30/10/25

October 30, 2025

THE MORNING PAPER FOR CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS AND TRADIES

🚨 Safety Updates

An underground explosion at Polymetals’ Endeavor mine in Cobar, NSW, has killed two workers and injured another. Emergency services responded early on October 28. Investigations by police and the NSW Resources Regulator are ongoing. Polymetals and industry leaders stress continued support for employees and the paramount importance of mining safety.

✒ Headlines & Industry

Senator Tyron Whitten warns Labor’s close ties with the CFMEU are driving up construction costs. He cites union corruption, bullying, and misuse of funds, enabled by Labor’s dismantling of watchdogs. These inflated costs burden Australians via higher housing prices and infrastructure costs, undermining workers and the industry’s integrity.

The Queensland Government is repealing Labor’s information-sharing laws, arguing they risked CFMEU misuse and workplace intimidation. Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie says the changes protect businesses and workers, refocus the Regulator on safety, and reinforce zero tolerance for union bullying, restoring law and safety on construction sites.

Australia’s data centre boom is set to quadruple construction spend to ~$4 billion by 2027/28, concentrated in Sydney and Melbourne. Opportunities for contractors, electricians, and plumbers are growing, but challenges include energy and water constraints, contractor capacity, and competition for skilled trades. Efficient planning and government support will be critical.

The River Torrens to Darlington (T2D) Project has received its first Tunnel Boring Machine components in Adelaide. Three 100 m+ TBMs will start tunnelling in late 2026, and the public is invited to name them—a tradition honoring women for good luck. Submissions close 5 pm, 30 November 2025.

🏗️ Projects

NSW

Construction of the $1.4 billion Powerhouse Parramatta nears completion, with five of seven exhibition spaces finished. The museum, set to open in a year, has faced controversy since plans to close Ultimo and relocate west were announced, but recent images highlight the scale and progress of the Parramatta site.

Merivale’s concept plans for a $56.6 million adaptive reuse project in Sydney CBD have been approved, converting five heritage buildings into a 16,300 sqm hospitality precinct. Works include partial demolitions, heritage restoration, a 100-key hotel, bars, restaurants, and nightclubs, integrating the sites while addressing construction, waste, and heritage management.

A state significant development application has been lodged for a $2.2 billion masterplanned community featuring eight residential towers in Sydney’s Inner West. The proposal would deliver 1,336 new homes across towers ranging from six to 37 storeys on a 3.14-hectare site .

Community members are being invited to share their feedback on the preferred design for the proposed duplication of Thornton Road Bridge.

QLD

The Gold Coast will soon be home to the tallest tower in the Southern Hemisphere after an ambitious building project was given the green light. Construction is due to begin next year on the 101-storey One Park Lane tower.

SA

The 270 MW Carmody’s Hill wind farm in South Australia moves closer to financial close after securing grid connection approval. Owned by Aula Energy, the project will feature 42 turbines and an optional 118 MW battery, with construction expected to start in early 2026 following final investment decisions and connection agreements.

VIC

Victoria’s renewable and storage construction is accelerating, delivering 42.4 % renewable generation in 2024–25, ahead of its 40 % target. Key projects include Mortlake, Ryan Corner, Hawkesdale, and Golden Plains wind farms, large-scale solar sites, and major battery hubs. Multiple wind, solar, and storage projects are under construction or commissioning, supporting 2030–35 targets.

 

Infrastructure Victoria has built influence through independent, evidence-based advice, shaping Victoria’s long-term construction and infrastructure planning. Its strategies, research, and policy guidance drive practical, staged investment in transport, housing, schools, and maintenance. Collaboration, continuity, and credibility have made it a trusted authority, achieving high adoption of recommendations and shaping statewide infrastructure delivery.

WA

Perth Airport has started a major Terminal 2 expansion to nearly double capacity, supporting rising regional passenger demand (6 → 6.24 million). Upgrades include self-service check-in, expanded screening, departure lounge, baggage hall, and southern walkway. Hoskins Contracting manages construction in a live environment, ensuring minimal disruption while enhancing passenger experience.

CIMIC's infrastructure arm Pacific Partnerships' revised proposal for a six-storey development in South Hedland was unanimously approved by the Regional Development Assessment Panel today. The approved development comprises 1,311 rooms with 24 of them to be set aside as tourism accommodation.

NEPEAN Conveyors expands its construction support with NEPEAN Belting in Mackay, QLD, and Kelso, NSW. The new facilities enable end-to-end conveyor solutions—from design and installation to maintenance—enhancing regional capability, reducing downtime, and providing faster on-site technical support and inventory access for projects across the east coast.

🚀 Innovation, Digital & Futuristic Technology

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced up to $4.96 million in funding for Nextracker to deploy its proprietary solar construction and integrated tracker technologies across multiple solar farms, including the Goulburn River Solar Farm in New South Wales. Nextracker’s NX Earth Truss foundation technology will accelerate solar construction by installing foundations in a single pass, unlike traditional multi-step piling methods. This reduces labour, equipment, and build time, while enabling projects on challenging soils and terrain. ARENA funding supports rapid deployment, cost reduction, and faster, scalable large-scale solar project delivery.

