12/12/2025

December 12, 2025

The Daily Dirt Aus

By G’day Construction………….…… 

THE MORNING PAPER FOR CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS AND TRADIES

🚨 Safety Updates

NT WorkSafe urges construction companies to secure worksites ahead of school holidays to prevent children accessing dangerous areas. Measures include securing fencing, isolating power, protecting excavations, and preparing for cyclone weather. Proper site security protects people, reduces liability, and ensures regulatory compliance. Concerns can be reported to NT WorkSafe.

✒ Headlines & Industry

OpenAI and NEXTDC will invest $7 billion to expand Australia’s AI infrastructure with a next-gen data centre at Sydney’s S7 site. The project, aligned with the National AI Plan, will create thousands of jobs, feature sustainable energy systems, and support workforce training, startups, and local AI adoption initiatives.

 

The NSW government’s draft Sydney Plan outlines how the city will grow over 20 years, accommodating 1.2 million more people. Covering 33 LGAs, it focuses on connected centres, better-aligned infrastructure, mandatory affordable housing contributions, job growth, environmental protection, and transport-oriented development. Public consultation runs until February 2026.

🏗️ Projects

NSW

TBM Monica’s cutterhead has arrived at the Marica worksite, marking a major Snowy 2.0 milestone. The 207-tonne unit is part of the machine that will excavate the downstream end of the 9.9 m headrace tunnel linking Tantangara Reservoir to the underground power station. Assembly begins onsite ahead of commissioning in 2026.

UGL, part of CIMIC Group, will build Stage 3 of Neoen’s Western Downs 305 MW / 1,220 MWh battery in Queensland, installing 312 Tesla Megapack 2XL units and associated infrastructure. Combined with earlier stages, the project will deliver 845 MW / 2.3 GWh, boosting grid stability and supporting Australia’s renewable energy transition.

Transport for NSW has invited tenders for the concept design and environmental review of a new heavy vehicle rest area near Archbold and Old Wallgrove roads in Western Sydney. Strategically located along the M7 corridor, the $80 million project aims to provide safe, secure, and modern facilities, replacing informal sites like the Dustbowl.

QLD

Major construction tenders have been released to the market as the $41.7 million Isaac Resources Excellence Precinct (IREP) development moves into its next phase. With final designs completed and the site fully established, early works and major construction are expected to kick off in early 2026.

Stanwell and Quinbrook have signed a new MoU granting Stanwell exclusivity over the proposed GSDA Energy Hub Project. The partnership combines 1,080 MW of gas turbines with 780 MW of eight-hour EnerQB battery storage, creating a first-of-its-kind, long-duration, dispatchable energy system to support Queensland’s grid reliability and heavy industries.

Six Queensland councils have launched a $5.2 million sewer relining project across Wide Bay Burnett, upgrading ageing pipes in Bundaberg, Cherbourg, Fraser Coast, Gympie, North Burnett, and South Burnett. Led by Fraser Coast Regional Council and contracted to Interflow, the two-year program restores pipes from within, preventing leaks, blockages, and costly disruptions.

SA

Construction has commenced on Engie’s 200MW/400MWh Pelican Point BESS in South Australia, developed with Sungrow, Elecnor, and Electranet. The project integrates the upgraded gas plant with a grid-forming battery system, enhancing renewable integration, grid stability, and energy resilience. Operations are expected in H2 2027, powering over 29,400 homes.

VIC

A man has been charged after police swooped on a Port Melbourne business on Wednesday. On Thursday morning, police released a statement detailing how Taskforce Hawk, which is probing the construction industry, had arrested two people and charged one of them as part of an ongoing investigation.

Construction has begun on the $1.62 billion Beveridge Intermodal Precinct in Melbourne’s north, set to become Australia’s largest logistics hub. The project will shift freight from road to rail, cut 167,000 truck trips annually, reduce emissions, create thousands of jobs, and support double-stacked Inland Rail services by 2028.

WA

APA Group has unveiled plans for the Newman Renewable Energy Hub in the Pilbara after signing a land use agreement with Karlka Nyiyaparli traditional owners. The early-stage solar, wind and battery project forms part of APA’s $33 billion Pilbara decarbonisation push, adding to its growing 4 GW regional renewables pipeline.

🧰 Construction Au Other

Skyjack has launched the SJ28 TE+, a 28-metre, all-electric rough-terrain telescopic boom tailored for China and Southeast Asia. Offering zero emissions, lithium-ion batteries, four-wheel electric drive and low operating costs, it targets rental fleets needing high uptime, strong terrain performance and sustainable, reliable access equipment.

