11/02/2026

February 11, 2026

The Daily Dirt Aus

By G’day Construction………….…… 

THE MORNING PAPER FOR CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS AND TRADIES

🚨 Safety Updates

A worker was injured in August 2025 while maintaining an aerobridge, after stored energy from a tensioned spring system suddenly released and struck the worker’s head. The incident highlights serious risks from stored energy during plant maintenance. Investigations are ongoing, with safety authorities urging stronger controls, training and isolation procedures.

Safe Work Australia has released independent Monash University research on secondary psychological injury during workers’ compensation claims. The study finds risk increases when injured workers face uncertainty, financial stress and poor communication. Clear processes, supportive interactions and consistent national approaches are recommended to reduce harm and improve recovery outcomes.

✒ Headlines & Industry

An inquiry into the CFMEU has heard Queensland Labor leaders ignored repeated industry warnings about the 2018 BPIC policy. Industry chiefs say the CFMEU drove the conditions, slashing productivity and inflating costs by billions. The inquiry continues, with a final report due in July after hearings in Brisbane this week.

Australia’s civil construction boom has peaked but stays strong, with $35.85 billion in heavy and civil engineering work for September 2025. Transport projects are slowing, while energy, water, and renewable infrastructure drive growth. Utilities and mining now lead activity, supported by government programs and a pipeline of large-scale electricity, storage, and water projects.

🏗️ Projects

NSW

NSW declares two pumped hydro projects worth $7B as Critical State Significant Infrastructure. Western Sydney (3.5B, 500,000 homes) and Yarrabin (3.6B, 600,000 homes) aim to support grid reliability, peak demand, and renewable integration. Projects remain in early planning, requiring environmental assessments, public consultation, and approvals before construction.

QLD

CPB Contractors and UGL are getting started on the design and construction of the major rail works package of the $5.75 billion Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail project following the award of the design and pre-construction contract in 2025.

TAS

Tasmania has opened the first construction tender phase for the Tarraleah Hydropower Redevelopment, seeking EPC contractors. The project will nearly double capacity from 90MW to 190MW, upgrade ageing assets, and improve efficiency. Market-led cost estimates will inform the final investment decision ahead of government approval.

VIC

The Australian Energy Regulator has approved $3.47 billion for Marinus Link Stage 1, a 750 MW subsea interconnector between Tasmania and Victoria. The decision ends a decade-long planning phase and clears the way for full construction, with costs recovered through future transmission charges from 2030.

Victoria has fast-tracked approvals for 700MW of battery storage through its Development Facilitation Program, clearing two major BESS projects in Heywood and Glenrowan. The projects will create hundreds of construction jobs, strengthen grid reliability, and connect to the NEM, supporting faster delivery of critical renewable energy infrastructure.

WA

WA’s Environmental Protection Authority has recommended approval of the $280 million Smiths Beach coastal tourism development, clearing a major planning hurdle. The project includes a hotel, holiday homes and civil works, with strict limits on footprint, building height and vegetation clearing. Final state government approvals, bushfire and traffic assessments remain outstanding.

InterContinental Energy has secured $21 million from ARENA to advance the Australian Renewable Energy Hub in northwest WA. The funding will support engineering and commercial work on the mega-project, which plans up to 26GW of wind and solar generation and large-scale green hydrogen, ammonia and green iron production in the Pilbara.

🧰 Construction Au Other

Using overseas workers can still trigger Australian employment law obligations if they work for an Australian employer or support local operations. Misclassifying offshore staff as contractors carries serious risk, as recent case law shows. Construction employers should carefully structure engagements to avoid backpay, unfair dismissal claims and penalties.

🚀 Innovation, Digital & Futuristic Technology

Australian energy tech company Neara raises $90M, reaching $1.1B valuation. Its AI-driven digital grid models uncover unused network capacity, accelerating renewable energy planning, data centre siting, and infrastructure development. The funds will expand products, engineering, and international operations across the US, Europe, and Australia, supporting faster, smarter grid management.

Singapore is trialling AI-enabled SafeSite VA CCTV at 14 construction sites, detecting unsafe practices like missing PPE, unsafe heights, or machinery hazards. Alerts reach supervisors via Telegram within 15 seconds, enabling rapid intervention, reducing review time, and fostering a safety culture. Trial runs until June before potential nationwide rollout.

Morphit technology converts 80% of construction waste into building materials without sorting, enabling fire-resistant, load-bearing blocks, panels, and walls. This reduces landfill, cuts raw material costs, and supports a circular construction economy, turning demolitions into reusable resources while lowering environmental impact and boosting sustainability in building projects.

🌱 Sustainability ​& Environment

Mordialloc level crossing removals adopt Purple CUBE hybrid generator, cutting diesel use 83%, emissions 70%, and costs. Partnering with Indigenous- and female-led Djookian, the system powers construction sustainably. Upgrades include McDonald and Station Street crossings, a new elevated Mordialloc Station, aiming for a fully level crossing-free Frankston Line by 2029.

Australia’s eco-friendly bricks market is booming, reaching USD 24 million in 2025 and projected to hit USD 42.6 million by 2034. Driven by sustainability regulations, material innovation, and consumer demand, builders are adopting fly ash, hempcrete, recycled plastics, and soil bricks for residential, commercial, and landscaping projects, supporting greener, low-carbon construction.

🌏 Around the World

The president for the Royal Institute of British Architects (Riba) has proposed building a futuristic, interconnected high-speed railway for the North, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland referred to as “The Loop”, akin Saudi Arabia’s The Line.

📖 Miscellaneous

University of Sydney researchers claim a breakthrough green hydrogen process using liquid gallium and sunlight to extract hydrogen from freshwater and seawater. The circular method avoids electrolysis, reuses gallium, and achieves 12.9% efficiency. Scientists say the approach could lower costs, reduce freshwater constraints, and support future mid-scale hydrogen production.

Australia’s 2025 water outlook shows national rainfall above average but southern regions dry, stressing storages, streamflow, and water quality. Hot, variable conditions amplified demand, evaporation, and maintenance challenges. Water businesses must treat demand management as capacity, invest in resilience for compounding hazards, and accelerate planning to respond to sharper regional extremes.

Thanks for reading,

If you have any comments or feedback, just respond to this email!

Alex

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