infrastructure we rely on and the energy that powers our c...

Artist’s impression: The development is proposed across a 4,742m² site in Bilinga. (Images: MAYD) Queensland builder-developer MAYD has released the first images of its proposed mixed-use development in North Kirra as it lodges a minor amendment with the City of Gold Coast. The project is proposed across a 4,742m² site spanning seven parcels at 2–6 Pacific Parade and 27–33 Golden Four Drive, Bilinga, which MAYD acquired for $32.5 million in 2025. The development is planned to be delivered in two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of about $360 million and including townhomes, a mix of two, three and four-bedroom residences, and shared lifestyle and wellness facilities. The amendment seeks to reduce the overall number of dwellings proposed across the development and provide a mix of house-sized residences. Architecture and interior design studio Cera Stribley has been appointed to lead the project’s design, which incorporates ocean-facing ter...

Before walls fall, regulated gases need to be safely recovered. (Image: Chawran/stock.adobe.com) The National Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is urging contractors to ensure refrigerants and fire-extinguishing agents are safely recovered before the demolition of buildings begins. Equipment such as air conditioners, refrigeration equipment, chillers, some fire suppression systems and heat pump hot water systems may contain regulated gases that can damage the environment. Examples include refrigerants such as HFC-410A, HFC-134a, HCFC-22, and extinguishing agents such as HFC-227ea. Some gases are hundreds or thousands of times more potent than carbon dioxide and can stay in the atmosphere for more than a decade, contributing to global warming. Gases in older systems may also damage the ozone layer, which protects people from harmful UV radiation. Some systems use more environmentally friendly refrigerants, but these may be flammable or present other safety hazards. Related stori...

Artist’s impression: Avive Clinic Adelaide will be located within Pelligra’s mixed-use health precinct at 272–300 Wakefield Street. (Image: Avive Health) Avive Clinic Adelaide, a new private mental health hospital, has topped out in South Australia. The milestone was marked at the CBD site on 27 August 2026 by Avive Health, developer Pelligra and South Australian Minister for Health and Wellbeing Blair Boyer. Construction will now progress to the internal and clinical fit-out ahead of the hospital’s expected opening in mid-2027. The facility will deliver 60 private mental health beds, psychiatrist consulting suites and dedicated spaces for day programs and outpatient treatment. Avive Health co-founder and co-CEO Greg Procter said the hospital would expand access and choice for South Australians seeking specialist private mental health care. “Avive Clinic Adelaide represents a significant investment in South Australia’s mental health infrastructure and brings us closer to providing...

ACA president Annabel Crookes. (Image: ACA) The Australian Constructors Association’s (ACA) long-serving female Board directors have been recognised in the 2026 Top 100 Women in Construction list. ACA president Annabel Crookes said the directors were recognised alongside many other women from ACA member companies whose leadership is helping drive change across the sector. She said the recognition reflected the contribution women are making across all areas of the construction industry. “The fact that the long-standing women on the ACA Board have been recognised is something we’re incredibly proud of, not because of the positions they hold, but because of the impact they are having across our industry,” said Crookes. “What stands out is the diversity of backgrounds represented around the ACA Board table. From CEOs to leadership across engineering, project management, legal, commercial, operational, people and project functions, women lead in all areas of this sector. “It shows the...

The site offers about 21,000 square metres of developable area in Nerang. (Image: Invest Gold Coast) The City of Gold Coast is inviting expressions of interest from development partners to help shape a major urban renewal project in Nerang. Led by Invest Gold Coast, the project will transform the former Nerang Administration Precinct into a new residential and community hub. The 7.9-hectare site, close to Nerang’s town centre, offers potential for about 21,000 square metres of developable area between the coastal corridor and Gold Coast hinterland. City of Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said the development would deliver new housing and help shape the next chapter of the city’s growth. Related stories: Contractor awarded Townsville Correctional Centre project Young engineers go behind the scenes at Cross River Rail Construction starts on The Stanley “We are a city with real economic momentum, and Nerang is one of our most strategically located suburbs to build on that. This devel...

Artist’s impression: The new hospital will deliver more beds, treatment spaces and expanded health services. (Images: NSW Government) Multiplex has been appointed as the early contractor involvement (ECI) building partner for the new $2 billion Bankstown Hospital, following approval of the project’s State Significant Development application. Under the ECI arrangement, Multiplex will work with the project team, designers, hospital clinicians and staff to finalise the design ahead of main works construction. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with Health Infrastructure and working together to create a world-class hospital that will serve the fast-growing Bankstown region for decades to come,” said Multiplex NSW regional managing director David Ghannoum. Demolition and site remediation activities are already underway and will continue throughout 2026, preparing the site for construction of the main hospital, which is expected to begin in 2027. Located in Bankstown’s CBD, ...