Fortescue is enhancing construction efficiency at its Solomon iron ore site by deploying Epiroc’s teleremote-controlled CAT 350 excavators and D10T dozers. Operators manage multiple machines from an automation centre, reducing on-site downtime, improving productivity, and streamlining excavation, rock-breaking, and tray-cleaning tasks while integrating real-time data and control.

Bluebeam’s 2026 AEC report reveals AI adoption in construction is limited but growing. Early adopters save time (500–1,000 hours) and costs ($50k+), using AI for scheduling, planning, and document analysis. Firms increasingly invest in digital tools to boost productivity, address labor shortages, and improve collaboration across design, construction, and operations.

The construction industry faces a labor crisis, needing 439,000 new workers in 2025. Attracting and retaining Gen Z requires tech-forward workplaces. AI-powered jobsite intelligence improves safety, efficiency, and visibility, while signaling innovation. Advanced roles like drone operators and BIM technicians give purpose and career growth, making firms more appealing. Investing in AI solutions helps recruit and retain the next generation of construction talent.

🌱 Sustainability ​& Environment

Gayle Sloan urges Australia to harness the waste and resource recovery (WARR) sector to drive decarbonisation. By harmonising state policies, mandating recycled content, scaling organics diversion, and linking procurement to circularity, Australia can cut emissions, reduce virgin material use, and build a competitive circular economy, making WARR a frontline climate solution.

 

The Gold Coast’s $1.6 billion Advanced Resource Recovery Centre (ARRC) Precinct, starting construction in 2027, will include materials recovery, organics, waste-to-energy, innovation, and education facilities. Staged over the decade, it will create 2,000+ construction jobs, attract circular-economy industries, and deliver large-scale sustainable infrastructure for Southeast Queensland.

Rio Tinto is trialling eight 91-tonne battery swap electric haul trucks at Oyu Tolgoi, Mongolia, for tailings dam and topsoil construction. The rapid battery-swap system reduces downtime and boosts operational efficiency. This construction-focused deployment advances low-emission mining infrastructure while providing hands-on experience with innovative electric haulage technology.

Measuring embodied carbon in construction is critical for sustainable outcomes. The NABERS tool enables accurate, as-built assessment of material, transport, and on-site emissions, informing design and reducing inefficiencies. Early planning, verified data, and QS involvement ensure lower carbon, cost-effective builds while supporting ESG, Green Star ratings, and compliance.

 

Chinese researchers show that alkali-treated biochar can enhance cement’s CO₂ capture while improving strength. Using maize-straw biochar at 500 °C, a 1% replacement increases density and mechanical performance. This approach enables cost-effective carbon storage in construction materials, reducing cement’s environmental footprint and advancing sustainable, low-carbon building practices.

🌏 Around the World

Over 100 days since the UK’s 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy, mega and giga projects like Gatwick’s second runway face delivery challenges due to planning complexity, cost overruns, and optimism bias. Success relies on benchmarking, robust governance, transparent communication, and strengthening long-term workforce capacity, with lessons from Thames Tideway guiding future high-value infrastructure projects.

The Polish megaproject Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK) has launched a tender for the design and construction of a railway station, tunnel and platform hall underneath the country’s new international airport, now gearing up for construction west of Warsaw. The project involves building a 6km-long tunnel for railway lines that will connect with Warsaw to the east and Gdańsk, Katowice and Łódź to the west.

Starting April 2027, Hitachi Construction Machinery will rebrand as Landcros, reflecting its shift from equipment manufacturer to full solutions provider. Machines retain the signature “Reliable Orange,” dealer networks stay the same, and warranties continue. The Landcros brand emphasizes AI, robotics, sustainability, and digital integration to enhance jobsite efficiency and operator empowerment.

📖 Miscellaneous

Adelaide’s government proposes major CBD rezoning to lift building heights, allowing pre-approval for developments up to 20 storeys, six times current limits. The plan aims to boost apartments, ease housing shortages, and streamline approvals near the airport, while reshaping the city skyline and encouraging unprecedented urban growth.

Safwan Sobhan warns the global construction industry faces a severe skilled labor shortage, risking stalled infrastructure, unmet housing targets, and delayed net-zero goals. Governments must invest in vocational training, digital skills, and inclusive workforce strategies to future-proof the sector, ensuring sustainable development, economic growth, and a low-carbon built environment.

👷‍♀️ Tradies and Resource

WorldSkills Australia highlights regional competitions as vital for developing future skilled workers in construction, manufacturing, health, and technology. Competitors gain experience and recognition, while industry partners mentor, provide tools, and build a job-ready talent pipeline. Engagement ensures a skilled, resilient workforce and strengthens Australia’s future prosperity.

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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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