Tocal Road at Bolwarra Heights, a suburb of Maitland, will be widened and realigned in a $1.9 million upgrade announced by the NSW government.
Jointly funded by the NSW government’s Restart NSW Fixing Country Roads Program and Maitland City Council, work will occur between Maitland Vale Road and Lang Drive and include new drainage and pavement reconstruction.
The Restart Program is focused on providing targeted infrastructure spending for regional freight projects.
The project will involve resurfacing and widening two sections of Tocal Road to have wider 3.5m travel lanes in each direction, with a section of the road to be realigned to improve sight distance and safety.
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The project will be delivered by Maitland City Council, with the council contributing $997,800 to the project and the NSW government contributing $915,000.
“It’s fantastic to see this project starting construction,” NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads and Member for Maitland, Jenny Aitchison says.
“Upgrading Tocal Road will improve the connectivity and safety for journeys between regional centres of Maitland and Dungog, especially for heavy vehicles.
“The Maitland area services a variety of industries from agriculture, tourism, mining, manufacturing, transport and construction, which will benefit from this upgrade.”
Thousands travelled from across Australia to attend this year’s Diesel Dirt & Turf Expo (DDT) at Sydney Dragway from April 12-14.
The country’s largest construction expo was held over three days and, with over 150 exhibitors in attendance, the Earthmovers & Excavators team was on site to check out the latest and greatest equipment available for the earthmoving industry.
Here are some of the highlights from DDT 2024:
Komatsu PC210LCE. Image: Prime Creative Media
Komatsu
DDT Gold Sponsor Komatsu had one of the largest displays of machinery and technology at the event.
Two of Komatsu’s electric prototype excavators were at its 1,400 square metre site, with both pieces of machinery on display for the first time in Australia.
Providing quieter operation than diesel machines, the PC210LCE-11 hydraulic electric excavator and the PC33E-6 electric mini excavator are suited for indoor sites and congested residential and commercial areas.
Komatsu says both excavators are battery-powered and deliver zero emissions without comprising on productivity or comfort.
The PC33E-6 has a 17.4kW electric motor and an operating weight of three tonnes.
Volvo ECR25 electric mini excavator. Image: Prime Creative Media
CJD Equipment
Continuing the theme of electric excavators, the Australian distributor of Volvo and SDLG – CJD Equipment – unveiled a brand-new Volvo ECR25 electric mini excavator.
CJD says the ECR25 provides the same performance as its diesel equivalent but releases zero emissions.
It has a two to four-hour run time depending on the application and provides quiet operation, which is beneficial to indoor sites and residential areas.
Capable of being charged to 80 per cent in less than an hour, the ECR25 can easily be recharged during lunch breaks.
Huski 4SDK4 skid steer. Image: Prime Creative Media
Toyota Material Handling Australia (TMHA)
Displaying a variety of machines from Huski Construction Equipment, TMHA highlighted two key models of its Huski skid steer range, the 4SDK4 and 5SDK5.
Standard features on the skid steer range include its high lift capacity, load handling pedal control, a multiple safety interlock system, a shock reducing bucket feature and low vibration control levers.
The compact-sized 4SDK4 is the smallest skid steer in the Huski range with a height of 1.8m and a width of 900mm, making it easily transportable on a trailer.
The 5SDK5 is capable of lifting loads of 430kg and is the largest skid steer in the range that can be transported within a 3.5-tonne towing capacity, which means it is still able to be carried on a trailer.
Slightly larger than its 4SDK4 counterpart, TMHA says the 5SDK5 skid steer can also be used in tight access spaces and stored in garages as the machine is only 1.25m wide and 1.86m tall.
HMK600MG Hidromek grader. Image: Prime Creative Media
Onetrak
An official dealer of Hidromek, Striker, Dressta, Tigercat, Hyundai and Anaconda machinery in Australia, Onetrak used DDT to showcase its popular HMK600MG Hidromek grader.
