Intelligent transport systems and road safety outcomes
ITS Australia has emphasised members' roles in deploying intelligent transport technologies to reduce crashes, improve incident response and support safer network management during National Road Safety Week, and has called for continued industry–government collaboration.
AusRAIL 2026 to feature international rail leaders
Organisers have unveiled a refreshed two‑day format for AusRAIL 2026 and have confirmed international and local rail leaders, including LA Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins, as keynote speakers to improve delegate engagement and targeted industry collaboration.
Sponsors announced for 2026 Women in Industry Awards
The 2026 Women in Industry Awards, scheduled for 18 June in Sydney, have been supported by sponsors including Atlas Copco Group as Principal Partner, Australian Power Equipment (Platinum), Kenter and Grundfos (Gold), and the Australian Flexible Pavement Association.
Federal Budget allocates $12bn to transport projects
The federal government has announced more than $12 billion in 2026–27 transport and infrastructure investments to boost freight productivity, strengthen supply chains and fund major rail, road and local infrastructure upgrades.
Endeavour Awards 2026 supported by industry sponsors
Manufacturers’ Monthly has presented the 2026 Endeavour Awards, which have been supported by industry sponsors and a collaboration with Australian Manufacturing Week, and organisers have reported increased industry engagement and sold-out attendance in Brisbane.
Lease extension enables Bulwer Island fuel storage expansion
Queensland Government has extended bp’s Bulwer Island lease and has unlocked up to A$100 million to refurbish five idle tanks, with an option to refurbish five more, thereby increasing fuel storage capacity at the Port of Brisbane.
Clarence Town Bridge opens; Brig O'Johnston rehab begins
The first stage of the Clarence Town Bridge project has opened, restoring heavy vehicle access and reducing detour distances, while rehabilitation of the heritage-listed Brig O'Johnston Bridge has commenced, supported by a joint $22.8 million Federal and NSW government investment.
Transport leader receives John Shaw Medal
Gillian Miles has been named the 31st John Shaw Medal recipient and has urged greater female participation in transport; the gala has awarded three of four major industry prizes to women and has recognised technical and mentoring leadership.
Victorian budget funds road upgrades; industry warns on costs
The 2026-27 Victorian budget has allocated funding for road maintenance and priority freight projects, while industry groups have warned that elevated diesel and energy costs have continued to pressure freight and logistics operators' margins.
WA invests in prefabrication to increase housing capacity
The WA Government has committed $48 million to prefabrication facilities to expand local housing production and has provided incentives and utility support to two manufacturers to accelerate delivery of medium- and high-density projects.
Built and Wesfarmers form modular housing joint venture
Built and Wesfarmers have launched Built Living, an offsite manufacturing joint venture in Western Australia that has been established to scale modular apartment production, has aimed to reduce construction costs and has set initial output for 2028.
Beni Creek Rail Bridge to Reopen After Fire Damage
The Australian Rail Track Corporation has completed reconstruction of the Beni Creek rail bridge and has scheduled testing from 11 May, positioning a return of a direct freight route and upgraded capacity and reliability for regional producers and operators.
Hygienic-design enclosures deployed for tunnel cameras
Contractors have selected stainless-steel hygienic-design enclosures to support smart-camera installation in a tunnel and have demonstrated compliance with IP66/IP69K, corrosion resistance and modular delivery during a twelve-month live-environment programme.
Construction starts on Cobblebank stabling yard
Construction has started on a Cobblebank stabling yard as part of the $650 million Melton Line Upgrade, which has been funded jointly by the federal and state governments and has been designed to support nine-car trains and future electrification.
Melton Line electrification receives $152.7m funding
State and federal governments have committed $152.7m to the Melton Line electrification, have advanced planning, power-supply assessments and detailed design, and have positioned the project to enable nine-car trains and a 50% capacity increase by mid-2027.
Finalists named for 2026 Women in Industry Awards
The Women in Industry Awards has published its 2026 finalist list and has scheduled a gala dinner at Doltone House Darling Island Wharf, Sydney, on 18 June to facilitate networking among industry professionals, senior leaders and emerging talent.
