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- 05/02/2026
05/02/2026
The Daily Dirt Aus
By Gāday Constructionā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦.ā¦ā¦
THE MORNING PAPER FOR CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS AND TRADIES
šØ Safety Updates
Safe Work Australia has released an interactive guide to help manage ground condition risks when using mobile plant. It provides practical WHS guidance, scenario-based modules and tools to identify hazards, assess and control risks, and determine when expert advice is needed for safe operation.
More than a tonne of scaffolding fell over 20 storeys at a Macquarie Park construction site, narrowly missing workers who jumped clear. The area was secured and crane work halted. SafeWork NSW is investigating whether human error or mechanical failure caused the incident, while the developer says a full safety investigation is underway.
Construction was Victoriaās most fined industry in 2025, with WorkSafe issuing over $17 million in penalties, including a record $3 million workplace manslaughter fine. Falls from height, unguarded machinery, and mobile plant breaches were most common. WorkSafe emphasizes stricter enforcement and stronger penalties to prevent fatalities and life-changing injuries.
ā Headlines & Industry
Unions are urging a national safety standard allowing tradies to stop work during extreme heat, citing rising heatwaves and health risks. The ACTU backs automatic stoppages, with CFMEU proposing thresholds. Builders prefer flexible controls like shade and breaks. Current laws treat heat as a general risk under workplace safety rules.
Queenslandās government rejected fears of budget blowouts for Brisbane 2032, insisting taxpayers wonāt pay more despite organisers revising the original $4.9b Games budget. Chair Andrew Liveris said decentralised venues make costs inevitable, while experts warn overruns are common for Olympics, even as leaders promise sponsorship will offset expenses eventually nationwide.
The Australasian Railway Association recommends that federal rail funding align with integrated transport planning, support interoperability and digital upgrades, and be conditional on independently assessed business cases. It urges a multi-year national rail pipeline, bipartisan backing, whole-of-life value focus, and transparent oversight to improve delivery, reduce costs, and enhance network resilience.
šļø Projects
NSW
A $449 million mixed-use project at 135 Badgerys Creek Road, Bradfield, proposes 402 apartments, 445 hotel rooms, and 30,000 mĀ² of commercial space, plus childcare, gym, and medical facilities. Staged delivery prioritizes early activation near the future Bradfield Metro Station, with supporting interim infrastructure, retail, and public plaza, aligning with Western Sydney Aerotropolis growth plans.
EnergyCo seeks federal approval for a 6GW, 315km New England REZ transmission backbone in NSW, connecting five energy hubs to the National Electricity Market. Construction, starting in 2027, will include high-voltage lines, substations, access roads, laydown areas, and workforce camps, supporting Australiaās renewable transition while addressing environmental and community impacts.
QLD
Samsung C&T, DGA Energy Solutions, and Lion Energy are advancing a green hydrogen hub at Australiaās Port of Brisbane, featuring renewable-powered electrolysers producing ~3,000 tonnes annually. The partnership combines international engineering, finance, and renewable expertise, with pre-construction funding of A$3.7 million and planned debt financing of A$6.3 million to support construction.
SA
Public consultation opens on ElectraNetās Northern Transmission Project (Stage 1b) in South Australia. The $29.5 million early works plan covers land acquisition, environmental approvals, and stakeholder engagement, preparing for high-capacity transmission lines connecting Bundey to Adelaide and Whyalla. The upgrade will support renewable energy growth, industrial demand, and future grid resilience.
A $801.5 million federalāstate investment in South Australia will fast-track water infrastructure, unlocking 17,000 new homes, including 4,000 in Adelaideās northern suburbs. The $300 million allocation covers stormwater and sewer systems, removing key development barriers, accelerating construction from 2026ā27, and supporting sustainable urban growth across metropolitan and regional areas.
VIC
Federal and Victorian Labor governments are investing $9.26 million to upgrade Moe-Glengarry Road and Main-Neerim Road in Gippsland. Works include shoulder sealing, barriers, line marking, signage and speed reductions to improve safety, reduce crash risks and support local communities, industry and tourism.
Parliament passed major planning reforms to boost housing supply, with Labor accusing Liberal MP Jess Wilson of blocking changes. The Allan Government says the overhaul will cut red tape, fast-track developments, and deliver more homes for young people and workers, contrasting this with Liberal opposition and NIMBY-style resistance.