With an 18,000kg operating weight, this grader is the largest model in Onetrak’s grader range.
It comes standard with a 3,710mm blade and a blade turning angle of 360 degrees, whilst producing 214 to 242 horsepower (160 to 180kW) with its Mercedes-Benz engine.
The HMK600MG can be used in many applications ranging from levelling and digging to trenching and snow ploughing.
Next Gen Cat 255 compact track loader. Image: Prime Creative Media
WesTrac
Celebrating 20 years of the business in NSW, official Caterpillar dealer WesTrac launched a new Cat compact track loader on the first day of DDT to kick off the event with a bang.
The Next Gen Caterpillar 255 compact track loader replaces the first generation 259D3 compact track loader and is powered by a Cat C2.8T engine, which offers 74.3hp (55.4kW).
The 255 delivers class-leading lift height and delivers 36 per cent more tilt breakout when compared to its first-generation counterpart, WesTrac says.
Also on display was one of the first Cat construction machines sold in NSW by WesTrac – a 120H motor grader.
Shop In A Box from Continental. Image: Prime Creative Media
Continental
On display at Continental’s site was its Shop In A Box industrial fluid solution, which is sold as a turnkey workbench that replicates the capabilities of a hydraulic and industrial hose crimp shop for operators.
Available with the option of four different crimper models, the Shop In A Box is suited to both occasional users through to everyday users – depending on the crimper model chosen.
The crimper models have different crimp capabilities for various hose types, so a purchaser can choose the model that is suited to them.
The PC200i crimper model was of particular interest due to Continental’s patented CrimpIQ technology being integrated into it – connecting the PC200i to Bluetooth and a cloud.
Doherty’s D-Lock Tilt coupler. Image: Prime Creative Media
Doherty Couplers & Attachments
Amongst a range of earthmoving machinery attachments, Doherty’s D-Lock tilt coupler was a drawcard.
Incorporating a precision-built actuator that ensures trouble-free operation, operators can tilt all attachments up to 180 degrees rather than having to move an entire machine.
Covering machines from one to 50 tonnes, the coupler has been designed with a compact and narrow body for greater visibility and performance.
Its patented DPL+ safety system comes standard on the D-Lock tilt range, which the company says it gives a range of benefits over other brands.
Diamond Mowers’ SK drum mulcher DC Pro. Image: Prime Creative Media
Colbrook Industries
Featuring a range of skid steer attachments, two highlights of Colbrook’s site was the SK drum mulcher DC Pro and the SK disc mulcher belt drive Pro X from Diamond Mowers, which it exclusively distributes in Australia.
Suited to loaders up to 75hp (56kW), the drum mulching attachment has a cutting width of 50 inches (127cm) and mulches trees or brush up to eight inches in diameter.
The belt drive disc mulcher is designed for contractors and mulching professionals with up 60 inches of cutting width and cuts up to 14 inches diameter of brush and trees.
With class-leading torque, Colbrook says the belt drive can recover twice as fast as other disc mulchers.
Berti mulcher attachments from Ag-Pride. Image: Prime Creative Media
Ag-Pride
NSW distributor of construction and agricultural implements Ag-Pride showed a range of Berti mulcher attachments designed for excavators in the three to 10-tonne range.
The Italian-built range of mulcher heads is designed to cover everything from roadside vegetation management to pasture clearance.
The KX/SSL Berci hydraulic forestry mulcher was on display, suited to skid steers from 50 to 90hp (37kW to 67kW).
Ag-Pride says it comes with fixed-teeth rotor and can mulch vegetable residue, branches and standing plants up to 12 to 15cm in diameter.
ITR Pacific’s off-road tyre range. Image: Prime Creative Media
ITR Pacific
Earthmoving machinery parts supplier ITR Pacific was on site with its Track Group, three different sizes of rubber tracks, its off-road tyre range and a suite of final drive, ripper shank and excavator bucket products and tools.
