23/02/2026

February 23, 2026

The Daily Dirt Aus

By G’day Construction………….…… 

THE MORNING PAPER FOR CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS AND TRADIES

✒ Headlines & Industry

Former CFMEU leader John Setka denies explosive claims he led a corrupt network that cost Victoria $15 billion, calling the allegations “outlandish.” Accused by barrister Geoffrey Watson of heading a crime syndicate, Setka insists no money is missing, rejects bikie links, and says the political firestorm has made him the real victim.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has dismissed claims ministers want a royal commission into CFMEU corruption as “anonymous gossip,” amid fallout from the Rotting from the Top report by Geoffrey Watson. The report alleges union misconduct cost taxpayers $15 billion and criticises government inaction. Police Minister Anthony Carbines labelled the claims “florid ramblings,” while opposition leader Jess Wilson continues pushing for a royal commission.

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) committed a record $6.1 billion in six months to December 2025, with $3.8 billion going to Marinus Link, a 1,500 MW Tasmanian–Victorian interconnector (two 750 MW cables) supporting Australia’s clean energy transition. Stage 1 ($3.47 billion CAPEX) includes the first 750 MW cable and north-west Tasmania upgrades, with construction starting in 2026. Marinus Link is a transformative renewable energy infrastructure project in Victoria and Tasmania.

 

🏗️ Projects

NSW

A $270 million, 377-apartment State Significant Development has been approved in Lindfield, New South Wales. The project under the NSW TOD reforms includes three buildings up to 10 storeys, 56 affordable dwellings, two basement parking levels, rooftop and ground-level communal spaces, and landscaping over 4,490 sqm. It is expected to create around 90 construction jobs and 12 ongoing operational roles.

Habitat Hornsby, a $85 million mixed-use development by Haitchin Group in Hornsby, New South Wales, is progressing with construction of 67 apartments across one‑, two‑, and three‑bedroom layouts. Designed with sustainable, future-ready principles, the project uses reinforced concrete and a modular façade system. Groundworks and piling finished in 2025, with vertical construction underway in 2026 and completion expected in early 2027. It addresses Hornsby’s undersupply of apartments amid strong population growth and benefits from nearby infrastructure upgrades.

The NSW Independent Planning Commission has approved The Timberyards in Marrickville, a $664 million build-to-rent precinct delivering 1,188 dwellings (484 BTR, 115 affordable, 589 co-living) across seven buildings up to 13 storeys. The project includes commercial space, communal open areas, and basement parking, and incorporates heritage references and urban design improvements along Victoria Road. Construction will occur in stages, with strengthened setbacks and a Voluntary Planning Agreement required prior to above-ground works.

Hindmarsh Construction Australia has been selected as the contractor following a competitive tender process, with the first stage of works to include demolition and site remediation. This  arly construction phase is expected to be completed in 2027. Located in the heart of Bankstown’s CBD, the new $2 billion facility will be the largest single capital works investment in a public hospital in New South Wales’s history and will significantly expand healthcare services for the region’s fast-growing and diverse community.

QLD

A development application at 30–36 Hertford Street, Upper Mount Gravatt, Queensland, proposes three apartment towers delivering 199 dwellings across 2–7 storeys. Designed by MAS Architecture Studio, the 6,896sqm Medium Density site includes podium open space, rooftop amenities and 370 basement car parks within Brisbane’s Mt Gravatt Corridor precinct.

Quinbrook Infrastructure has lodged plans for Stage Two of its Supernode BESS in Queensland, proposing a 780MW lithium-ion facility with substations, containerised batteries, internal roads, and stormwater management. Following Stage One’s 260MW commissioning, Stage Two will expand grid stability, support renewables, and is under EPBC Act review, aiming for completion by 2027 with long-term Origin Energy offtake agreements.

Australia’s largest publicly owned wind farm, Tarong West in Queensland’s South Burnett region, has received federal environmental approval under the EPBC Act. The 436.5 MW project, fully owned by Stanwell Corporation, will feature 97 Vestas turbines (4.5 MW each, up to 280 m tall) across ~19,000 ha of farmland. Construction is targeted for late 2026, with conditions addressing koala habitat, birds, bats, and ecological offsets. This complements Stanwell’s renewable transition, alongside its 300 MW Tarong Battery.

The Gold Coast Advanced Resource Recovery Centre in Stapylton, Queensland, is a proposed waste-to-energy and recycling precinct using a DBFOM delivery model. Planned facilities include organics composting, plastics/glass/paper recycling, a WtE plant, and a community hub with education and research. EOIs opened February 2026, with a closed EOI and 12-month Early Contractor Involvement phase planned before contract award in December 2026. Construction is expected 2028–2032. The project will integrate finance, EPC, WtE technology, and operations under the private-sector consortium.

SA

Australia will begin building conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered SSN-AUKUS submarines at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia by 2030. A new Submarine Construction Yard (SCY) north of the existing shipyard will support steel processing, fabrication, outfitting, and commissioning. The federal government committed A$3.9 billion in February 2026 to kickstart the project. Design partners include KBR (steel facilities) and AECOM–Aurecon JV (concept design), with early enabling works already underway.

VIC

Arthurs Seat Eagle expansion has secured Victorian approval, delivering a new closed-loop luge ride, experience centre and observation tower. Backed by the Development Facilitation Program, works will generate 100 construction jobs and 120 ongoing roles, boosting regional tourism, supporting local businesses and strengthening Mornington Peninsula infrastructure capacity through 2026 and beyond.

