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- 20/01/2026
20/01/2026
The Daily Dirt Aus
By Gāday Constructionā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦.ā¦ā¦
THE MORNING PAPER FOR CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS AND TRADIES
šØ Safety Updates
Safe Work Australia has opened consultation on improving safety for earthmoving machinery used in lifting operations. Proposed reforms to WHS laws aim to reduce risks from excavators, backhoes and loaders handling suspended loads. Stakeholders are invited to provide feedback via the Consultation Hub by 2 March 2026.
šļø Projects
NSW
$9.5 million in federally and state-funded recovery works are underway on the flood-damaged Bruxner Highway at Mallanganee, northern NSW. Transport for NSW is stabilising landslip-affected slopes using soil nails, micropiles and drainage upgrades, strengthening resilience and maintaining critical regional connectivity under disaster recovery programs.
Sydney Fish Market opens after nearly a decade of design and construction, relocating to Blackwattle Bay. The four-storey structure is supported by 481 marine piles and 6,000 tonnes of steel, featuring a 20,000 mĀ² floating roof with glulam timber, aluminium cassettes, and photovoltaic panels, blending commercial function with public waterfront space.
The NSW Government is investing $3 billion to upgrade the Malabar wastewater system, improving treatment, capacity, and resilience. Early works at Glenfield and Liverpool facilities include refurbishment, expansion, and new secondary treatment. The staged, decade-long program by Sydney Water and the Malabar System Alliance addresses ageing infrastructure, population growth, and debris reduction.
Transport for NSW is installing a new pedestrian refuge 190 m west of Hamilton Road to improve safety. Works include kerbing, concrete, street lighting, line marking, and signage. Construction starts 27 Jan for two weeks, with lane closures, speed reductions, and temporary bus stop relocation. The $485,000 project is federally and state-funded.
QLD
RES Australia and Energy Estate have submitted the 450 MW Wooderson Solar Farm in Queensland to the EPBC Act. The DC-coupled solar-plus-storage project spans 5,618 ha, includes 3,600 MWh of battery storage, and will use fixed and single-axis tracking PV systems. Construction begins 2028, with operations expected in 2031.
CFMG Capital invests $19 million to add a 23.5 ha site at Bellmere, creating 1,000 lots and expanding its Ambury masterplanned community in SE Queensland. With total Waraba PDA investment surpassing $100 million, the development addresses acute land supply shortages, supporting Brisbaneās northern growth corridor and long-term housing affordability.
SA
South Australia has released six regional plans guiding housing, land use and infrastructure over 15ā30 years. The plans identify capacity for about 43,000 new homes across Kangaroo Island, Eyre and Western, Far North, Yorke Peninsula and Mid North, Murray Mallee and Limestone Coast, supporting construction pipelines, infrastructure delivery and long-term regional growth to 2051.
VIC
Major road rehabilitation is underway on western Victoriaās Henty Highway, with 7 km rebuilt near Kewell and 1.5 km resurfaced at Kellalac. Delivered under the $976 million Better Roads Blitz, the works strengthen pavements, improve safety and support freight and farming operations across key regional transport corridors.
Latrobe City Council has welcomed Keppelās proposed $10 billion Morwell data centre, leveraging existing power, water, industrial land and transmission infrastructure near Hazelwood. If approved, the project would be Australiaās largest data centre, supporting construction activity, regional jobs, energy transition and long-term infrastructure-led economic diversification.
Victoria is investing $82 million to repair bushfire-damaged roads and transport infrastructure. Emergency works receive $44 million through joint federalāstate funding, with $37 million from the state. Repairs include road surfaces, signage, guardrails, and vegetation clearance, ensuring detour routes like Murchison-Violet Town Road remain safe and accessible for local communities.
WA
Tree canopy advocates say WAās new urban greening strategy lacks enforceable measures for the construction sector, despite developers driving most canopy loss. While the plan targets 30% coverage by 2040 and supports housing delivery, critics argue it offers no clear controls, timelines or accountability to retain mature trees during development.
Macmahonās subsidiary Decmil secures a $120 million Rio Tinto contract to build heavy haulage and access roads plus drainage at the West Angelas Sustaining Project in WAās Pilbara. Work starts January 2026 and completes in 2027, boosting Decmilās civil infrastructure pipeline and strengthening its strategic mining partnership.
š Innovation, Digital & Futuristic Technology
Australia faces a 260,000-home shortfall by 2029. Precast concrete, with proven durability, thermal efficiency, and factory-based productivity, could address this. Financing models must evolve to support off-site costs, enabling faster delivery for social, affordable, and medium-to-high-density housing. Precast adoption is low despite lower risk compared with modular construction.
Korea-based AI construction startup FOBECON has raised pre-Series A funding from Xplor and Magellan to advance its AutoQTO platform. The tool automates cost estimation by reading unstructured drawings and specs, targeting major builders. Funds will develop AutoQTO 3.0, adding collaboration, cost prediction, and risk analysis, accelerating digital adoption in construction.
š± Sustainability ā& Environment
Researchers at Charles Darwin University are testing recycled tyres, plastics, glass and concrete to build stronger, longer-lasting roads for the NTās extreme climate. Backed by government, the project could cut costs, reduce landfill, and support a circular economy, with road trials expected to begin this year.
Melbourne Park integrates stormwater harvesting, recycled water, and smart irrigation to sustain turf, arenas, and public spaces. Advanced monitoring, predictive analytics, and automated systems reduce potable water use by up to 20%, enhance resilience during extreme heat, and support major events. Continuous upgrades maintain efficiency, sustainability, and long-term operational reliability.
š Around the World
More than 120 giga-scale battery projects are planned globally in 2026 as storage costs continue to fall. Rapid deployment is driving major grid upgrades, civil works, and energy infrastructure construction, with Australia, China, Texas and the UK leading large-scale battery integration across transmission and renewable networks.
Perth modular data centre provider DXN has inked a joint venture with Super Sistems Indonesia to capitalise on the country's booming data centre requirements and offshore some manufacturing.
U.S. construction faces a mixed 2026 outlook. Data centers, power, and health care projects drive growth, while lodging, office, retail, and multifamily sectors weaken. Contractors cite rising material costs, labor shortages, tariffs, immigration enforcement, and financing uncertainty. Despite challenges, 63% plan to increase headcount, with moderate gains in infrastructure and manufacturing.
š·āāļø Tradies and Resource
Standards Australia partners with Weld Australia and Corrections Victoria to deliver welding training in eight prisons, addressing Australiaās skills shortage. Participants gain industry-recognised qualifications, access Australian Standards, and improve employment prospects. The program supports manufacturing, infrastructure, defence, and renewable energy sectors while promoting reintegration and long-term workforce development.
Master Builders Australia urges skilled migration reform to address construction workforce shortages, linking labor gaps to housing supply, productivity, and infrastructure delivery. Current policies hinder using skilled migrants and slow licensing. MBA calls for national recognition of construction, faster migrant activation, and alignment with workforce demand to meet the 1.2 million-home target.
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Alex
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