Industry broadly backed AEMO’s Draft 2026 ISP, supporting major new transmission, large-scale renewables and storage to replace coal and keep costs down. Networks, generators and project proponents welcomed clearer planning, reduced transmission length, and recognition of distribution networks, while stressing the need for faster delivery and strong community engagement.

Pacific Green has partnered with Re2 Capital to support 2 GWh of new battery storage across Australia’s National Electricity Market. The landmark offtake framework provides long-term revenue certainty for four projects, accelerates deployment, and strengthens Pacific Green’s 7 GWh national pipeline, advancing large-scale storage and grid stability amid rising renewable penetration.

Sequana Group has acquired WolfPeak, enhancing its national environmental and infrastructure advisory services. WolfPeak’s leadership remains, continuing expertise in approvals, impact assessment, and risk management across water, infrastructure, and government sectors. The merger expands Sequana’s regulatory, sustainability, and stakeholder capabilities, supporting major projects and national growth ambitions.

Symal Group has entered into a $28 million agreement to acquire the assets of Queensland-based civil contracting and haulage businesses Timms Group and L&D Contracting. Symal views the acquisition as positioning it to capitalise on the pre-Olympics infrastructure opportunities in the region. 

🚀 Innovation, Digital & Futuristic Technology

Sydney Metro West’s Westmead station set a Southern Hemisphere first with the largest cavern formwork system, aiding construction of 26 m-tall walls. In an 82-hour operation, crews positioned the 21 m-high structure and poured 1,941 tonnes of concrete. TBMs are being retrieved, with tunnels nearing breakthrough to Sydney’s CBD.

Bobyard, an AI platform automating construction takeoffs, raised $35 million in Series A funding led by 8VC. Using computer-vision models, it rapidly converts blueprints into accurate quantity data, cutting takeoff times by 65%. Initially for landscaping, Bobyard plans to expand into drywall, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and framing trades across the U.S.

AI is revolutionizing construction by automating repetitive, dangerous, and data-heavy tasks, freeing human workers for complex challenges. From narrow AI enhancing workflows to emerging Agentic AI capable of autonomous decision-making, technology improves efficiency, data interoperability, site safety, and design. Strategic adoption preserves human expertise while transforming productivity and the built environment.

🌱 Sustainability ​& Environment

Australia has launched the ARC Research Hub for Value-Added Processing of Underutilised Carbon Waste at Monash University, aiming to convert plastics, tyres, and organic residues into clean hydrogen, chemicals, and advanced carbon materials. Backed by $9.7 M in funding and industry partners, the initiative supports a circular economy and the nation’s 2030 waste-recovery targets.

 

🌏 Around the World

TRU Mix, part of Tru7 Group, has installed one of the UK’s first modular Liebherr Mobilmix concrete plants at Ipswich, expanding its operations. Featuring a 2.5 m³ twin-shaft mixer, four aggregate compartments, and two 100-tonne cement silos, the plant delivers high-quality, efficient concrete production, supporting the company’s rapid growth since 2020.

Mubadala and Aldar plan a $16.3bn expansion of Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi, adding 1.5 million m² of mixed-use space. The project will nearly double Grade A office space, deliver over 3,000 waterfront residences, hotels, retail, and infrastructure, enhancing connectivity and supporting ADGM’s growth. Construction starts 2026.

Construction has begun on the Mont Cenis Base Tunnel, a 57.5 km rail project under the Alps connecting Lyon, France, and Turin, Italy. Using tunnel boring machines and drill-and-blast techniques, the €25 bn project will cut travel times nearly in half, remove a million trucks from roads annually, and enhance freight and passenger rail capacity.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar plan a 785km high-speed electric railway connecting Riyadh and Doha, reducing travel from 6.5 hours to two hours at 300 km/h. Set to take six years, the project aims to serve 10 million passengers annually, generate $30.6 bn, create 30,000 jobs, and strengthen GCC connectivity.

📖 Miscellaneous

Getting inferencing infrastructure into orbit may soon be cheaper than building it down here Space startup Aetherflux says it plans to put its first data center satellite into orbit during the first quarter of 2027.

 

👷‍♀️ Tradies and Resource

Engineers Australia has announced that Dr Raj Aseervatham will conclude his term as National President and Board Chair on 31 December 2025, with long-serving Board member and industry leader Tom Goerke appointed to succeed him.

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