✒ Headlines & Industry

Australia’s biggest builders warn budget won’t boost housing supply

Australia’s largest builders, including Metricon and NEX Building Group, warn the federal budget may fail to boost short-term housing supply. Builders say infrastructure funding could support future growth, but planning delays, rising costs and tax reforms risk slowing new home construction across Australia.

$25 million more for projects to build regional communities around Australia

The Albanese Government has announced over $25 million for eight regional construction and precinct projects under the Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program. Works include a $9m artisan precinct redevelopment in Wynyard (Tasmania), a $5m enterprise hub in Cleve (SA), and planning upgrades in Doomadgee (Queensland), supporting jobs and regional infrastructure growth.

What Western Australia’s new projects mean for the clean energy industry

Western Australia has approved 10 new renewable energy projects under the Capacity Investment Scheme, delivering 1.9GW of wind, solar and hybrid generation plus 482MW of battery storage. The A$5bn pipeline spans multiple regions and is expected to create 7,000 construction jobs, with major civil, grid and electrical works driving delivery through to 2030.

🏗️ Projects

NSW

Building Sydney's first electric bus depot at Macquarie Park

Fulton Hogan has commenced construction on Sydney’s first purpose-built electric bus depot at Macquarie Park. Backed by a $230 million joint government investment, the depot will support 150 electric buses, advanced charging infrastructure and 160 ongoing jobs, accelerating NSW’s transition toward a zero-emission public transport fleet by 2028.

OX2 starts construction of 135 MWac solar power and 100 MW BESS in Australia

Renewable developer OX2 is commencing construction of the 135 MWac Muswellbrook Solar Farm and 100 MW BESS in NSW’s Hunter REZ. The project will deliver 347 GWh annually and is being co-developed with Idemitsu Australia, though the EPC builder has not been publicly named at this stage yet by OX2.

QLD

Developer revives $250m Gateway Marina project after securing deal

A stalled $250 million waterfront development at Burnett Heads has been revived after the original developer regained control of the Gateway Marina project following a receivership sale. The project will deliver a 318-berth marina, residential housing, and tourism and retail precinct, supporting regional construction activity and long-term coastal infrastructure development in Queensland.

VIC

First Look At The New Spotswood Station

Early designs for an elevated Spotswood Station in Melbourne’s inner west have been released as part of removing Hudsons Road level crossing. The project will improve safety, reduce congestion from 6,600 vehicles daily, retain heritage station elements, and create new open space, with Werribee Line level crossing-free by 2029 rail.

Delburn Wind Farm

Construction has commenced on the 205MW Delburn Wind Farm in Victoria’s Strzelecki Ranges, delivering 33 turbines across a plantation site. The Victorian State Electricity Commission (SEC) acquired the project, with OSMI Australia continuing development. Vestas is supplying, installing and servicing turbines. Completion is expected in 2028 construction underway immediately now.

WA

Community backlash kills WA data centre

Sydney-based GreenSquare has withdrawn its $1.1 billion Hazelmere data centre project in Western Australia after council opposition and community backlash over noise, environmental impacts and diesel generator use. The project was expected to support thousands of construction jobs, highlighting ongoing tensions between data centre construction growth and local planning approval challenges.

🧰 Construction Au Other

Mott MacDonald strengthens Australian water infrastructure push

Global engineering firm Mott MacDonald is expanding its Australian water infrastructure capability, appointing Scott Morath as national water leader and agreeing to acquire civil contractor Leed Engineering & Construction. The move strengthens integrated design-and-construction delivery for major water, environment and climate-resilience projects across Australia.

WA Bill to stop troubled builders from trading

Western Australia has introduced the Building Services Legislation Amendment (Financial Oversight) Bill 2026, giving the Building Commissioner stronger powers to restrict or cancel registrations of financially unstable builders. The reforms aim to stop insolvent contractors trading, improve consumer protection, and ensure homeowners can access insurance and reappoint builders when projects fail.

🚀 Innovation, Digital & Futuristic Technology

Brighter Super backs AI construction firm in infrastructure play

Brisbane construction-focused AI platform ProcurePro has secured $15 million in Series B funding, backed in part by super fund Brighter Super, to scale its AI tools across global infrastructure markets. The company’s platform is already used on 6,000 construction projects, with expansion planned ahead of Australia’s 2032 Olympic construction pipeline.

How construction teams are moving AI from pilot to the field

Construction firms are rapidly piloting AI, but only a small share have moved into full deployment due to fragmented project data systems. Research shows contractors see strong gains in AI-driven forecasting and contract risk review, but success depends on unified project, cost and field data that enables real-time construction decision-making.

Technology - Will AI fix construction, or just expose the industry’s biggest weakness?

Construction’s problem isn’t a lack of AI, but fragmented systems, inconsistent data and disconnected workflows across projects and portfolios. Without a unified system of record, AI struggles to deliver reliable insights. The industry’s biggest weakness is data fragmentation at scale, meaning AI may expose inefficiencies before it can actually fix them.

🌱 Sustainability ​& Environment

Digital twins, AI, and more: How technology is transforming sustainable engineering

Global consultancy Capgemini highlights how AI, digital twins, and advanced modelling are transforming sustainable engineering by improving design efficiency, material optimisation and lifecycle performance. The firm notes 63% of executives prioritise digital innovation, with technologies accelerating low-carbon construction, infrastructure planning and circular engineering outcomes.

📖 Miscellaneous

‘It fails under testing, but it’s what we have’: ban forces Palestinians to make their own cement from rubble

With construction materials blocked from entering Gaza, Palestinian workers and engineers are recycling rubble into makeshift cement to rebuild damaged homes and infrastructure. Despite failing structural testing, the substitute material is being used for temporary housing, hospitals and repairs, highlighting the construction sector’s resilience amid severe shortages, displacement and ongoing conflict.

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