Its off-road tyre range is designed for loaders, graders, scrapers, dump trucks, skid steers and more, with 15 different options of patterns to suit all forms of applications.
Also on the stand was an engine rebuilt with ITR parts and a Just Easy Tools forklift.
X series bucket from Digga. Image: Prime Creative Media
Digga Australia
Digga Australia used its stand as an opportunity to showcase its new X-Series heavy duty 4-in-1 bucket.
Officially launched at DDT, the X-Series buckets are suited to large skid steer loaders and have upgraded dump and rollback angles.
Being used in the demo area, attendees got the chance to test out the bucket’s increased opening width and improved clamping force.
XCMG
An Associate Sponsor of the event, XCMG displayed a wide variety of heavy machinery to attendees.
Its XC968-EV electric wheel loader was of interest for many, encompassing an operating mass of 18.8 tonnes and rated power up to 280kW (375hp).
The zero emissions electric model has a 3.2-cubic metre bucket capacity with a rated load of 5.8 tonnes.
Also catching the eye was a XDA45U articulated dump truck installed with an Allquip Water Trucks 33,000 litre tank.
This machine has a 41-tonne payload and is designed for use in mines, quarries, water conservation, harbours and construction sites.
For more info on the new XC968 electric wheel loader, check out this issue’s cover story on pages 10–11.
Kobelco SK380SRLC-7 excavator. Image: Prime Creative Media
Kobelco
Standing out with its blue-painted machinery, Kobelco showcased its newest excavators at the Expo, including the SK380SRLC-7 excavator – Kobelco’s heaviest short radius excavator to date.
Weighing in at 37 tonnes, the new model encompasses a 210kW (282hp) output and a six per cent higher torque than previous models.
Ideal for operators working on urban and residential jobsites, the construction machinery company says short radius machines are becoming increasingly popular due to ongoing requirements for roadworks and utility maintenance.
Kobelco says short radius machines benefit from a smaller working footprint, which means that they can access tighter working areas.
Steelwrist had quick couplers and tiltrotators on display. Image: Prime Creative Media
Steelwrist
Steelwrist’s stand had two large excavators demoing its range of quick couplers, tilt couplers and tilt rotators.
Mounted on one of the excavators was displaying a double SQ60 quick coupler and tilt rotator combination. Steelwrist says the reason it was showcasing a double SQ quick coupler on one machine was to show its versatility in changing between different hydraulic work tools.
Normally, Steelwrist wouldn’t allow a breaker or hammer to be put under a tilt rotator, but in these cases an operator can disconnect the tilt rotator and pick up an attachment such as a hammer.
The SQ quick coupler under the tilt rotator is used on any types of attachment that needs to rotate, such as a bucket.
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In Australia, construction workers are six times more likely to take their own lives than have an accident at work, with an incredibly alarming rate of one construction worker taking their life every two days – this statistic is haunting and now is the time for change.
So, how do we get there? The rise in mental health concerns across the construction industry is alarming, long working hours, poor work/life balance, high risk environments, bullying and harassment, a culture of silence and the bystander effect are all key factors.
It’s hard to imagine how small changes can create impact, but they can, and here’s where we can all begin.
Speaking up
The bystander effect is a theory where individuals are less likely to step in when others are around. This may be due to how the supporting individual may be perceived for standing up against the perpetrator, which therefore affects their own safety in the situation.
Feeling safe enough to call someone out for their behaviours can feel intimidating, but the power in speaking up for those being affected is far greater. Whether it is small remarks made towards someone’s physical attributes and/or abilities, personal choices, sexuality, and/or gender, lived experiences or anything else, they are being discriminated against.
Speaking up on the spot and calling out the behaviour is an incredible catalyst for change and will show that this behaviour isn’t tolerated. You will soon notice others will follow in standing up against bullying and this is where change begins.
