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- 09/02/2026
09/02/2026
The Daily Dirt Aus
By Gāday Constructionā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦.ā¦ā¦
THE MORNING PAPER FOR CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS AND TRADIES
šØ Safety Updates
Operations at Newmontās Tanami gold mine remain suspended after a 47-year-old worker died on February 4, possibly due to a winch failure. NT authorities and coronial investigators are examining the incident. Newmont activated emergency procedures, reaffirmed safety as its priority, and pledged full support while extending condolences to the workerās family.
ā Headlines & Industry
Currie & Brown forecasts 5ā8% construction cost rises in Australia in 2026, with Sydney and Melbourne seeing lower increases as infrastructure spend eases. Brisbane faces higher pressure from education, health, and Olympics projects. Labour scarcity, interest rates, and supply chain uncertainty drive costs, while cautious investment reflects commodity price and tariff risks.
Global construction giant Bouygues is extending its $1.67 billion Australian procurement model to the UK, starting with Rosedale College and West Park projects. Partnering with ProcurePro, Bouygues aims to digitise procurement, streamline supply chains, improve cost control, reduce delays, and enhance collaboration, building on proven efficiency from its Australian operations.
Master Builders Australia urges the Federal Government to fast-track construction productivity reforms. ABS data shows the sectorās productivity has fallen seven years consecutively, now 21.5% below 2015 levels. MBA calls for red tape reduction, modernised building codes, and incentives for innovation, digital adoption, and supply chain efficiency to lower housing costs and speed delivery.
šļø Projects
NSW
NSWās Transport Oriented Development program will deliver 31,000 new homes across St Marys, Belmore, Lakemba, and Croydon. Rezoning allows taller, mixed-use buildings near transport hubs, alongside community facilities, parks, and open space. Councils collaborated on masterplans, creating vibrant, higher-density neighbourhoods while protecting heritage and improving public amenity.
The Albanese Government is investing $45 million in 16 NSW road projects under the Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program. Key projects include Grawin Creek Bridge near Collarenebri, Cookamidgera Road sealing, and Clarence Way upgrades. Funding improves safety, resilience, and freight access while supporting regional councils and communities.
Mirvac has secured NSW approval for its $282 million Elizabeth Enterprise Precinct in the Western Sydney Aerotropolis, delivering 139,855 mĀ² of industrial and logistics floorspace near the airport. Stage 1A includes two buildings, roads, stormwater works, and landscaping. The project will create 309 construction jobs and over 1,000 ongoing operational roles.
Octopus Australia is set to build the nationās largest battery project, the 1.2 GW/4.8 GWh Hanworth BESS in NSW, plus the Dunmore solar-battery project in Queensland. These assets will store and deliver renewable power to hundreds of thousands of homes, supporting coal replacement, grid stability, and firm, reliable clean energy across Australia.
QLD
The Albanese Government is investing $14.8 million in five regional Queensland road projects under the Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program. Key upgrades include Townsvilleās Lansdown precinct, Mareebaās Fassio Road, Gatton industrial roads, and Rockhamptonās Glenmore Road pathway, improving safety, transport access, and supporting local communities and agricultural productivity
A new construction project at 72 Blackmore Street and 5 Lane Street, Windsor, Queensland, proposes a two-level plus rooftop mixed-use precinct. The build includes community spaces, indoor recreation, food and beverage tenancies, upgraded pedestrian connections, landscaping, and 42 car parking spaces, aiming to activate underutilised land and improve local infrastructure.
The Queensland Government has officially appointed ACCIONA Construction Australia to deliver the major rail works package for the Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail (LGCFR) project. This contract award serves as the starting gun for the heavy civil engineering phase of a massive AUD 5.75 billion infrastructure overhaul designed to double the rail capacity.
SA
The Albanese Government is investing $6.8 million in two South Australian road projects under the Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program. Funding upgrades Heinrich and Drogemuller Roads in Loxton Waikerie and reconstructs Norman Road in Aldinga Beach, improving safety, resilience, heavy vehicle access, and local productivity for regional communities.
TAS
Consultation is now open for Hobartās Northern Access Road in Tasmania. The planned road is expected to act as a key infrastructure corridor which will support future transport connectivity to the Macquarie Point Development Precinct once constructed.
VIC
Casey Hospitalās emergency department is set for a $280 million expansion, treating 52,000 more patients annually. The project, delivered by Icon and the Victorian Health Building Authority, will add paediatric zones, resuscitation bays, short-stay beds, and mental health spaces, while creating over 1,000 construction jobs and improving patient flow.
The Albanese Government is investing $4.4 million in Victorian road upgrades through the Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program. Projects include the Broadway Bridge in Elwood, Stewart Road Bridge in Kernot, and James Creek Bridge replacement. Funding improves safety, resilience, and access, supporting local councils and regional communities.
Victoria has fast-tracked over $9 billion in renewable projects since 2024, using the Development Facilitation Program to speed approvals. The initiatives include wind, solar, and battery storage powering hundreds of thousands of homes. VicGrid has paused consultation on fire-affected areas, while the state exceeds its 2025 renewable energy target of 40%.
Benalla Rural City Council has awarded Stage 1 of the Benalla Art Gallery redevelopment to Midson Construction (Vic) Pty Ltd. The project will modernise the facility, improve accessibility, and enhance visitor experience, while maintaining heritage features. Construction will proceed with gallery programs operating from a temporary pop-up location.
WA
The Albanese Government is investing $14.7 million in four Western Australian road projects under the Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program. Key upgrades include Mulligans Lagoon and Weaber Plain intersection, Merivale Road, Neaves Road, and Winjardie Road, improving safety, heavy vehicle access, and resilience for regional communities.
Spanish energy giant Iberdrola has completed its 65 MW, 140 MWh Smithfield battery in western Sydney ahead of schedule and secured a contract for the 100 MW, 1080 MWh Kingswood battery near Tamworth. Both projects will enhance renewable integration, grid flexibility, and energy security, supplying tens of thousands of homes and supporting Australiaās clean energy transition.
š§° Construction Au Other
Victoria launches the Construction Complaints Referral Service (CCRS) for reporting misconduct and corruption on government construction projects. Managed by Workplace Inspectorate Victoria, the service responds to findings from the 2024 Wilson Review, ensuring industry accountability and protecting workersā safety, with secure reporting for unions, contractors, and the public.
š Innovation, Digital & Futuristic Technology
Autodesk has invested Ā£2 million in UK construction tech startup Qflow, co-founded by Brittany Harris and Jade Cohen. The platform uses real-time data and AI to track materials, reduce rework, cut emissions, and improve project efficiency. Funding will accelerate product development and expand Qflowās presence in the UK and North America.
Construction is cautiously embracing AI, with potential to boost efficiency, safety, and risk management. UK initiatives, like CIOBās AI Playbook and Skills England reports, highlight technical, non-technical, and ethical competencies. Firms such as Bovis, Ridge, and Stace integrate AI in design, surveying, and cost management, combining human expertise with AI for smarter, safer projects.
š± Sustainability ā& Environment
Nearly $10 million will be invested through the Greening Our City grants program to support tree planting and understorey vegetation across Greater Sydney, the Illawarra-Shoalhaven, Hunter and Central Coast regions.
The UK construction industry can reduce embodied carbon using existing tools and standards, but progress is hindered by policy gaps, inconsistent regulations, and economic misalignment. The Embodied Carbon Summit 2025 report calls for coordinated national action, consistent methodologies, shared data infrastructure, and phased regulation to scale industry-wide carbon reduction effectively.
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Alex
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