03/11/2025

November 03, 2025

THE MORNING PAPER FOR CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS AND TRADIES

✒ Headlines & Industry

Australia faces a shortage of over 200,000 tradies, jeopardising the National Housing Accord and Brisbane 2032 Olympic projects. Master Builders Australia warns the $200 billion construction sector lacks skilled labour. Falling apprentice numbers and slow, costly migration processes worsen the crisis, threatening housing targets and national infrastructure delivery timelines.

New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show house building cost pressures are at their worst in almost 2 years. Master Builders Australia chief economist Shane Garrett said during the September 2025 quarter, the cost of building a new house rose by 1.2 per cent.

🏗️ Projects

ACT

Dozens of tradies remain unpaid after Greenwich Build’s collapse left Griffith and Hanwood projects unfinished. Electricians, plumbers, and small businesses are owed over $3 million. Argyle Housing and Griffith Council express frustration but await administration outcomes. A new builder may soon resume work, offering hope for project completion and community relief.

Work has resumed at 11 State Circle, Forrest, after Canberra developer Keggins collapsed, leaving multiple companies in liquidation. The luxury nine-townhouse project, previously stalled and off-market, is now under new development. Keggins had acquired the 3,768 sqm site near Parliament House in 2021 but failed to refinance, halting construction.

NSW

The Hills Shire is NSW’s fastest-growing LGA, driving major construction as developers meet soaring housing demand. Projects like Daiwa House’s 233-hectare Hills of Carmel, GPT’s $200m Rouse Hill expansion, and Sekisui House’s The Orchards in Norwest are transforming the region, adding homes, retail, and infrastructure to support rapid population growth.

Quickway Constructions is delivering a $15.8 million project to build an 11 km water pipeline linking the Vincentia and Stoney Creek reservoirs, securing long-term water supply for the Jervis Bay Territory. Partnering with Shoalhaven City Council, works include pump, chlorination, and monitoring upgrades, with completion expected in early 2026 to enhance water reliability.

New Energy Transport is building Australia’s largest heavy electric trucking depot in Wilton, NSW, by mid-2026. The site will initially host 50 electric prime movers, powered by grid and solar, reducing emissions and costs. Trials show electric trucks match diesel for range, speed, and driver comfort, supporting zero-emission freight.

British studio RSHP has completed the Barangaroo South masterplan in Sydney, transforming an abandoned container port into a vibrant harbourside district. The development includes the International Towers office trio, public parks, waterfront promenades, and pedestrian connections, prioritising sustainability, carbon neutrality, and community-focused spaces while integrating residential and hospitality buildings.

NT

SunCable plans a new solar and battery precinct at Muckaty, NT, potentially generating up to 20 GW to meet rising data centre demand. Modular 250 MW solar blocks with battery storage will be built in stages, linked via transmission to Powell Creek. The project seeks environmental approval and will involve Traditional Owners.

 

QLD

The $2 billion Gateway to Bruce Upgrade in Brisbane’s north has been awarded to the Gateway Connect Joint Venture (CPB, BMD, and Georgiou), with designers GHD and BG&E. Jointly funded by federal and state governments, the project will add lanes, improve interchanges, and ease congestion for 160,000 daily motorists.

The Queensland Government is opening the former Visy riverfront site in South Brisbane to private sector development, scrapping the previous Olympic International Broadcast Centre plan. The 7.1-hectare precinct will deliver 4,000+ homes, commercial, retail, hospitality, and public parkland, creating a vibrant “South Bank 2.0” neighbourhood with 400 metres of river frontage.

The Queensland Government has approved the next tranche of funding under the $12.5 million Scheme Supply Fund, fast-tracking housing for nine regional councils.

Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC) has launched a proposal for a world-class container terminal at Port Central, Queensland. The 54-hectare site offers deepwater access, rail and road links, and scalability. GPC seeks developer interest to boost container trade, regional supply chains, jobs, and economic growth, with submissions due by March 2026.

VIC

The Allan Labor Government will remove Yarraville’s Anderson Street level crossing by 2029, replacing it with a pedestrian and cyclist underpass. The upgrade improves safety, reduces congestion from up to 50 daily trains, and enhances Yarraville Village access. Consultation is open to help shape the design, part of Melbourne’s 110-crossing removal program.

VicGrid has identified a draft preferred route for Victoria’s first offshore wind transmission line, connecting the coast near Giffard to the Latrobe Valley. The corridor reduces impacted private land from 56 to 24 parcels, avoids sensitive areas, and will be refined through consultation with landholders and technical experts before finalisation in 2026.

The 2025 Victoria Budget allocates $296.2 million to DEECA for water management, ensuring operational continuity, while imposing a 42% emissions reduction target for water corporations by 2025. The focus is on sustainable water supply, climate accountability, and resilience, signaling a performance-driven approach for Victoria’s water sector without new capital projects.

The Allan Labor Government has launched a 10-Year Plan for Industrial Land to unlock 5,800 hectares across Victoria, creating 100,000 jobs by 2035. The plan streamlines rezoning, accelerates approvals, and supports $9.5 billion in investment, focusing on key precincts in Melbourne and regional centres to boost industry and economic growth.

The Allan Labor Government has fast-tracked a 332MW Meadow Creek solar farm and a 250MW battery energy storage system in Hazelwood through the Development Facilitation Program. Together, these projects will power over 225,000 homes, create 500+ construction and operational jobs, and help lower Victorian power bills while boosting regional renewable energy capacity.