The proposed 1 GW Blue Mackerel Offshore Wind Project located in waters off the coast of Gippsland, Victoria, has been referred for federal environmental assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
WA
Intercontinental Energy secures $21 million federal funding to advance its 26 GW Pilbara Renewable Energy Hub in WA, combining solar, wind, and green hydrogen production. Construction planning, engineering, and environmental studies will support industrial integration, green hydrogen output of 1.6 million tonnes annually, and development of Pilbara as a global green iron hub.
WA Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn approved a $138 million luxury resort in Gnarabup, South West WA, including a 121-room hotel, 51 houses, and a cafĆ© across 8+ hectares. Approval includes environmental safeguards for Aboriginal heritage and western ringtail possums, with āfauna spottersā required during construction to mitigate wildlife impacts.
š§° Construction Au Other
Samantha Grant, awarded the $30,000 2026 NAWIC Bright Ideas Individual Grant, is launching Crib Shift: Building a Better Way Back. This innovative program supports women in construction through parental leave and return-to-work pathways, offering peer networks, employer guidance, and family-inclusive resources, creating a workforce where women can thrive sustainably and confidently.
Timco Transmission Lines has fully merged into Elecnor Australia, consolidating local transmission construction expertise. The combined team, active on projects like Project EnergyConnect, strengthens Elecnorās capabilities in line construction, energisation, and commissioning, positioning the company to meet growing demand for high-voltage grid infrastructure supporting Australiaās renewable energy transition.
The WA Supreme Court clarified that adjudications under the Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2021 can be partially or fully set aside if a jurisdictional error occurs. Errors include failing to consider payment schedules or set-offs. Clear documentation and plain language in claims are crucial for compliance.
š Innovation, Digital & Futuristic Technology
Modern restumping has shifted from guesswork to precision engineering. IoT sensors, LiDAR mapping, and synchronized hydraulic jacks enable predictive maintenance, millimeter-level accuracy, and safe lifting. Adjustable steel and low-carbon concrete reduce labor, environmental impact, and risk. Certified digital reports protect property value, making foundation repair faster, safer, and fully documented for homeowners.
Cornell researchers, led by Sriramya Nair, are developing underwater 3D concrete printing using primarily seafloor sediment to minimize cement and transport needs. Supported by a $1.4 million DARPA grant, the team tackles washout and visibility challenges, with lab tests using industrial robots and a March 2026 underwater arch printing demonstration planned.
š± Sustainability ā& Environment
Supplementary Cementitious Materials: Performance-Driven Alternatives to Traditional Portland Cement
Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) cut concreteās carbon footprint while improving durability, workability, and long-term performance. Materials like fly ash, slag, silica fume, and calcined clays enhance microstructure, strength, and service life. Performance-based mix design is key to maximising benefits and supporting construction decarbonisation.
Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) in Australia are shifting toward design-led, offsite, and prefabricated building, driven by policy reforms, financing improvements, and sustainability goals. Modular, volumetric, and kit-of-parts approaches accelerate delivery, reduce site disruption, and enable mass customisation, while creating hybrid-skilled workers and supporting net-zero targets across residential, education, and healthcare projects.
š Around the World
Amazon Web Servicesā European datacentre expansion is stalling as grid connection delays stretch up to seven years. Aging power infrastructure, AI-driven electricity demand, and slow permitting have forced AWS to rethink projects, pushing cloud giants toward alternative energy sources like nuclear while utilities struggle to keep pace with growth.
US construction spending is forecast to decline 1.3% in 2025, with federal projects rising 6.6% and state/local projects up 2.6%. Non-residential infrastructure grows 2.6%, while residential and non-residential building contract. Cost pressures ease slightly, with construction price deflator up 0.7%, supporting stronger growth expected from 2026.
š Miscellaneous
Australiaās most iconic hardware store is making a monumental leap from hammers and nails to helping build entire homes, as it throws its weight behind a burgeoning solution to the nationās housing affordability crisis. Bunnings Warehouse has partnered with an innovative Aussie start-up to offer compact, modular pod houses designed for backyards, many of which cleverly bypass the need for traditional building permits.
š·āāļø Tradies and Resource
After Zach Smith resigned as CFMEU national secretary, Labor-appointed administrator Mark Irving installed ACTU official Emma Kingdon to run the unionās construction division. Critics argue administration undermines union democracy, purges militants, serves Labor and employers, and must be actively resisted by rank-and-file members rather than trusted to reform itself internally.
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Alex
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