Mackay Base Hospital helipad and carpark upgrades
Early enabling works at Mackay Base Hospital have been under way, with a temporary 80‑space carpark having been constructed and on‑site helipad refurbishment having been initiated; a hospital masterplan has been commissioned and has been scheduled for completion by mid‑2026.
Construction begins on Kings Meadows Renal Health Unit
Construction of the Renal Health Unit at Kings Meadows has commenced, supported by an A$10 million contribution and informed by stakeholder consultation; it has been planned to expand dialysis capacity from 15 to 18 bays.
Princes Highway safety upgrades near Conjola
Transport for NSW and the NSW Government have commenced safety upgrades on the Princes Highway between Conjola Creek and Lake Conjola Entrance Road, including a dedicated southbound right-turn lane, resurfacing and line marking, funded under a $60 million corridor programme.
Safety screens to be installed on Blue Mountains bridges
Transport for NSW has scheduled installation of safety screens on two Great Western Highway bridges in the Blue Mountains and has introduced traffic controls, including lane closures and reduced speed limits, to mitigate risks to pedestrians and motorists during works.
AtkinsRéalis to acquire WGA in ANZ engineering deal
AtkinsRéalis has agreed to acquire Wallbridge Gilbert Aztec, combining global engineering scale with Australia and New Zealand regional expertise to expand technical capability and pursue infrastructure and renewable energy programmes, subject to shareholder, court and regulatory approvals.
Kennards Hire expands earthmoving and compaction capacity
Kennards Hire has expanded its earthmoving and compaction offering, has established a dedicated business unit and has acquired Solution Plant Hire, and has added more than 200 machines to its fleet to support large-scale civil and infrastructure projects.
Haussman Drive duplication in $14 million upgrade
Authorities have announced a $14 million project to duplicate Haussman Drive and install a new roundabout, co-funded by federal, state and local governments to ease congestion and improve safety; further works have been proposed pending funding.
Mapei starts A$60m Truganina manufacturing plant
Mapei has commenced construction of an A$60m manufacturing facility in Truganina, Melbourne, to supply high-performance materials to Victorian infrastructure projects; commissioning, recruitment and training have been initiated ahead of a planned 2026 opening.
First Nations retailer to power SRL East tunnelling
Yuringa Energy has been contracted to supply 100 per cent renewable electricity to tunnel boring machines tunnelling the 10km northern section of Suburban Rail Loop East between Glen Waverley and Box Hill.
Mobility 2026 to address future transport
Registrations have opened for Mobility 2026, which has been scheduled for 27–28 May in Brisbane to convene government, industry and academia on connected, accessible and sustainable transport under the theme Powering Seamless Mobility.
Two bidders advance in Macquarie Point tender
Tasmanian authorities have advanced two bidders to the Request for Tender for the Macquarie Point stadium after bidders have confirmed capacity to deliver; the procurement has emphasised delivery approach, commercial terms and local industry participation.
Excavation begins for Suburban Rail Loop East TBM site
Excavation has begun at Clarinda for the Suburban Rail Loop East TBM launch site, supporting planned tunnelling and station works; construction has included low-carbon concrete pours and mobilisation of about 3,000 workers.
Weld Australia and ASSDA sign cooperation MoU
Weld Australia and the Australian Stainless Steel Development Association have signed a memorandum of understanding to formalise cooperation, expand reciprocal membership access to resources and training, and have aimed to strengthen local procurement, supply-chain resilience and sovereign manufacturing capability.
HIA congress to address housing delivery challenges
The Housing Industry Association has convened a national congress as the residential construction sector has faced rising costs, supply-chain strain and regulatory complexity, and has examined National Construction Code reform to support delivery of 1.2 million homes by 2029.
Federal approval for Geelong LNG terminal
Federal environmental approval has been granted for Viva Energy's proposed Geelong liquefied natural gas terminal, subject to conditions; independent studies have found impacts manageable and the project has been positioned to support Victoria and south‑east Australia’s gas security.
2026 Women in Industry Awards, Sydney
The Women in Industry Awards have been scheduled for 18 June in Sydney and have attracted sponsors and delegates, and organisers have set a 27 April date for announcing finalists.
