- G'day Construction Newsletter
- Posts
- 20/10/2025
20/10/2025
THE MORNING PAPER FOR CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS AND TRADIES
🚨 Safety Updates
A tradie has been killed after being impaled following a horror fall at a worksite on the NSW Central Coast. A police spokesperson said the 23-year-old man died in hospital after the incident on Thursday morning at East Gosford.
Burnout is costing Australia $39 billion annually, with 60% of workers affected. Sydney tradie Josh Thompson says long hours, physical strain, and a “toughen up” culture make construction workers especially vulnerable. He’s calling for stronger mental health support, more open conversations on-site, and employer action to protect worker wellbeing and safety.
Safe Work Australia’s 2025 report reveals 188 worker fatalities in 2024, with construction among six high-risk industries. Vehicle incidents and falls were leading causes. Mental health claims rose 14.7%, now 12% of serious injuries. During National Safe Work Month, industry leaders are urged to use data to improve workplace safety.
✒ Headlines & Industry
The Albanese Government has released the National Road Transport Technology Strategy to guide the safe adoption of connected and automated vehicle technologies. Backed by all states and territories, the strategy outlines regulatory roles, cyber safety measures, and infrastructure upgrades to ensure new transport tech improves safety, efficiency, and energy use nationwide.
In 2024, construction accounted for 12% of serious injury claims and faced high risks from vehicle incidents and machinery accidents. Despite a 24% fatality rate decline over 10 years, 188 workers died, mostly men aged 45+. Mental health claims surged 161%, highlighting urgent needs for better safety and support in construction.
Victoria’s Labour Hire Legislation Amendment Bill strengthens the Labour Hire Authority’s powers, updating fit-and-proper tests and criminalising threats against complainants. The reforms aim to curb unlawful conduct in construction, increase transparency, and implement Wilson Review recommendations to enhance worker protection and industry integrity.
ARENA has launched a second Hydrogen Headstart funding round, offering up to $2 billion to boost large-scale renewable hydrogen projects. The program aims to cut production costs, improve efficiency, and support end-use sectors like ammonia, steel, and transport, reinforcing Australia’s role in the global clean energy transition.
🏗️ Projects
NSW
The New South Wales government has granted planning approval to the 500 MWdc / 435 MW solar farm componant of Ark Energy's Richmond Valley hybrid project, which will be co-located with a 475 MW / 2,200 MWh battery energy storage system. The $1.2 billion (USD 780 million) solar farm and BESS hybrid is on the federal government’s national priority list, promises a capacity to power 175,000 homes and will be located in the Northern Rivers region, 255 kilometres south of Brisbane and 728 kilometres north of Sydney.
NT
Ministers at the Northern Australia Ministerial Forum discussed boosting housing, infrastructure, and construction across the region. Key topics included unlocking modern construction methods, fast-tracking affordable housing, and delivering resilient homes for First Nations communities. The Albanese Government’s investment aims to build stronger, climate-ready communities and drive growth in Northern Australia.
The Northern Territory government has abandoned its plans for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Gallery of Australia (ATSIAGA) in Mparntwe/Alice Springs after more than nine years of back of forth, citing a lack of commitment from the federal government.
QLD
Brisbane’s former VISY glass factory site will be transformed into a high-density riverfront precinct with over 4,000 apartments. Backed by the Queensland government and Brisbane City Council, construction could begin by March 2027. The 7.1ha site will feature mixed-use towers, public spaces, and riverfront amenities, with unlimited building heights approved.
A new development application has been lodged for a 34 storey residential tower, mixed-use podium and the restoration of the historic Broadway Hotel, located at 44 Balaclava Street and 93 Logan Road, Woolloongabba. Designed by Red Door Architecture, the proposal seeks to transform the half demolish building and semi-vacant site into a vibrant mixed-use precinct.
Punchs Creek Solar Farm, proposed by Skylab Australia near Toowoomba, QLD, will feature 1.7 million solar panels generating 800 MW, plus a 250 MW battery. Built in two stages, it connects to Powerlink’s transmission line and received EPBC approval in 2024 and a Capacity Investment Scheme agreement in 2025.
The CopperString 2032 project involves constructing 840 km of new electricity transmission lines from south of Townsville to Mount Isa, connecting Queensland’s North West Minerals Province to the National Electricity Market. Led by Queensland Investment Corporation, it includes 330 kV and 220 kV lines, substations, and workforce facilities, with $5 billion state funding.
TAS
Gamuda, in partnership with Tasmanian landowners and Alternate Path, is developing the Cellars Hill wind farm and Weasel solar farm in the state.
VIC
Nearly 1,000 homes will be built on Melbourne’s former Kingswood Golf Course, following approval of a staged development plan. Backed by community input, the project includes roads, parks, affordable housing, and tree preservation. Delivered by Satterley Property Group, it will feature a new community centre and 10 hectares of green space.