Major works on Melbourne’s Hurstbridge Line tunnel extension between Grimshaw and Elder streets are complete, marking the city’s third-longest rail tunnel at 500 metres. The project, part of the M80 Ring Road Completion, upgrades tracks, signals, and bridges—improving safety, reliability, and connectivity while creating thousands of jobs across Victoria’s transport network.

WA

Sarytogan Graphite has awarded the engineering contracts for the definitive feasibility study (DFS) at its massive namesake graphite project in Kazakhstan to global heavyweights Wood and WSP, locking in a clear runway to mid-2026 completion and construction in 2027. Wood will handle processing and infrastructure, leveraging its Perth-based minerals hub and 20-year Kazakhstan presence via Wood KSS, which fields 450 professionals across Atyrau, Tengiz, Aktau and Almaty.

The Western Australian government has announced the latest allocation of funding under its Infrastructure Development Fund (IDF), paving the way for 1,500 new apartments in key infill areas across metropolitan Perth.

Construction has commenced on Western Australia’s landmark Women and Babies Hospital, marking a significant step forward in delivering expanded healthcare services for women, newborns, and families across the state.

🧰 Construction Au Other

Kennedys’ 2025 Construction Insurance Law review outlines key trends in NSW construction claims, covering breaches under the DBP Act, non-delegable duties, proportionate liability, direct claims against insurers, limitation periods, and the impact of recent High Court and Supreme Court decisions, highlighting increased risks and insurance requirements for builders and developers.

AXA XL has launched a specialist construction cyber solution across Europe, Asia, and Australia, enhancing existing cyber coverage. It addresses sector-specific risks, including missed bids, BIM and software breaches, downstream contractual penalties, and drone privacy violations. The solution combines proactive risk management with responsive claims support for digitalised construction firms.

🚀 Innovation, Digital & Futuristic Technology

This study presents CCF-BiGRU, a deep learning model that enhances data recovery in structural health monitoring, ensuring the reliability of bridge systems.

New AI-Enabled Open Applications Deliver 10x Faster Project Completion New OpenSite+, Substation+ use AI, automation, and collaboration to speed work as demand strains engineering capacity.

Japanese engineers used fabric formwork to construct a retaining channel in just two days, replacing a month of traditional work. Permeable textile molds shaped and compacted concrete efficiently, reducing labor needs while maintaining strength and precision. The method offers a fast, sustainable solution for disaster containment in high-risk areas.

Queclink Wireless Solutions has released the CV5000, its most advanced and adaptable dashcam to date, built to enhance fleet safety, compliance, and visibility across the construction and plant hire industries.

🌱 Sustainability ​& Environment

Australian scientists have developed roof coatings that passively cool surfaces up to 6°C below ambient and harvest atmospheric water. Painted on existing roofs, the reflective, high-emittance coating can reduce indoor heat, collect up to 70 liters of dew per roof per day, and help mitigate urban heat islands affordably and sustainably.

Biomass continues to make its mark for sustainable building materials – latest report Innovation in sustainable chemical feedstocks – including biomass and food waste – has reached an inflection point according to the latest patent data reported by Appleyard Lees.

Researchers have developed eco-friendly bricks and tiles from agricultural waste, reducing costs and carbon emissions while enhancing durability and strength.

🌏 Around the World

Blue Energy and Crusoe plan a 1.5GW AI datacenter campus in Victoria County, Texas, powered initially by natural gas before transitioning to nuclear energy by 2031. Using prefabricated reactor components, Blue aims to cut nuclear build costs and timelines, while Crusoe expands its AI infrastructure network for future large-scale computing demand.

A vast $1bn museum billed as the world’s largest archaeological facility dedicated to a single civilisation will open outside Cairo on Saturday, after countless delays over the course of its two-decade construction. The Grand Egyptian Museum, located a mile away from the pyramids of Giza, covers an area of 470,000 sq metres. The complex was announced in 1992 but it was not until 2005 that construction began. Some areas of the museum opened in a soft launch in 2024.

A dam in Russia was struck by the Ukrainian Armed Forces as part of the Russo-Ukrainian War over the weekend of 25 October 2025, and engineers have explained the structure of the dam and the impact of the damage it received to NCE.

📖 Miscellaneous

Australia advances its clean energy transition with EPBC Act reforms and a national decommissioning framework. The updates streamline project approvals, improve environmental outcomes, and provide financial safeguards for landholders. Together, they ensure renewable projects remain accountable, protect communities, and support investment while balancing decarbonisation with long-term ecological and social responsibility.

👷‍♀️ Tradies and Resource

Local students explored STEM at the M1 Raymond Terrace extension Open Day, engaging in hands-on activities like surveying, bridge building, and environmental testing. Hosted by Transport for NSW and industry experts, the event aimed to inspire Year 11–12 students, spark curiosity, and showcase real-world applications of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

The NSW Government’s new Bank Street Park in Pyrmont will target 50% female participation, a first for the state, aiming to address underrepresentation in construction. The 1.1-hectare waterfront park will enhance Blackwattle Bay, support diversity, and provide a public space connecting a 15-kilometre harbourfront walk, promoting long-term industry and community benefits.

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Alex

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

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