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Supporting positive culture
Having a workplace that actively promotes good mental health practices may feel rare in the industry, but it does exist. Tools include having your business aligned with an employee assistance program (EAP) service for mental health and wellness, having mental health crisis documents or guidelines in easily accessible places for those who aren’t sure where to begin supporting a co-worker or themselves, taking part in awareness days such as R U OK Day and having these resources available and actively promoting a message in your workplace of supporting mental health.
Creating a culture where mental health support is available, championed and promoted is incredibly beneficial to your workplace. Organisations could also start a mental health support committee, where key people are available to support workers who are in need of further guidance.
Starting conversations
Imagine coming to work and feeling safe to speak about your mental health and how you are feeling. This should be the norm, so let’s start advocating for it.
Start actively promoting and engaging in open conversations. Checking in on co-workers and taking the time to have real and authentic conversations can save a life.
If you notice a co-worker is unusually silent, withdrawn or starting to not show up to work or bring the same enthusiasm for life – these are strong indicators that something isn’t right. If you aren’t sure how to start the conversation, just being an active listener is the perfect place to start, and continuing to check in on that person. If you don’t feel you have the capacity to hold space for that person, recommending them support services is also a great way to help.
Checking in with work mates can help build a culture of positivity around discussing mental health at work. Image: SpaceOak/stock.adobe.com
Work/life balance
Promoting and providing flexibility for workers is a key catalyst for the mental health crisis in the construction industry. People are creating a movement for shorter working hours, safer working conditions and more balance in their working lives.
Gone are the days where workers needed to be onsite 10+ hours a day, in extreme conditions and were expected to show up six or seven days a week. Let’s advocate for men picking their kids up from school and participating in social activities in the afternoons, let’s support women in the industry who need to work around school hours and family/carer appointments and activities that relieve their burnout, let’s rally for all workers to not leave work so physically and mentally fatigued that it affects their health to a point of crisis and intervention.
Let’s support and encourage working from home where possible, showing flexibility is achievable from leadership and top levels, and allow this to filter through the workplace.
Productivity and mental health boosts with flexibility and work/life balance, and in our fast paced and busy world, let’s promote and encourage balance and its benefits.
Women’s mental health
At NAWIC we are passionate about advocating for women in the construction industry, and through research, lived experiences and feedback we know that women in construction are suffering.
As published in the NAWIC Journal, Dr Adedeji Afolabi and a group of researchers discovered that the major factors leading to mental health issues among female workers in construction are: sexism, lack of access to flexible and part-time work options, family and carer commitments, long working hours, negative perceptions surrounding their ability to perform similar roles to men, macho culture, male-dominated recruitment processes, low career progress and the inability to balance career and personal goals, plus the gender pay gap and it’s affects.
We need to support our women in the construction industry and the burnout they feel working within it. At NAWIC we provide a safe place for all women, empowering and advocating for their rights in the construction industry.
We support women (and men) through individual and corporate membership, and offer access to events, awards, scholarships, networking, professional development and our EAP program that provides 24/7 free confidential support.
If you, or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, here are free support services that may support you: Beyond Blue – 1300 224 636; Headspace – 1800 650 890; Mates in Construction – 1300 642 111.
NAWIC is a not-for-profit organisation, with a vision to create an equitable construction industry where women fully participate. Its mission is to drive change that will aid in the increased recruitment, retention and further vocational development of women within all facets of the construction industry. You can stay connected with NAWIC through its social media platforms, The Leaky Pipeline Podcast or become a member. You can learn more about the impactful work at www.nawic.com.au.
In the dynamic landscape of the Australian earthmoving industry, ITR stands out for its unwavering commitment to quality, performance and customer satisfaction. The world-renowned Italian brand, best known for its complete range of aftermarket earthmoving machinery parts, is one of the fastest-growing companies in the industry, providing a one-stop solution for most makes and models of earthmoving equipment.
With an expansive network of branches, warehouses and workshops strategically positioned throughout the Australian market, alongside industry experts stationed in every region, ITR Pacific is uniquely positioned to deliver an exceptional customer experience.