VicGrid revealed three consortia vying to build transmission lines linking Victoria’s offshore wind projects to the main grid, led by Spanish giants Iberdrola, Acciona, and Victoria-based AusNet. The winning bid, announced in 2026, will construct a 500 kV line from Giffard to Loy Yang, supporting 2 GW offshore by 2032.
WA
Power and communications infrastructure provider GenusPlus Group Ltd has been awarded three contracts for the construction of 220 kV transmission lines, design and construction of approximately 30 km of overhead power distribution infrastructure at Fortescue’s Christmas Creek mine site and the construction of fast charger and pit power facilities at Eliwana and Flying Fish.
Western Australia’s Environment Minister has asked the WA EPA to review the long-term sustainability of groundwater use in the West Pilbara amid concerns over declining aquifers and environmental impacts. The review will assess cumulative effects, involve Traditional Owners, and guide water management to balance environmental, cultural, and economic needs.
🚀 Innovation, Digital & Futuristic Technology
In recent years, Modular Building Solutions have emerged as a game-changing innovation in the construction industry, offering efficiency, sustainability, and affordability that traditional building methods struggle to match. By constructing sections—or modules—off-site and then assembling them on-site, this approach saves time, reduces waste, and delivers exceptional quality.
AI offers huge potential for infrastructure, sustainability, and climate solutions by speeding project delivery and cutting costs, embedding carbon tracking, and enhancing risk detection. Yet challenges remain around data integrity, legal ownership, and ethical use. Controlling this disruptive, powerful tool will be crucial for future success.
What if I told you that the future of sustainable construction might just come down to three simple ingredients: soil, water, and cardboard? It sounds almost too simple to be true, but researchers at RMIT University in Australia have just made it a reality with their breakthrough material called cardboard-confined rammed earth, or CCRE for short.
🌱 Sustainability & Environment
Australia’s first car park using 1,100 tonnes of incinerator bottom ash aggregate (IBAA) was built at Kwinana Energy Recovery facility near Perth. The project, led by Acciona and partners, showcases sustainable construction by repurposing waste, reducing landfill, and supporting circular economy principles under Western Australia’s Recovered Materials Framework.
Leading green building bodies, including GBCA, BRE, USGBC, ILFI, IWBI, and mindful MATERIALS, have partnered to harmonise sustainable building product assessments. The initiative aims to align standards, data, and metrics across major rating systems, simplifying sustainability reporting, reducing confusion, and accelerating global adoption of healthier, lower-impact building materials.
A study in npj Materials Sustainability highlights material passports (MPs) as vital for sustainable construction. MPs digitally track building materials, promoting reuse and reducing waste. Researchers propose eight strategies, including whole-building reuse, standardized databases, and supportive policies, to advance MPs, enabling a circular economy and lowering construction’s carbon footprint.
🌏 Around the World
Work has begun on Isola Della Musica, a “floating” opera house on Hanoi’s West Lake by Renzo Piano and PTW Architects. Featuring a ribbed concrete shell with pixelated ceramic tiles, it includes an 1,800-seat opera hall, 1,000-seat convention center, and museum, set to open in 2027.
After a record-breaking 2024 North American construction has faced a more challenging 2025 with rising tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and budgetary uncertainties slowing growth. South America has also had a challenging year with mixed economic signals and geopolitical shocks. Cranes Today reports.
Saudi Arabia’s $7bn Landbridge railway is now under construction, creating a 1,400km east–west freight and passenger corridor. Linking Jeddah to Dammam, it connects key ports and industrial hubs, aims to cut $4.2bn in transport costs annually, generate 200,000 jobs, and enhance logistics through Saudi-Chinese collaboration under Vision 2030.
📖 Miscellaneous
Hyperscale datacenters stateside will consume 22 percent more grid power by the end of 2025 than a year ago, and are forecast to need nearly three times as much electricity by the end of the decade.
Australia’s vast renewable resources and strategic location position it as a global leader in green hydrogen exports. Despite current investment challenges and technological hurdles, ongoing innovations and government support highlight strong growth potential, with nearly 100 projects proposed and a forecasted $18.7 billion investment over 15 years.
The Australian Logistics Council has lodged a submission in response to the Australian Government’s consultation on the proposed design of the Net Zero Fund. The submission sets out how the Fund can most effectively support the decarbonisation of Australia’s freight and logistics sector by addressing high capital costs, long project lead times, and infrastructure and regulatory barriers.
If you’ve ever argued about whether to bring a supply in overhead or underground, you’ll know it isn’t just a technical preference. It’s planning approvals, safety, meter location, timelines, and who’s actually responsible for what. Here’s the thing, the rules aren’t the same everywhere, but there is a shared core.
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 and get a chance to win $20 amazon voucher ! 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.