07/11/2025

November 07, 2025

The Daily Dirt Aus

By G’day Construction………….…… 

THE MORNING PAPER FOR CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS AND TRADIES

🚨 Safety Updates

In August 2022, a 35m-long, 10m-deep shoring wall collapsed at the WOVA construction site in Phillip, ACT, causing earth, concrete, scaffolding, and part of the Sky Park driveway to fall into the excavation. SDCC was found guilty of failing health and safety duties, risking multiple fatalities due to inadequate shoring design.

✒ Headlines & Industry

Goodman Group’s construction pipeline is set to reach a record AU$17.5 billion by June 2026, driven by surging demand for data centers. Around 75% of projects will be data center-related, with capacity expected to grow from 300MW to 500MW. CEO Greg Goodman cites strong hyperscaler demand and AI-driven cloud growth.

Supply chains also unprepared for liquid cooling demands A survey of datacenter professionals reveals that supply chain constraints and power availability are hampering the industry's efforts to scale datacenter capacity.

Infrastructure Australia supports advancing the federal government’s High Speed Rail Authority business case for the Sydney–Newcastle line, which could cut travel to one hour by 2039. However, it has questioned why the New South Wales section should be prioritised over proposed Victorian, ACT, and Queensland connections, calling for stronger justification.

CFMEU NSW delegates have unanimously passed a historic motion urging state and federal governments to introduce pre-qualification checks for builders and contractors on government projects. The move, sparked by threats and violence against union officials, aims to remove criminal elements, ensure industrial compliance, and strengthen union protection for workers.

🏗️ Projects

NSW

Premier Chris Minns said he welcomed the project but would not be handing over a blank cheque for it, noting: “NSW needs some love from the federal government.” Infrastructure Australia noted that a Newcastle-Sydney line would entice only about 5 per cent of people to switch from travelling by car to high-speed trains.

The NSW Government has extended the $5 million Repair to Return program until June 2026 to continue repairing flood-damaged homes in the Northern Rivers. Partnering with GIVIT and Resilient Lismore, the program will deliver up to 80 additional home repair projects, supporting ongoing recovery from the devastating 2022 floods.

The NSW Government has committed $9 million to seal the final 9.6km of Rangari Road in the Narrabri Shire, completing the route between Tamworth, Gunnedah and Narrabri. The upgrade will improve safety, reduce maintenance, and provide reliable year-round access for locals, farmers, freight, and emergency services across regional New South Wales.

The Saddletop Wind Farm, proposed by Squadron Energy near Lake Burrinjuck, Southern NSW, will feature 123 turbines generating 738 MW and a 150 MW / 600 MWh battery. The project includes substations, transmission connections, and enabling infrastructure, aiming to connect to the National Energy Market, with scoping submitted in October 2025.

NT

APA Group has commenced construction of the Sturt Plateau Pipeline (SPP), the first-stage link to enable Beetaloo gas to reach power generation assets in the Northern Territory.  APA said that the estimated $66.5 million project will support regional employment and local supply chains, delivering approximately 150 jobs during peak construction.  

QLD

Queensland’s major project pipeline has reached record levels, with $127.5 billion in engineering construction planned over the next five years, a new report shows. Released by the Queensland Major Contractors Association (QMCA), the report shows a 22.7 per cent increase in total pipeline value compared to 2024.

VIC

Akaysha Energy has secured $460 million in construction financing for its 311 MW / 1,244 MWh Elaine Battery Energy Storage System in Victoria, supported by a 15-year virtual tolling agreement with Snowy Hydro. Partners Tesla and Consolidated Power Projects will deliver the project, advancing Victoria’s renewable energy and grid reliability goals.

Coliban Water is investing $40 million across 10 years to revitalise water and wastewater infrastructure for central and north Victoria. 

WA

The WA government will divert funding from the abandoned Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre upgrade to expand the state’s under-pressure hospital system.

