24/02/2026

February 24, 2026

The Daily Dirt Aus

By G’day Construction………….…… 

THE MORNING PAPER FOR CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS AND TRADIES

✒ Headlines & Industry

Jacinta Allan's government's response to the CFMEU corruption scandal has been brutally criticised, with the Victorian Premier being told her justification not to have a Royal Commission is "not credible".

 

Opening of Midland Station marks completion of WA Labor’s $15 billion Metronet build, delivering 23 stations and 72km of new rail. The decade-long program expanded track, elevated sections and upgraded corridors, despite delays and cost increases. Government says the works reshape Perth’s transport network and support long-term urban growth and connectivity.

 

A top building boss is encouraging mature age workers to embrace a career change, promising ‘if you’ve got the right attitude and the right skills, you’re going to be in very high demand’.

🏗️ Projects

NSW

Construction has begun on the $720 million Richmond Road upgrade in Western Sydney, aimed at cutting freight travel times by up to 34 per cent. The project includes widening key sections to six lanes, new bridges and a flyover at the M7, plus corridor planning. Governments say it will ease congestion and support rapid growth.

QLD

A proposed Trump Tower in Surfers Paradise aims to become Australia’s tallest building, delivering a large-scale mixed-use construction project combining luxury residences and resort facilities. The development would significantly reshape the Gold Coast skyline, with planning approvals, detailed design, and procurement pathways to determine project timing and delivery.

Queensland vegetable grower Kalfresh has secured $80 million in climate investment from Wollemi Capital and the Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) to develop an integrated food and energy precinct that will convert farm waste into renewable energy and fertiliser. The funding will support construction of the $291 million Scenic Rim Agricultural Industrial Precinct at Kalbar.

 

SA

Designs unveiled for an arts and media hub within Adelaide’s Tapangka precinct will deliver galleries, studios and rehearsal spaces alongside high-density residential and hotel components. Led by Renewal SA, the mixed-use redevelopment includes a purpose-built facility for Australian Broadcasting Corporation and major cultural institutions, targeting completion by 2031.

South Australia Labor plans a major renewables construction push, opening 11,000 km²—twice Kangaroo Island—for solar, wind, and storage projects. The $multi-billion tender aims to power over 500,000 homes, with feasibility licences issued after extensive consultation. Works will support regional infrastructure, grid capacity, and sustainable construction as SA targets 100% net renewables by 2027.

VIC

The Paynesville Slip Road Maritime Precinct project in Victoria is entering its final construction stage. Delivered by Carter Marine Group for East Gippsland Shire, works include jetty installation, boat ramp construction, seawall completion and off-site precast fabrication, following earlier geotechnical design revisions due to unforeseen lake-bed conditions.

WA

A long-awaited feasibility study investigating the potential for a major expansion, estimated to cost up to $100 million, at one of Western Australia's busiest regional airports, is set to be delivered this week.

🧰 Construction Au Other

North-west Tasmania residents have launched a TasCAT appeal to halt on-land works for the $5 billion Marinus Link, challenging permits for converter and switching stations at Heybridge. Opponents cite contamination, cumulative impacts and rising costs, as the 750MW interconnector edges toward construction and a 2030 target start.

 

Australia has abundant private capital for clean energy, but construction delivery remains the bottleneck. Delays in approvals, planning, and building infrastructure limit project economics. Effective risk allocation, regional workforce readiness, and strategic precinct development are essential to convert financing into operational renewable energy and transmission projects, ensuring timely energy transition outcomes.

🌱 Sustainability ​& Environment

Griffith University researchers are developing architecturally designed “polyp” tile prototypes to improve coral larvae settlement for reef restoration. Testing 75 textured shapes, colours and materials with aquaculture partners shows settlement rates up to four times higher than standard tiles. The work applies construction design principles to scale durable, mass-producible reef infrastructure solutions.

RMIT University’s PCPM, in partnership with the Infrastructure Sustainability Council, has launched Australia’s first postgraduate course embedding circular economy principles into project management. The program integrates ISAP training, equips students with sustainability skills, and provides practical experience in applying circularity across project design, delivery, and operations, preparing graduates for industry demands.

STRABAG UK and the University of East London have launched a £216,000 KTP to develop a low-carbon annulus grout for tunnelling, replacing cement with repurposed construction and agricultural waste. The 26-month project aims to cut embodied carbon by 61%, advance circular economy practices, and deliver industry-ready, sustainable infrastructure solutions.

 

🌏 Around the World

Global construction momentum eased in late 2025, mainly due to China’s real estate slowdown, though conditions remain healthy. Infrastructure leads growth, with housing improving. Spain, UAE, India, Germany, and Saudi Arabia perform strongly. Global construction is set to grow 2.9% in 2026, led by Asia, utilities investment, and infrastructure, despite labour and cost challenges.

👷‍♀️ Tradies and Resource

Master Skills Australia has launched a streamlined Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) service to help tradies convert on-site experience into nationally recognised construction qualifications. Using an evidence-based assessment model, the initiative reduces cost and complexity. The move responds to ongoing trade shortages and declining apprenticeship commencements across Australia’s building sector.

Queensland’s construction sector is confronting a significant and sustained labour shortage as preparations for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games intensify, with a new report warning of growing productivity pressures across the state’s $120 billion infrastructure pipeline.

Rimkus, a global engineering and management consulting firm, has appointed John Donnelly as Director and Quantum Expert in its Australian business. A Chartered Quantity Surveyor and an experienced quantum expert, John Donnelly brings more than 30 years of pre- and post-contract experience across the infrastructure, healthcare, and energy industries to Rimkus.

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Alex

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