Construcciones Yamaro, by Armando Iachini

The new Wangaratta Station. (Image: Inland Rail) The upgraded Wangaratta railway station has officially opened, marking the completion of major works on Tranche 1 of Inland Rail’s Beveridge to Albury (B2A) section. The milestone signals progress on the broader Inland Rail program, which will connect Melbourne and Brisbane with a high-capacity freight line capable of running double-stacked trains. Once complete, the network is expected to cut freight transit times between the two capitals to under 24 hours. Work at Wangaratta formed a key part of Tranche 1. Delivered with construction partner McConnell Dowell, the overhaul included relocating the east track to form a new west track, adding a new western platform, lowering the line beneath the Green Street bridge and replacing the bridge on the same alignment. Two pedestrian footbridges were also removed and replaced by a single underpass. Accessibility and safety have been enhanced with new lifts, stairs, ramps and pathways, as w...

Technologies and strategies explored in the eBook aim to boost efficiency, enhance collaboration, improve safety and support decarbonisation. (Image: whyframeshot/stock.adobe.com) As the energy sector moves towards greater efficiency and sustainability, construction companies delivering these projects are under pressure to adapt. Outdated, paper-based systems contribute to delays, inefficiencies and safety risks – issues that digital workflows are now helping to resolve. From improving permitting processes to supporting decarbonisation goals, digital tools are streamlining operations, enhancing collaboration and reducing project costs. For construction businesses, the shift to digital is no longer optional – it is a critical step towards staying competitive and compliant in a fast-changing landscape. Related stories: Arcadis improves communication and efficiency with Bluebeam Bluebeam introduces Bluebeam Cloud Hilson Moran turns to Bluebeam Revu to drive a 60 per cent pro...

Stirling Property Funds has celebrated the topping out of Tillys The Junction. (Image: Stirling Property Funds) The topping out of a new Tillys Play and Development Centre in Newcastle marks a major milestone in a project aiming to ease the city’s mounting childcare shortage. Located within the Junction Fair Shopping Centre , the 109-place facility will offer early learning for children up to six years of age across three purpose-built levels, each with dedicated play areas and age-specific spaces. Scott Girard, head of property at Stirling Property Funds – the firm behind the development – said the centre would help meet a critical need in the area. “We’re excited that we’ve achieved another milestone during construction and continue to advance works on Tillys,” said Girard. “Tillys will deliver a key piece of social infrastructure for the community. As is the case in many inner-city areas, the supply of childcare accommodation is not keeping pace with demand, resulting in bot...

Only 14.69 per cent of Payapps users spend more than 10 hours on administration, compared with 36.36 per cent of those without specialised software. (Image: chadchai/stock.adobe.com) Despite the push for smarter, faster construction, many project teams still rely on outdated, disconnected systems to manage progress claims. Spreadsheets, email threads and manual handoffs between commercial and finance teams remain the norm – creating friction, delaying payments and increasing risk. But it does not have to be this way. Payapps integrates directly with construction enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems like Jobpac, Access Coins and Cheops, streamlining how progress claims are submitted, assessed and approved. This level of integration helps reduce disputes, improve visibility across teams and automate compliance tracking – turning a traditionally painful process into one that supports collaboration and project momentum. Manual processes still dominate progress claims Accordi...

Geotab is a global company with over 25 years of industry experience providing vehicle and asset tracking telematics solutions. (Image: narak0rn/stock.adobe.com) Geotab has been certified by Transport Certification Australia (TCA) as an Application Service Provider for the Telematics Monitoring Application (TMA) and Road Infrastructure Management (RIM) programs under the National Telematics Framework. The certification allows Geotab to support transport operators enrolling in government schemes and initiatives that use TMA and RIM to provide access or productivity benefits. It builds on TCA’s earlier type-approval of Geotab’s GO9-LTM telematics device – meaning operators can now use the device for enrolment in TMA and RIM schemes. Paddy Goodall, Austroads’ general manager of service delivery, congratulated Geotab. “Geotab’s certification as an Application Service Provider, combined with the earlier type-approval of its GO9-LTM device, underscores its commitment to meeting th...

Artist’s impression: The Seven Hills Community Resource Hub. (Images: Blacktown City Council) Blacktown City Council is seeking contractors to help deliver more than $600 million in civic and community infrastructure over the next five years, with a formal request for tender (RFT) now open. The tender – Contract C9/2025 – will establish a panel of Tier 1, Tier 2 and specialist construction partners to carry out a major pipeline of projects across the city. Mayor of Blacktown City Brad Bunting said the program represents one of the most ambitious and well-prepared civic infrastructure agendas in Australia. “This is a rare opportunity to help shape the future of one of the fastest-growing cities in the country,” said Bunting. Related stories: Iconic roof completed at new Sydney Fish Market Sydney House takes shape in the heart of the CBD Ruby deployed for final Metro West tunnel beneath Sydney Harbour “Blacktown City has already delivered more than $250 million in major pr...

At 47,000 square metres, this is Mondelēz International’s largest in-house automated warehouse globally. (Images: FDC Construction and Fitout) FDC Construction and Fitout has delivered the $130 million Truganina National Distribution Centre (TNDC) for Mondelēz International in Melbourne’s western suburbs. The 47,000-square-metre facility is the company’s largest in-house automated warehouse in the world and will support the distribution of Australian-made Cadbury Dairy Milk products, along with snacks from The Natural Confectionery Company, Olina’s Bakehouse and OB Finest. Championing automation, efficiency and sustainability, the site’s design includes an integrated automated storage and retrieval system by Swisslog, with planning for the system incorporated early in the concept design phase. FDC worked closely with architects to map out the structural and spatial requirements ahead of development approval. To accommodate the 32-metre-high ASRS system within the 11,550-square-m...