🧰 Construction Au Other

FBR Limited has signed a non-binding MOU with Fraser Lyne Constructions for the sale of a Hadrian® automated bricklaying unit valued at A$7.8 million. The staged agreement includes design collaboration, training, and a 12-month warranty. This marks Hadrian’s first planned deployment in New South Wales to help address the housing shortage.

Comansa Australia has launched its local subsidiary in North Sydney, with operations in the Hunter Region, offering tower crane rental, sales, and service support. The team, led by Dane Hunt, supplies high-performance cranes like the CML560 and CML800, integrates battery efficiency with Cranepower, and uses Crane Mate for real-time fleet monitoring and maintenance.

🚀 Innovation, Digital & Futuristic Technology

Building Information Modeling (BIM) has evolved from a design tool to a decision-making platform spanning the entire building lifecycle. By linking data to models, BIM enables smarter design, construction, and operations. Its progression into digital twins allows real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and AI-driven optimization—enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and occupant experience.

The NSW Government has announced it will invest a further $20 million in its world-first Land iQ system to expand the land-use technology tool for a broader range of planning uses by governments, universities, consultants and private enterprise.

ARENA will provide up to $4.96 million to Nextracker to deploy automated solar construction and tracker technologies across several solar farms, including Goulburn River Solar Farm. Using its NX Earth Truss system, the project aims to simplify installation, reduce costs, and accelerate Australia’s push toward ultra low-cost solar and cleaner energy.

Now in its ninth year, the contest will pick three winners at the Trimble Dimensions conference in Las Vegas and a fourth company at a new European event.

Swinburne University researchers, led by Dr Mohamed Gomaa, are developing 3D printing technology using earth and plant fibres to build stronger, low-carbon homes. The system cuts costs and construction time by up to 60%, supports circular economy principles, and could provide affordable, sustainable housing for remote and disadvantaged Australian communities.

Paris-based Freeda, the startup that detects hidden errors in construction plans using artificial intelligence, has closed a €3.4 million funding round led by Frst with participation from Brick & Mortar Ventures.

🌱 Sustainability ​& Environment

The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) and the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) have joined forces to highlight the important role of refrigerants in reducing emissions and improving building performance, with the release of a new discussion paper, Freeze Frame: Refrigerants as long-term building infrastructure.

🌏 Around the World

Two 19th century railway tunnels in Germany are being enlarged and renovated with minimal disruption to services, thanks to an established construction method enabled by a newly-launched Herrenknecht system.

Gaza faces catastrophic devastation after two years of war, with over 90% of homes, most hospitals, schools, and utilities damaged. Reconstruction is estimated at $53–$70 billion, requiring local leadership, international funding, and political solutions. Experts warn rebuilding could take 10–15 years, with progress dependent on ceasefire and humanitarian access.

📖 Miscellaneous

A $27.4 million barge, jointly funded by the Federal and South Australian governments, has reopened transport across Cooper Creek after major flooding , until permanent road access is reinstated.. The state’s largest barge can carry fully loaded A-Double trucks, restoring vital livestock and goods routes for remote communities affected by widespread floods covering 32,000 square kilometres.

The AFP warns Australian construction businesses of rising Business Email Compromise (BEC) scams, where cybercriminals impersonate employees to redirect payments. High-value transactions, subcontracting chains, and limited cybersecurity make the sector vulnerable. Firms are urged to verify payment requests via trusted contacts, implement strong cyber practices, and report suspicious activity promptly.

Competency-led recruitment and modernised practices are essential to addressing construction’s skills crisis. The Construction Skills Mission Board aims to recruit 100,000 workers annually, but the sector may need closer to one million. Focusing on competencies, retention, diversity, career development, and cross-generational collaboration ensures a skilled, sustainable workforce by 2030 (UK based).

👷‍♀️ Tradies and Resource

It's the education trend that has more of our teens excited about learning a trade.  It also appears to be the type of jobs that AI won't replace anytime soon.  John King is the managing director for the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) and spoke to Brigitte Duclos on ABC Radio Melbourne Afternoons. 

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Alex

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