The Daily Dirt Aus

By G’day Construction………….…… 

_{THE MORNING PAPER FOR CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS AND TRADIES}

✒ Headlines & Industry

CFMEU inquiry hears rival union boss held 'significant concerns' for her safety

Australian Workers Union (AWU) Queensland branch boss Stacey Schinnerl is being questioned over the CFMEU's alleged use of violence and intimidation towards the AWU, its main rival.In a written statement to the inquiry, Ms Schinnerl said a perceived threat on her life made her feel "unsafe" in her "own home" and "particularly concerned" about the safety of her children.

‘Go nuclear’: Inquiry hears of rogue union’s threats

A Queensland inquiry heard allegations the CFMEU tried to pressure the QCU into delaying legislation restricting its site access. Former official Jade Ingham allegedly warned the union would “go nuclear” if the bill proceeded. The proposal was rejected, and after the bill passed, the CFMEU escalated industrial action and intimidation campaigns.

Independent MP Bec Thomas in tears as Tasmanian parliament gives green light to new AFL stadium

Tasmania’s parliament has approved the $1.13 billion Macquarie Point AFL stadium, unlocking the state’s entry into the AFL and AFLW in 2028. Independent MP Bec Thomas backed the project with funding caps and oversight, calling it her toughest decision. Despite political support, the stadium remains deeply divisive over cost and priorities.

🏗️ Projects

NSW

First of 800 new towers erected for Australia’s most expensive transmission project to date

The first of 832 towers for the $4.9 billion HumeLink 500kV transmission line has been erected near Wagga Wagga, NSW. Spanning 365km, the project will connect Snowy 2.0, unlock wind and solar capacity, create 1,600 jobs, and deliver 2,200 MW of on-demand energy, boosting clean energy and regional economies.

Green light for major quarry project

Australian Resource Development Group (ARDG) has received approval for its Stone Ridge Quarry in New South Wales. After nine years of planning, testing, and regulatory approvals, the project will produce 1.5 million tonnes of hard rock annually over 30 years, supporting construction markets across the Lower Hunter, Central Coast, and northern Sydney.

Chatswood $108.6m Mixed-Use Tower Approved by State

NSW approves $108.6m, 32-storey mixed-use tower in Chatswood, balancing affordable housing, heritage and urban amenity.

QLD

Australia’s first six gigawatt hour battery to be built a part of massive multi-tech “grid resiliency” hub

The proposed 6 GWh battery at Gladstone Energy Hub will require large-scale civil works, including foundations for an eight-hour BESS, high-voltage switchyards, and integration with 1,080 MW of gas turbines and synchronous condensers. Construction will involve major earthworks, cable routes, grid connections, and staged delivery to support Queensland’s expanding energy infrastructure.

Middle-ring Brisbane suburbs set for zoning changes under ‘anti-sprawl’ plan

Brisbane City Council plans zoning changes to boost mid-ring housing, enabling up to 6000 new homes by 2032. The proposal lifts building heights to three–four storeys, halves minimum lot sizes, and streamlines approvals. Industry groups back the reforms, saying they will cut construction costs and deliver more diverse, affordable dwellings.

WA

Zenith Energy details renewable power project for KCGM mining complex

Zenith Energy signed a 25-year PPA to develop Australia’s largest renewable energy project for mining, powering Northern Star’s KCGM with wind, solar and battery storage. The 1.4GW-plus project cuts emissions, lowers costs, boosts reliability and includes major local manufacturing, transmission upgrades and supporting thermal generation. Commissioning begins mid-2027.

🧰 Construction Au Other

The future of water in Australia as 2025 closes and 2026 begins

Australia’s water sector faces extremes in 2025, with east coast floods and west coast drought highlighting infrastructure and investment challenges. CEO Corinne Cheeseman urges long-term planning, skills development, digital transformation, and Indigenous collaboration to ensure resilience, affordability, and sustainability. Ozwater’26 and Strategy 2030 will guide the sector into 2026 and beyond.

AtkinsRéalis has announced the acquisition of ADG

AtkinsRéalis has acquired Brisbane-based engineering consultancy ADG, strengthening its Australian presence. The partnership expands capacity across Defence, Energy, Water, Buildings, and Transport sectors. ADG gains access to larger, diverse projects, while AtkinsRéalis enhances its local workforce and ability to deliver complex, multidisciplinary infrastructure nationwide.

