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- 24/03/2026
24/03/2026
The Daily Dirt Aus
By G’day Construction………….……
THE MORNING PAPER FOR CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS AND TRADIES
🚨 Safety Updates
Safe Work Australia is seeking feedback on proposed crane licensing updates under model WHS laws. The consultation reviews seven potential changes to improve safety and competency. Industry stakeholders are encouraged to contribute insights on impacts, costs, and benefits before submissions close on 4 May 2026.
✒ Headlines & Industry
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A militant union's guerrilla campaign against a state's largest infrastructure project in a decade has cost taxpayers more than half a billion dollars and delayed construction for years. Cross River Rail Delivery Authority chief executive Graeme Newton
Australia’s new national AI and data centre framework will reshape construction demand, requiring projects to fund renewable energy, grid upgrades, and sustainable water use. Developers face stricter approvals if standards aren’t met, driving more complex builds, higher compliance costs, and stronger links between digital infrastructure and major energy and civil works delivery.
Suppliers of steel products used in construction lifted their prices by up to 15 per cent over the past three weeks and have warned of further increases because of soaring fuel costs, in an ominous sign of rapidly spiralling inflation for the industry and home builders.
Australia state-owned AEMO has been forced to reevaluate its 6,000-kilometer grid expansion plans amid escalating fuel crisis. One of the contributing factors is the multibillion-dollar cost blowout for poles and wires electricity transmission project.
Geopolitical disruption linked to the Strait of Hormuz is driving major cost and supply pressures across Australia’s road construction sector. Bitumen shortages, rising diesel prices, and supply chain instability threaten project delivery, with potential flow-on impacts to broader construction costs depending on the duration of the conflict.
Australia’s construction industry is urged to prepare for NCC 2025, with key updates to commercial energy efficiency, water management, fire safety, condensation, and optional all-gender facilities. Adoption timing varies by state, creating uncertainty. Early familiarisation, transition planning, and upskilling are critical to ensure compliance and smooth integration into current and future projects.
🏗️ Projects
NSW
ARENA has awarded $13 million to five industrial decarbonisation projects in Queensland and NSW, backing low-emission technologies for manufacturing, aluminium extrusion, brewing, healthcare, and steel. The funding supports electrification, efficiency improvements, and clean tech demonstrations, advancing construction-related industrial facilities toward net-zero emissions and low-carbon operations.
The $354 million MLC Building redevelopment in North Sydney involves extensive construction works: demolition of the Denison Street wing, restoration of heritage elements, a new 22-storey wing, ground-floor retail, public domain upgrades, flood mitigation, and infrastructure for student and transport access—supporting 307 construction jobs.
QLD
Eku Energy has submitted its 1.6GWh Belah BESS in Queensland for approval, while Valent Energy’s 590MWh Mornington BESS in Victoria enters Australian Energy Market Operator commissioning, marking major progress in grid-scale storage supporting renewable integration and energy reliability.
Queensland’s Eva Copper mine will create 1,000 construction jobs, while multi-storey apartments, Ryde Hospital redevelopment, Henry Lawson Drive upgrades, Bankstown transport plaza, and rail projects advance. NCC 2025 preparations continue for architects, engineers, and builders. PBSA developments, container homes, and infrastructure upgrades reflect ongoing growth across Australia’s construction and civil sectors.
A 15-storey residential tower with 22 apartments is proposed at 16–18 Sandford Street, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland. Designed by Graya with Urbis landscape architecture, it features riverfront orientation, subtropical design, communal rooftop amenities, four basement levels, and 60 car spaces,
VIC
S&Z Australia has completed a complex microtunnelling project at Swanson Dock, installing HV conduits beneath the berth to support port upgrades. The trenchless approach overcame difficult ground conditions while minimising surface disruption and protecting the marine environment amid rising container volumes.
The Victorian government has announced new housing reforms that will come into effect in a month’s time, enabling the streamlined approval of apartment buildings between four and six storeys tall that meet state-wide standards.
🧰 Construction Au Other
Industry leaders from Master Builders Australia, Housing Industry Association, Property Council of Australia and Real Estate Institute of Australia warned proposed CGT and tax changes could cut housing supply, reduce construction activity, and increase rents, urging government to prioritise planning reform, investment certainty, and delivery to meet national housing targets.
Australian Rail Track Corporation has awarded Vossloh Sleeper Technologies Australia a contract to supply 250,000 concrete sleepers for the Maroona–Portland rail upgrade. The project will replace ageing timber sleepers, boost freight capacity, support regional manufacturing jobs, and improve reliability across a key Victoria–South Australia corridor.
Boral has named Matt McKenzie as its new CEO – effective 1 April 2026 – succeeding Vik Bansal who will join the Seven Group Holdings (SGH) Board as a Director. McKenzie has served as Boral’s Chief Operating Officer since July 2025 and previously led the company’s Concrete and Quarries operations in southern Australia.
🚀 Innovation, Digital & Futuristic Technology
Hitachi Construction Machinery is hosting its LANDCROS Innovation Studios Mining Challenge in Brisbane, shortlisting 10 global start-ups, including one Australian company, to pitch technologies improving mining productivity, sustainability, and efficiency. Finalists will present on April 16, 2026, with winners collaborating on smarter machines, mine sites, and low-impact operations.
Octave is tackling Australia’s construction productivity gap by connecting design, build, and operations through digital lifecycle intelligence. Using AI and integrated software, it eliminates data silos, automates clash detection, and improves project efficiency, helping builders deliver faster, safer, and more cost-effective infrastructure, crucial for addressing the national housing shortage.
WaterNSW’s Prospect Reservoir now features an automated surveying system replacing periodic inspections with continuous, high-resolution monitoring. The technology detects structural movement in real time, enhancing dam safety, emergency response, and staff safety. Recognised with an NSW infrastructure innovation award, it exemplifies digital asset management and resilience in Australia’s water infrastructure.
🌱 Sustainability & Environment
CSIRO has launched its free eight-week Innovate to Grow program for Queensland SMEs, offering R&D training, mentorship, and support in circular economy and sustainability. Open to businesses in construction, manufacturing, transport, and mining, the program helps transform innovative ideas into actionable R&D plans and commercial opportunities.
Perth-based design practice Neil Cownie Architect was named the winner of an international competition for tertiary students to design an urban area suitable for future extreme climate conditions.
Holcim’s Melbourne plants at Epping and Preston piloted zero-waste initiatives, recycling timber, cardboard, organic material, and returned concrete into aggregates, reducing landfill and costs. This supports circular construction. The ECOPact low-carbon concrete range was also refreshed, offering ≥30% lower embodied carbon, reinforcing sustainability in Australia’s construction sector.
📖 Miscellaneous
Transperth set a new record in 2025 with 151.7 million boardings, surpassing 2013’s 148.7 million. Operating 15,850 bus trips, 1,108 train trips, 926 CAT trips, and 269 school services daily, the network saw six monthly record highs. Contractors include Path Transit, Swan Transit, and Transdev under WA’s Public Transport Authority.
👷♀️ Tradies and Resource
Final call: Nominations for the Women in Industry Awards close 27 March. Celebrate outstanding women driving change across construction, mining, engineering, and more. New 2026 categories recognise emerging leaders and underrepresented roles. Don’t miss the chance to spotlight talent and inspire the next generation. Submit your nominations before the deadline.
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Alex
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