Damian Long, CEO of Civil Contractors Federation Queensland Ltd, discusses the changes in the sector over the past 30 years
This week I attended the funeral of a well-respected member of the civil construction community in Queensland. There was a large gathering of people to show their respect to another person who represented, in my opinion, what used to be great about our industry.
In addition to the family, in attendance was a significant number of ex-employees and other construction people. The anecdotes and stories presented at the funeral flowed over to the wake and a sense of melancholy came over me.
There used to be a sense of joy that accompanied the hard work and commitment in delivering infrastructure early in my career.
A standout is that a young person could back themselves and start a civil construction business with some degree of confidence it would be successful. The employees would stick through the highs and lows.
Often the first employees would be the last. Loyalty was a two-way street. Mutual respect, hard work and fun were the foundations of success.
There have been significant changes to the industry over the last 30 plus years that, for some of the more experienced operators, are not for the benefit of the industry.
This evolution is shaped by technological advancements, regulatory changes, economic shifts and a growing emphasis on sustainability and community engagement. Understanding these changes offers a comprehensive perspective on how the sector has adapted to new challenges and opportunities over four decades.
In the early 1980s, civil contracting was heavily reliant on manual labour and rudimentary machinery. Projects were often labour-intensive, with limited use of automation.
The construction processes were slower, and the margin for error was significantly higher. The understanding of risk was different, and people had the time to teach and guide employees to deliver projects under these conditions.
Unrecognisable sector
Fast forward to 2024, the sector is almost unrecognisable in terms of technological integration. Modern civil contracting leverages advanced machinery, drones, GPS technology, and Building Information Modelling (BIM).
These advances are providing improvements in productivity to segments of delivery, but we are not seeing an improvement in overall productivity for the industry.
One of the most significant changes in civil contracting is the heightened focus on sustainability and environmental awareness. In the early 1980s, there was minimal consideration for environmental impacts in project planning and execution.
The primary objective was to complete projects within budget and on time, often at the expense of the environment.
However, by 2024, sustainability has become a core aspect of civil contracting. There is a growing recognition of the need to protect natural resources and reduce carbon footprints. Sustainable construction practices are now standard.
In the early 1980s, community engagement in civil contracting projects was limited. Projects were often designed and executed with little input from local communities.
The focus was primarily on the technical and financial aspects of construction. There is now a strong emphasis on community engagement and social responsibility. Civil contractors now actively involve local communities in the planning and execution of projects.
Social responsibility initiatives, such as providing employment opportunities to local residents, indigenous groups and supporting community development projects, are increasingly common.
Comprehensive regulations
In the early 1980s, regulations were less stringent, with a primary focus on basic safety standards and compliance. Environmental concerns were not at the forefront, and the regulatory landscape lacked the complexity seen today.
The requirement to address climate change, minorities and provide a wide range of community and social outcomes did not exist. Now, the regulatory environment is more comprehensive and rigorous.
Procurement policies and regulation have been implemented by governments to ensure compliance with a wider remit than the construction of the project itself. Construction companies and project teams now employ a range of staff to manage and implement these regulatory requirements.
The industry has continually cried out for reduction in red tape. The acceleration of deliverables wider than the project itself, as well as the accompanying regulation is outpacing regulators’ abilities to provide a rational and efficient environment that will allow contractors to deliver what is required more efficiently themselves.
The barriers to starting a business these days are far more sophisticated than “having a crack”. We need to grow the Australian civil contracting pool, but governments are making this harder each year.
Hopefully, governments can see sense and rationalise the regulatory framework so that in another 40 years the next generation of civil construction personnel can look back and feel the same sense of melancholy in delivering projects to modern standards.
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