Managing aging water infrastructure: a proactive approach

Aging water infrastructure demands proactive management to prevent costly failures and service disruptions. Oldcastle Infrastructure’s CivilSense™ uses AI and real-time sensor data to detect leaks early, predict asset failures, and optimize maintenance. This data-driven approach reduces water loss, lowers costs, and ensures sustainable, resilient water systems for communities.

🚀 Innovation, Digital & Futuristic Technology

Why practical AI is the construction industry’s next competitive edge

Practical AI is emerging as construction’s strongest competitive edge, helping firms cut costs, boost safety and improve decision-making. Tools like MYOB Acumatica automate workflows, analyse site data, detect anomalies and bridge the office–field gap. With mid-sized builders still early in adoption, leaders are urged to drive experimentation and prepare for rapid AI-driven change.

Benetics launches AI-based voice assist for construction workers

Benetics has launched an AI-powered voice assistant for construction sites that records, transcribes, and organises spoken input into actionable tasks with checklists, photos, and due dates. Using OpenAI technology, it can cut admin time by up to 80%, supports 30+ languages, and is already deployed across Europe, the US, and the UK.

AECOM acquires AI startup for $390 million

AECOM has acquired Norwegian AI startup Consigli for $390 million. Consigli, founded in 2020, provides an “autonomous engineer” AI for real estate and construction, automating up to 80% of engineering tasks, including MPE engineering, space analysis, unit optimization, and BIM modeling, boosting efficiency and reducing material use by 20%.

🌱 Sustainability ​& Environment

Snøhetta Completes Cloud 11 in Bangkok, Featuring Thailand’s Largest Elevated Creative Park

Snøhetta and A49 have completed Cloud 11 in Bangkok, a 250,000 m² mixed-use regeneration anchored by Thailand’s largest elevated creative park. The landscape-led design tackles heat, flooding and pollution with green roofs, porous pavements and passive ventilation, delivering a resilient, community-driven precinct built for modern, sustainable urban living.

Coastal restoration may get a boost from biodegradable concrete

Dutch researchers are testing Xiriton, a biodegradable, low-carbon concrete for coastal restoration. Made from grass, lime, shells, and seawater, it hardens while capturing CO₂, supports marine life, and naturally degrades once reefs establish. Xiriton offers sustainable, flexible, and scalable solutions for seawalls, breakwaters, and tidal habitat restoration worldwide.

🌏 Around the World

Holcim to acquire three demolition materials recycling companies

Holcim has acquired Thames Materials (UK) and A&S Recycling GmbH (Germany), with a third French recycler pending, expanding its circular construction operations. Combined, the sites process 1.3 million tons annually. CEO Miljan Gutovic says the move strengthens Holcim’s ECOCycle technology and supports its 2030 target of recycling 20 million tons of construction demolition materials yearly.

📖 Miscellaneous

Tunnel worker awarded $2.4 million after deadly silicosis diagnosis

A judge has castigated some of the nation’s largest tunnelling companies for failing to protect workers, accusing them of “egregious breaches of duty”. 

Datacentres demand huge amounts of electricity. Could they derail Australia’s net zero ambitions?

Datacentres could triple electricity use in five years, straining Australia’s grid and threatening net-zero goals. Their constant, energy-hungry cooling demands may push up reliance on coal and gas, divert renewables from cutting emissions, increase power prices, and complicate plans to retire fossil fuels—especially as AI accelerates consumption.

Data centres urged to bring their own wind, solar and big batteries so they don’t trip the grid

Australia’s data-centre boom is driving huge construction demand as tech giants must now bring their own wind, solar and big batteries to avoid stressing the grid. New facilities will require large-scale power infrastructure, on-site storage, HV connections and regional builds, accelerating renewable projects and reshaping utility-driven construction nationwide.

How Western Australia can keep up with energy transition ambitions

Aurecon highlights that WA’s renewable energy transition hinges on aligning policy, capital, innovation, and people. Key construction challenges include fast-tracking transmission backbone projects, integrating large-scale wind, solar, and battery systems, and managing remote industrial loads. Coordinated planning, design standardisation, and robust monitoring are critical to delivering resilient, bankable renewable energy infrastructure.

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.