Offering a comprehensive range of undercarriage parts, rubber tracks and pads, ground engaging tools, repair parts, tyres and more, ITR Pacific provides a high level of stock accessibility and support. This extensive local inventory, coupled with the backing of the broader group, gives ITR Pacific the capability to cater to a diverse array of sectors within the Australian market, spanning mining, construction, plant hire, agriculture and forestry.
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Range
From rubber tracks and undercarriage components, to ground-engaging tools and repair parts, to OTR tyres and diesel engine parts, ITR prides itself on offering premium quality products.
ITR parts are designed and engineered by the group’s in-house R&D department in Italy and manufactured in ISO-certified production facilities with stringent quality control measures, resulting in a consistent and reliable product that has attracted the business of numerous OEM and other aftermarket companies globally.
The range covers parts suitable for most makes and models of dozers, excavators, graders, loaders, scrapers, dump trucks, drill rigs, harvesters, apron feeders and more – ranging in size from 0.5 tonnes up to 800 tonnes.
Service
ITR says that what sets it apart from the competition in an industry where performance and downtime are not an option is its servicing capabilities. With two undercarriage track shops located in Brisbane and Sydney, an on-site rubber track installation team in South East Queensland, a robotic welder for hardfacing ground engaging tools and track shoes, as well as a team of specialists in the field performing undercarriage and bucket inspections country-wide, ITR Pacific can provide end-to-end solutions for its customers beyond just the parts.
As well as focusing on the quality of its parts, ITR has also strongly invested in its track shop equipment. Heavy-duty track beds and track winders, custom-made for Australian conditions, are capable of handling chains up to 10 tonnes in weight, comfortably covering the large Cat D11 and Komatsu D475 track groups.
The services on offer include:
track bolt-ups and track plate swaps
track lengthening and shortening
complete track frame refurbishments, track frame crack repairs and modifications
robotic, abrasive-resistant tungsten-carbide hard facing of ground engaging tools, such as bucket teeth and cutting edges
hardfacing of dozer track plates with tungsten-carbide grit for added wear resistance.
Market expansion
As it looks to the future, ITR remains steadfast in its ongoing commitment to providing customers with streamlined and efficient services and parts with quick turnaround times. The company is continuously expanding its presence in the Australian market through industry acquisitions and new developments, allowing it to build its product range and service offering with additional locations and industry experts.
To find out more about ITR’s full product offering and services, give them a call at 1300 820 214 or visit www.itrpacific.com.au.
The charming town of Hay, located in the western Riverina region of New South Wales, serves as the administrative centre of the Hay Shire local government area. Situated in a fruitful agricultural district on the expansive Hay Plains, the town is conveniently located approximately halfway between Sydney and Adelaide.
This is the home base for Kevin Walter, who recently bought a Hidromek HMK600MG grader from Onetrak for his work with agricultural clients, primarily graziers.
His work includes constructing tracks and roads, clearing channels, building trenches for the installation of polypipes, dozing old fences and levelling the ground for new fences, ground tanks and dams. With 46 years of experience in the field, his business covers up to 100km in all directions of the Hay Shire area.
Walter takes on the majority of the work himself, calling on additional operators when needed. With a fleet of four graders, he can leave one machine on-site as necessary. For customers who require trenching, he typically digs the trenches, leaves a grader, moves on to another job while the pipe is being laid and then returns to fill the trenches.
In addition to his fleet of graders, Walter has several rollers, which he primarily uses for constructing bush tracks. If necessary, he can also hire other equipment such as a water truck or a scraper to complete the job.
Choosing Hidromek
Walter decided to purchase a new Hidromek grader as his three existing graders have over 17,000 hours on them, necessitating an upgrade for his fleet. With the Hidromek brand catching his eye, he contacted Onetrak to source the HMK600MG.
The HMK600MG stood out for having both wheeled and joystick control as well as a powerful air conditioning system. Image: Onetrak
Walter says the HMK600MG stood out for him as it comes with a steering wheel and a joystick, as well as a powerful air conditioner, which is crucial when working in Hay’s hot climate.