BlueDeck is designed to support efficient installation and handling on site. (Image: FTI Group) Choosing a metal decking system can involve more than one voice on a construction project. By Harvey Arkcoll, national sales manager at FTI Group. Structural engineers play an important role in validating the compliance and structural performance of metal decking systems, but builders can also influence the final product decision. When there are multiple metal decking systems that comply and meet relevant construction standards, the focus often shifts to choosing a product that is preferred by the builder or the construction team. Recognising a builder’s preference for metal decking systems can improve installation efficiency, minimise site disruptions and support program and budget certainty. Once the metal decking product has been signed off as compliant and approved for use on the project, the builder generally focuses on choosing a system that is easy to install, simpler to manage o...

Artist’s impression: The Townsville Correctional Centre Capacity Uplift project will boost prison capacity and security. (Image: CPB Contractors) The Queensland Government has appointed CPB Contractors, a CIMIC Group company, to deliver the Townsville Correctional Centre Capacity Uplift project. Delivered in partnership with Queensland Corrective Services (QCS) and the Department of Housing and Public Works (DHPW), the project will provide 400 new beds in 200 additional cells, as well as security enhancements. The project is expected to generate about $730 million in revenue for CPB Contractors. CIMIC Group chief executive officer Jason Spears said the works will improve the resilience and safety of the facility while helping support frontline staff at Townsville Correctional Centre. Related stories: Major contractors join high-speed rail planning CPB Contractors launches Sustainable Construction Playbook DT Infrastructure awarded Queensland Rail station upgrades “CPB Contra...

The International Institute for Women in Construction is convening the industry’s boldest thinkers. (Image: Monkey Business/stock.adobe.com) The International Institute for Women in Construction is bringing global leaders together to explore new ideas about the industry’s future. By Dr Gretchen Gagel. In the past two editions of Inside Construction , I explored the first two pillars of the International Institute for Women in Construction (IIWIC): research and data, followed by global storytelling. Research helps us understand where change is needed. Stories are important because people in our industry are often inspired to try new strategies and tactics when they hear that others have blazed the trail. Dr Gretchen Gagel. (Image: Heidi Victoria) But who has the boldness to be first? IIWIC’s third and final pillar is about convening the boldest thinkers to explore new ways of working that can revolutionise our industry. Without bold thinking, we remain anchored in the ways of the ...

At GXN, Karolina Bäckman Faulkner is helping circular design gain ground in construction. (Images: Zuhal Kocan, 3XN GXN) With a designer’s eye and a researcher’s curiosity, Karolina Bäckman Faulkner makes circularity tangible across the built environment. Karolina Bäckman Faulkner has always been curious about how things are made and problems get solved. From an early age, she was drawn to materials, making and the way design shapes everyday life. Architecture eventually became her focus, its mix of creativity and analysis setting the course for an accomplished international career. Faulkner’s architectural foundation began at the University of Melbourne, where she completed a Bachelor of Environments, majoring in architecture. She then worked for two years as an architectural assistant at Grimshaw’s Melbourne studio, mainly supporting teams on masterplan projects. But it was a move to the Netherlands to complete a Master of Science in Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences a...

Flexible layouts support diverse working styles. (Images: Luc Remond) In the heart of Sydney’s CBD, UNSW Sydney, working with DesignInc, has completed the fit-out of a new professional campus within a 5 Star Green Star-rated building. The project prioritises circularity and wellbeing and is targeting a 5 Star Green Star Interiors rating. With a firm sustainability agenda, the UNSW CBD Campus aims to provide a multifunctional campus experience within a commercial setting. Nathan Humphries, principal of interiors at DesignInc, says its design supports evolving learning styles, fosters industry connection and reflects UNSW’s brand and values. “We aimed to deliver a space that feels welcoming, adaptable and environmentally responsible – but also aligned to the quality that students expect of a first-class tertiary institution,” he says. The decision to target a Green Star rating supported this goal. Melissa Nouel, acting head of environmental sustainability and sustainable built envi...

Structural engineers play an important role throughout project delivery. (Image: Frank H./stock.adobe.com) Some of the most valuable lessons structural engineer Nina Zundel has learned have come after the drawings were issued for construction. By Nina Zundel , associate of building structures at Aurecon . There is a natural tendency in engineering to see the issue of a drawing package as the finish line. The calculations are complete, the drawings are issued, and the design moves into construction. Nina Zundel, associate of building structures at Aurecon. (Image: Aurecon) But that is often when the design is truly tested. Can the structure actually be built as documented? Are the details practical? Have the interfaces with other disciplines been resolved? Can the contractor understand what was intended? When something doesn’t work as expected, does the engineer simply respond to the question, or take ownership of helping solve the problem? Working through construction-stage issu...