Safety upgrades completed on Warrego and Carnarvon Highways
Authorities have completed three road safety projects on the Warrego and Carnarvon highways in south west Queensland, widening seven kilometres of carriageway, improving an intersection and delivering a shared walking and cycling path to enhance safety, reliability and freight access.
NSW offers A$1m for regional level crossing safety
New South Wales has opened applications for an A$1 million regional level crossing programme, which has targeted low‑cost safety upgrades and has followed a first‑year allocation of A$1.17 million to 21 projects across 81 crossings.
Victorian Government commits $7.5m to Sunshine Station
The Victorian Government has committed $7.5 million to the Sunshine Station Masterplan, which has focused on Clarke Street revitalisation and cultural precinct works and has formed part of a program already funded with $143 million.
Australian road construction resilient amid supply shocks
Australia's road construction sector has continued delivering major projects despite significant diesel and bitumen supply shocks, has identified vulnerabilities in fuel reserves and contract terms, and has called for national escalation frameworks and technical protocols to embed long-term resilience.
New tilt wagons to cut Sydney Trains trackwork disruption
The New South Wales Government has invested $15 million in six tilt wagons that have been commissioned to reduce Sydney Trains maintenance disruptions, have cut turnout installation time by five–seven hours and have supplemented an ageing two‑wagon fleet.
Procurement, governance block digital change in construction
Industry analysis has found that digital initiatives have faltered as procurement, commercial incentives and governance have remained misaligned with data‑driven decision‑making, impeding data flow, accountability and effective use of AI across construction projects.
A$107m allocated to 42 local road projects
A$107 million has been allocated to 42 road projects under the Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program, and more than A$91 million has been earmarked for regional upgrades across states and territories.
Southwest Metro enters final integration testing
Southwest Metro has entered its integration testing phase and has begun trialling trains, signalling, platform screen doors and gap fillers together; over 3,600km of loaded tests have been completed and more than 2,500 of 9,000 test hours have been logged.
ARA coordinates rail response to fuel supply disruption
The Australasian Railway Association has engaged with federal ministers, agencies and industry stakeholders to assess and coordinate rail responses to potential fuel supply disruptions, and has consulted members on operational impacts and capacity to provide additional freight services.
Ballarat Station overpass and accessibility upgrades
The Victorian Government has completed the Ballarat Station upgrade, opening a 28-metre overpass that has provided accessible inter-platform access, upgraded the northern entrance, and has incorporated heritage-informed design to improve accessibility and passenger circulation.
Bruce Highway safety upgrades: 22 contracts awarded
Federal and Queensland governments have released 22 contracts under the $9 billion Bruce Highway Targeted Safety Program, which has funded construction and design packages for centre-line treatments, pavement strengthening, bridge upgrades and other works between Gympie and Cairns.
Victoria develops MMC training to support housing delivery
Victoria has established a Centre of Excellence at Melbourne Polytechnic and has launched micro-credentials and a Certificate III to align vocational training with modern methods of construction to support housing delivery.
Design begins on Mary Gilmore Way level crossing upgrade
Design work has begun on an upgrade to the Mary Gilmore Way level crossing; interim safety measures have been implemented, and Transport for NSW and ARTC have jointly funded design, which has been scheduled for completion by end of 2025–26.
RSM Australia becomes platinum sponsor of Endeavour Awards
RSM Australia has joined the Endeavour Awards as a platinum sponsor and has promoted its advisory services to manufacturing firms, highlighting connections between supplier innovation, council infrastructure procurement and regional economic development.
Austrade outlines US$2.1bn Pacific infrastructure pipeline
Austrade has presented a consolidated US$2.1bn pipeline of 824 contracts across 14 Pacific countries, and has pre-launched a searchable platform; multilateral financiers have outlined procurement and resilience priorities.
Australian Constructors Association names Peter Colacino CEO
The Australian Constructors Association has appointed Peter Colacino as chief executive, effective 4 May 2026; Jon Davies has remained to support the transition until June, and Colacino has been reported to bring industry and policy experience.
Kennards Hire expands into specialist project solutions
Kennards Hire has expanded its offering with Specialist Solutions to provide expert-led equipment and services for complex infrastructure projects, after industry research has shown supplier fragmentation and limited access to specialist expertise have impeded delivery on many projects.