He also highlighted the importance of the HMK600MG’s reversible radiator fan, which is a standard feature. This is especially helpful because the dusty conditions of Hay require daily radiator maintenance, however, with a reversable radiator fan, the job of cleaning the radiators is so much easier. Walter notes that this is an expensive added option for many other brands.
After putting the Hidromek grader to the test, Walter, a seasoned user of graders, has compared it with other leading brands.
“It is the most stable grader I have ever driven, and I have driven them all over the years,” he says.
Although the joystick controls were different from the normal pedestal joysticks he was used to, he found it surprisingly easy to adapt to the new system. He has been able to construct trenches with stable batters for recycled channels up to 3m deep, and he feels secure knowing that the Hidromek grader can handle this challenging task with ease.
He is also impressed with the HMK600MG’s speed, boasting over 200 horsepower (150kW), allowing it to reach a maximum forward speed of 45km/h and reverse speed of 42km/h. The Hidromek grader’s quickness, combined with its great turning circle and the other features highlighted, has made Walter an avid supporter of the brand – even though he had never encountered Hidromek or its graders before.
Kevin Walter helped prepare the roadsides around Hay for the coming film Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. Image: Onetrak
Onetrak
For the past three years, Walter has been working closely with Onetrak’s Tumut branch in NSW, saying that Onetrak and Hidromek have been excellent partners.
Based on his work, Walter made a small change to the side mesh panel that helps to prevent grass from entering the radiator. He also added his own hinges, so the panels could be lifted, allowing access to the radiator to blow it out.
Hidromek was made aware of this and when Tim Jackson from the Onetrak Tumut branch came out to do the 1,000-hour service, Hidromek had redesigned the side panel to include the hinge and installed it on the machine at no extra cost.
Walter says that the Onetrak team, particularly Jackson, has been outstanding in terms of service and promptness in resolving any minor issues that have arisen, adding that proper backup and maintenance are critical to ensure smooth operation.
Onetrak is the official dealer for Hidromek equipment in Australia. Visit www.onetrak.com.au or call 1300727 520 to get in touch with Onetrak and the team.
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WesTrac officially launched the Next Gen Caterpillar 255 compact track loader on its stand at this year’s Diesel, Dirt & Turf Expo (DDT) in Sydney.
Celebrating 20 years of WesTrac in NSW, the 255 is the first of its kind to arrive in Australia.
The Next Gen 255 has been heavily innovated off the back of customer input and WesTrac says initial feedback suggests this machine is going to be in high demand. In addition to superior performance, the 255 offers significantly enhanced user comfort and operability, WesTrac says.
Replacing the first generation 259D3 compact track loader, the 255 is powered by a Cat C2.8T engine, which offers 74.3 horsepower (55.4kW).
Caterpillar says the new engine maintains horsepower across a wider RPM range and boasts a torque increase of 13 per cent, for improved working performance.
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A redesigned engine compartment mounts the engine and cooling package lower into the frame for improved stability, it adds. This can give the operator confidence in handling heavy loads and aspects of the work cycle.
The 255 delivers class-leading lift height and delivers 36 per cent more tilt breakout compared to its first-generation counterpart. A 26 per cent higher lift breakout force and a 24 per cent increase in rated operating capacity (ROC) is also included as part of the next generation track loader.
Featuring a larger cabin design, operator comfort is maximised with 22 per cent more overall volume and 26 per cent additional foot space. A 70mm increased interior width, expands the cab’s footwell-to-ceiling height by 46mm and allows for an additional 40mm of hip room and 28mm more width between the joysticks.
Caterpillar says a low entry point makes entering and exiting the 255 much easier and the redesign allows the operator to open the cab door without the lift arms being fully lowered to the frame stops.
This launch marks the second Next Gen Caterpillar release following the new excavator range, WesTrac says.