The Victorian government is supporting Melbourne Pathology to build a state-of-the-art 10,000 sqm Centre of Excellence in Docklands, creating 200 construction jobs and 250 ongoing roles. The facility will expand testing capacity to 200,000 tests per day, include advanced genomic services and a drone landing area, and strengthen Victoria’s healthtech and medical research sector. Construction is expected to start later in 2026.

WA

Edith Cowan University’s former 18.6-hectare Mount Lawley campus will be transformed into a mixed-use precinct delivering up to 1,100 homes, a primary school, green space and a creative arts hub. Backed by the WA Government, the staged 10–15 year redevelopment is expected to begin delivering new housing around 2030, boosting Perth’s inner-suburban supply.

🧰 Construction Au Other

Coates forecasts Australia’s engineering construction will grow 6.5 % to nearly $150 billion from FY26 to FY27, underpinning a broader $300 billion construction market. Growth is shifting from transport-led projects to utilities (water, electricity, renewables) and defence, while residential remains flat and non-residential sees temporary pullback. Data centres, especially in Western Sydney and Melbourne, emerge as key drivers. Queensland and Western Australia are set to outpace NSW and Victoria in regional construction growth. Equipment hire is highlighted as a strategic lever for flexibility, cost control, sustainability, and productivity in this evolving market.

In construction, SEEK’s January 2026 Advertised Salary Index shows continued modest growth. Monthly advertised salaries rose 0.3%, maintaining six months of steady growth, while annual growth reached 3.8%, the highest since August 2024. This indicates moderate wage pressure for construction roles, reflecting ongoing demand amid broader market constraints, with regional differences likely affecting advertised salaries across Australia.

The IMF flagged rising state and territory infrastructure costs as a risk to Australia’s fiscal stability, citing potential debt and deficit pressures from cost blowouts. It recommended enhanced oversight, spending reviews, and infrastructure coordination to control overruns. The ACT Government responded by highlighting its budget repair measures, strong financial management, and ongoing advocacy for fair GST funding, noting infrastructure investment remains a priority despite IMF concerns.

🚀 Innovation, Digital & Futuristic Technology

Victoria is 5–10 years from mainstream 3D-printed homes, with builds potentially completed in 24 hours. Hendrik Wijaya of Swinburne University of Technology says standardisation will cut costs, especially for volume housing. Oasis Building Group is printing homes in Ballarat using high-grade concrete, halving build times and attracting industry and youth interest.

Thousands of potholes have been repaired across City of Moreton Bay , as Council accelerated road maintenance with the support of artificial intelligence technology. More than 12,896 potholes were filled and repaired over the past six months, with 4,547 identified using AI.

Hyundai Engineering’s exterior wall painting robot has been certified as Construction New Technology No. 1042 in South Korea. The unmanned, remote-controlled system replaces traditional gondolas for high-rise painting, doubling efficiency, improving safety, and reducing paint dispersion by over 90%. Equipped with posture control, automatic tilt correction, and multi-filter dust collection, it enhances quality, speed, and environmental performance on construction sites.

🌱 Sustainability ​& Environment

Victoria is trialling a new recycled asphalt blend on Melbourne’s Western Roads Upgrade, using EME2 with 15% reclaimed pavement. The sustainable mix, delivered by Ventia for the Netflow consortium, improves durability, reduces landfill waste and lowers environmental impact while supporting smoother journeys across the 260-kilometre upgrade.

Researchers have developed 3D-printable concrete using cellulose nanofibers and limestone filler, cutting cement content by up to 40% without losing strength. This lowers carbon emissions by 34%, improves printability, and reduces costs, offering a scalable, sustainable solution for construction and large-scale 3D-printed buildings.

🌏 Around the World

Cowi has secured the preliminary and detailed design contract for Iceland’s Fljótagöng tunnel, a 5.3 km tunnel and 24 km road connecting Siglufjörður and Fljót. The project replaces a weather‑prone mountain road, addressing subsidence, landslide, and avalanche risks. Cowi’s scope includes geotechnical, structural, tunnel systems, bridges, and utilities design, with completion of design scheduled for November 2026. The tunnel aims to improve regional connectivity, safety, and economic resilience in North Iceland.

👷‍♀️ Tradies and Resource

Free TAFE in Victoria offers 80 qualifications and short courses across 90+ campuses, targeting high-demand industries from cyber security to construction. Tuition fees are covered, though student services and materials may cost extra. TAFE delivers practical, job-ready skills, strong employment outcomes, and competitive median salaries, supporting career entry, upskilling, or reskilling.

Master Skills Australia has announced its launch to help experienced tradies gain nationally recognised construction qualifications through streamlined Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Using an evidence-based, plain-English assessment model, it converts on-site experience into formal credentials, addressing workforce shortages and reducing barriers to skills recognition across Australia’s building sector.

Thanks for reading,

If you have any comments or feedback, just respond to this email!

Alex

We monitor Australian construction 24/7—analysing thousands of articles from over 600 sources—to deliver the latest industry news straight to you.

⏳ Stay up to date in minutes

Read the most important construction related news stories of the day – Industry headlines, safety alerts, technology and innovations.

🏗 Get latest project updates

Get the latest project updates near you, contract awards, and global trends.

❌ No Noise news

Get the latest news in a simple format, with NO marketing emails, EVER.

 🧠 Get ahead

Stay a head with the latest information that will improve your knowledge, performance and increase your opportunities.

💰 Love Gooday Construction? Tell your friends! We’re growing and the more we grow the more quality news we can get to you!

Want to advertise in Gooday Construction? 📰

If your company is interested in reaching an audience of Construction professionals and decision makers, you may want to advertise with us. Please reply to this email.