Construction News

Australia

• 'Bright future' for 120,000 people moving to Gold Coast this decade, but where will they live?
  Beyond its idyllic beaches and perfect weather, there’s a $20 billion reason why 120,000 people are expected to move to the Gold Coast by 2032. But that migration presents some big problems for the ci…
• Puzzle stacker gives luxury car owners a place to put their 'toys' on the Sunshine Coast
  In what is believed to be the first of its kind in Australia, a five-storey luxury car stacker is being built on the Sunshine Coast that will house 31 vehicles in an ever-changing arrangement.
• Emails reveal firefighters raising safety concerns about AFL stadium in Darwin
  Leaked emails show firefighters expressed concerns about a potential “catastrophic” safety risk at Marrara Oval ahead of Saturday’s AFL game in Darwin.
• More road closures planned as new stage of Queen's Wharf gets underway
  More road closures are planned for late July as a new stage of the $3.6 billion Queen’s Wharf development gets underway in Brisbane’s CBD.
• SA government asks consumer watchdog to investigate price gouging in construction industry
  The state government says soaring building costs are impacting housing affordability.
• China's third largest developer just defaulted — and the worst may be yet to come
  China’s third-largest developer, Sunac, is the latest to default on some of its bonds, despite a “relatively healthy” financial situation and a chairman who has previously been willing to repay debts …
• Businesses aren't going broke. Experts are worried it will create a bigger problem
  As the pandemic roared in during early 2020, rapid and astonishing shifts were made to prop up an economy sledgehammered by lockdowns, restrictions and fear.
• Waterfront house in Howrah breaks Tasmanian real estate records
  A waterfront estate on Hobart’s eastern shore sells for $8.533 million, breaking the real estate record for a suburban house in Tasmania.
• New builders take over luxury Brisbane CBD tower dogged by Probuild collapse
  Hutchinson Builders are appointed to finish constructing a luxury apartment tower in Brisbane’s CBD that has been plagued by delays as apartment owners grow increasingly frustrated.
• This Perth family signed a contract to build their dream home 75 weeks ago. They are still waiting to move in
  The Kirtisingham family expect to wait another year before they can move into their home as the building industry struggles to keep up with demand created by stimulus grant payments, which experts say…
• What's a 'green ban', and why could it halt redevelopment of this historic Melbourne pub?
  Victorian unions say they won’t work on any project at the Curtin Hotel that doesn’t respect the hotel’s history in a throwback to the 1970s “green bans” that halted dozens of projects.
• Housing 'insanity' has the construction industry thinking outside the box
  Property analysts say the property market is not slowing down, but one entrepreneur says demountable donga-like houses could be the answer to the housing woes.
• Flood reconstruction body will have power to acquire or subdivide land and fast-track planning
  Flood-affected residents in the Northern Rivers region are urged to be patient as the newly formed reconstruction corporation works out the best-long term solution to rebuild Lismore and surrounding c…
• Renovation blowout: We spent a record $12b doing up our homes during the pandemic
  The repeated pandemic lockdowns and closed borders meant Australians stayed close to home in 2021 — making it the biggest year for renovations in history. But at what cost?
• Contracted first home buyers fear Queensland sunset clause will throw them back to square one
  A first home buyer who signed an off-the-plan contract 14 months ago is among those at the mercy of a sunset clause enabling developers to cancel contracts, potentially throwing her back to square one…
• 'I'm sorry, I'm busy': Atul still can't find tradies two months after the floods
  Experts in the building industry cast doubt over the government’s scheme to lure interstate tradespeople to Queensland so they can help rebuild flood-ravaged homes.
• 'Elderly folk living in tin sheds': Why Mallacoota is a microcosm of the nation's housing crisis
  Slow local government planning approval processes, rising property prices and a lack of affordable rentals are causing immense economic and social consequences for the isolated Victorian coastal town….
• 'Nervous' Gold Coast construction industry faces 'perfect storm'
  Supply chain issues, labour shortages and the increased cost of building materials look set to add further pressure to already-rising property prices, but the industry still has confidence in the Gold…
• New data shows how popular this Gold Coast suburb is, but can infrastructure keep up?
  Pimpama on the northern Gold Coast had the largest population growth rate of all regional areas in the country during the past financial year. At a rate of almost 13 per cent, locals and councillors a…
• Evergrande says it is on track to restructuring after shares suspended and billions seized by banks
  It is a chaotic week for the world’s most indebted property developer, with about $2.8 billion seized by banks and shares suspended from trading.
• Condev creditors may wait years for money, liquidator warns
  The liquidator appointed to collapsed Gold Coast company Condev Construction believes it could take years before creditors linked to the company’s 13 building projects are paid.
• Unions angry at court ruling that restricts use of iconic Eureka flag
  The federal construction watchdog says it will monitor compliance with the Commonwealth building code that doesn’t allow certain companies to fly an iconic Australian symbol.
• 'Just the Aussie thing to do': Three tradies on a mission to help flood-affected NSW
  Local tradies volunteering with NSW flood recovery efforts say they cannot believe the extent of damage.
• Investigation after images of Sydney home altered to include 'expansion joints' that were never there
  NSW Fair Trading investigates allegations a prominent builder photoshopped images of a Sydney family’s dream home to include a crucial structural aspect that was, in fact, not there.
• Northern Rivers rebuild too big a task for local businesses, builder says
  The Northern Rivers construction industry has been “crushed” by the impact of floods and will need help to rebuild the region, a local builder says.

Middle East

• KBR submits lowest bid for Kuwait oil projects
  Project management consultant contract award has been repeatedly delayed
• Seven extends Riyadh project deadline
  Bidders have been given additional time to complete submissions
• SOM wins Jeddah design work
  US-based architect will design the marine conservation centre at the Jeddah Central Project
• Read the July 2022 MEED Business Review
  Region turns to untapped mineral wealth; Levant risk rises as economic and political stability wavers; Property price growth fuels project activity in Gulf real estate sector
• Masdar City awards MC2 contracts
  Two consultants and a contractor have been picked for the seven-building project
• Al-Akaria inks Sedra plot deal with Roshn
  The developer has signed an agreement for plot packages K1 and K2 of the Riyadh community
• Medina mall bidders get more time
  Contractors have been given additional time to bid for the estimated $240m package
• Gulf real estate renews project activity
  Post-pandemic recovery and governments’ home ownership targets are helping to drive regional real estate trends
• Saudi Arabia real estate in numbers
• UAE real estate in numbers