With detached dwelling approvals hitting a 12-year low in January, growth in national construction material costs continued to stabilise in the first quarter of 2024, CoreLogic’s Cordell Construction Cost Index (CCCI) shows.
The Q1 2024 national CCCI, which tracks the cost to build a typical new dwelling, recorded a 0.8 per cent rise, on par with the increase seen over the December quarter last year.
This stabilisation in the quarterly trend saw the annual change in the CCCI ease to 2.8 per cent – the smallest annual rise since the year to March 2007 (2.7 per cent) and well below the pre-COVID decade average (four per cent).
CoreLogic economist Kaytlin Ezzy says while growth in national construction costs have continued to ease from the highs seen through the pandemic, price levels remain elevated.
“The strong fluctuations seen in building material costs over the past few years have levelled out and are now within normal margins,” Ezzy says.
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“No clear trend was seen in timber or metal materials, with price changes normalising. Current building costs are still 27.6 per cent higher than at the start of the pandemic, which is likely putting significant pressure on builder’s profit margins.”
Ezzy says construction costs are expected to remain within usual margins in the coming year.
“National dwelling approvals have held well below average in 2023 and are continuing to do so into 2024, helping to dampen the growth in construction costs,” she says.
“Monthly detached dwelling approvals, reported by the ABS, fell to the lowest monthly count since June 2012 in January at 7,701 and remained -13.5 per cent below the decade average in February.
“However, the construction pipeline remains bloated, with ABS building activity data showing around 255,000 dwellings approved but not yet completed, which should help keep builders busy throughout 2024,” she says.
State breakdown
The quarterly change was reasonably aligned across the states, with Queensland and South Australia both recording an acceleration in growth, up 0.7 per cent over the three months to March. Meanwhile, New South Wales and Victoria pulled back in growth, both up 0.9 per cent, while the quarterly change in Western Australia held steady (0.7 per cent).
The CCCI for NSW rose 0.9 per cent, down 10 basis points from the one per cent rise seen over the December quarter, bringing the latest rise in line with the pre-COVID decade average. Annually, NSW saw the CCCI increase by 3.1 per cent over the 12 months to March, on par with the previous reading in the 12 months to December.
Victoria’s CCCI rose 0.9 per cent over the quarter, down 30 basis points from the 1.1 per cent increase over the three months to December. While easing slightly over the quarter, the Victorian CCCI increased by 3.1 per cent over the year to March 2024, up from 2.9 per cent over the year to December, which was the lowest annual change since December 2016 (2.6 per cent).
Queensland’s recorded a 0.7 per cent rise in construction costs over the March quarter, after showing minimal growth in the December quarter last year (0.1 per cent). Annually, QLD’s CCCI increased by 2.3 per cent, down from 2.8 per cent over the 12 months to December. This is the lowest annual change in construction costs across Queensland in almost 14 years.
In WA, construction costs rose 0.7 per cent over the quarter, in line with the rise seen in Q4 2023. Annually, WA’s CCCI increased by 2.1 per cent, which was the lowest annual change in construction costs in almost seven years.
SA’s CCCI increased by 0.7 per cent, up from 0.5 per cent in Q4 2023. This took SA’s annual change in construction costs to 2.6 per cent.
Develon has launched the new DX140RDM-7 to the European market; the latest addition to the company’s range of demolition excavators. Like the three larger models from 31 to 61 tonnes, the new DX140RDM-7 22.5-tonne demolition excavator offers multiple configurations to choose from, providing the customer with a range of solutions depending on the project to be completed, including a multi-purpose version that can be used for other applications on site as well as demolition.
A ‘Monolithic’ variant unique to this model features only a demolition arm without any interchangeability. Alternatively, like the larger machines, the DX140RDM-7 is also available in a dual format utilising a modular boom design and hydraulic lock mechanism, allowing the user to change between different arms for demolition and digging using the same machine.
In the fixed ‘Monolithic’ version of the new DX140RDM-7, the machine can work with a demolition attachment to a maximum height of 16m. The recommended maximum tool weight in this mode is 1,450kg.
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In the dual-purpose version of the DX140RDM-7, the pin height and maximum tool weight are 14m and 1,450kg, respectively (with a 2m extension as an option).
A special stand is provided to facilitate the boom changing operation, which is based on quick-change hydraulic and mechanical coupler connections. A cylinder-based system is used to push the locking pins into place to help complete the procedure.
The multi-boom design also allows the earthmoving boom to be mounted in two different ways, which with the demolition boom, provides further flexibility with a total of three different configurations for the dual-purpose base machine.
The DX140RDM-7 has a hydraulically-adjustable undercarriage, which extends to a maximum width of 3.7m. The width of the undercarriage can be retracted hydraulically to 2.5m in the narrow width position for transport. The mechanism is based on a permanently lubricated, internal cylinder design that minimises resistance during the movement and helps to prevent damage to the components, Develon says.
Mandatory registration for commercial building contractors comes into effect today in the Northern Territory.
The amendments to the Building Act 1993 that were passed earlier this year introduced registration for commercial building contractors as well as expanding powers to introduce a continuing professional development scheme to ensure building practitioners are up to date with the latest building rules, regulations and practices.
The legislation will be rolled out in two stages.
Stage 1 provides a 12-month transition for builders to obtain a commercial registration. During the transition period, a grandfathering initiative provides for current experienced NT builders to be registered without needing to meet qualification requirements.
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Stage 2 commences 12 months after Stage 1 when it becomes a legal requirement to have a registered commercial builder for new commercial building work.
This initiative will ensure builders have the appropriate qualifications and experience to build specific buildings, providing greater confidence and safety to the community and reinforcing trust in the local building industry, the state government says.
The Northern Territory government is partnering with Master Builders Northern Territory (MBNT) to deliver information sessions about the changes to industry with the following information sessions:
The Civil Contractors Federation Queensland Limited (CCF QLD), has called on further investment into housing enabling infrastructure policy as the latest numbers released by ABS show a continued shortfall of new housing in Queensland.
With new home builds having record declines from over 52,219 home starts in the 12 months to December 2016 to 32,218 home starts in 2023 – leaving it well short of the QLD 45,000 home per year target – CCF QLD says that a reprioritisation of housing enabling infrastructure is required.
“In practical terms, this data shows that in the last year there are 18,000 fewer homes are available for Queensland families to move into than we saw back in 2016 and well short of state targets requiring a rethink of housing enabling infrastructure,” CCF QLD CEO Damian Long says.
“The release of the latest ABS housing commencement numbers shows a shocking reality that, with Queensland’s population busting at the seams, state housing targets falling by the wayside and not enough housing enabling infrastructure, there will be a cost of living catastrophe for many in the period ahead unless this is resolved.
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“There is a clear freefall in the rate of housing activity, which comes at the worst possible time on the back of recent surges in net overseas migration (NOM) rising nationally to 548,000 as of the latest figures. Queensland has risen as a share to 144,000 NOM against a 20-year average annual NOM increase of 86,000, which is 60,000 additional families looking for a home residing in the state in one year alone.
“What we have failed to grasp now for some time is that a new home can’t be built without roads, bridges, pipes and electricity infrastructure, and the recent period has seen a surge in $500m-plus infrastructure projects, that are important, but a drop in the $100–500m housing-enabling infrastructure projects is hurting residential development.
“In simplest terms, not one dollar in housing can be spent until a dollar has been spent in civil, and a refocus of housing enabling infrastructure investment in both greenfield and brownfield developments is critical to turning this crisis around.
“We are running Australian cities on 50–100 year old infrastructure in parts of Queensland and we still hope to see a density uplift of multi-residential building. This runs parallel to a drop in the percentage of $50–150m waste, water, pipeline and road infrastructure project commencements, which is the enabler of housing and community growth.”
