Construction, civil and infrastructure briefs

Work starts on the $230 million Townsville Ring Road Stage 5 project, new data shows record volume of home building, and more in this week's round-up. Townsville Ring Road Stage 5 works launched Works on the $230 million Townsville Ring Road Stage 5 (TRR5) are now underway, with the first sod being turned on the project in Townsville late last week. The TRR5 is being designed by AECOM and built by Georgiou Group, with completion expected in 2023, weather permitting. The Australian Government has committed $184 million towards the TRR5 project which is jointly funded by the Queensland Government, contributing $46 million. State Member for Thuringowa Aaron Harper said the entire Townsville Ring Road would be a dual-lane carriageway by 2023, improving efficiency, travel time and safety while creating vital jobs and opportunities for contractors and suppliers across Townsville. "While a range of specialised goods and services will be required to deliver the TRR5 project, TMR and principal contractor Georgiou are committed to using the people, goods and services available in the region,” Mr Harper said. "More than 17,000 vehicles use this section of the Townsville Ring Road each day, 12 per cent of which are freight vehicles.” Council work crews in $24 million Richmond-Winton Road upgrade A $24 million upgrade is under way to widen and seal more than 30km of the Richmond-Winton Road. The upgrade will also and replace key structures, including culverts, and improve road safety and travel times on the key regional connector, as part of an $364.68 million Australian Government initiative to enable the fast roll-out of safety treatments on roads across Queensland. The work is being carried out by the Richmond and Winton Shire councils. Richmond Shire Council Mayor John Wharton said the work had come at a time when it was needed most. “Continuity of work for our road crew has never been more critical given the current climate, and this injection of funding has certainly come at the right time,” Cr Wharton said. “One of the projects alone is supporting 21 direct jobs over its life at a time when they are needed most. This gives our people confidence while providing a better road network for everyone in the community and all those who travel along it.” Latest stats show record volume of home building The number of new houses that commenced construction in the March 2021 quarter was more than 40 per cent higher than the same time last year, according to HIA economist Angela Lillicrap. ABS building activity data for the March 2021 quarter showed that detached house commencements increased by 40.6 per cent compared to the March 2020 quarter, while starts for other dwelling types (predominantly apartments) declined by 22.8 per cent. “This record volume of home building is not unexpected and is supporting employment across the economy,” Ms Lillicrap said. “Compared to the beginning of 2020 when work entering the construction pipeline was slowing, builders are now facing a different set of challenges including labour and material shortages. “These constraints are expected to ease going into 2022 as the number of new houses commencing construction slows. “There is a stark divergence between the detached and multi-unit markets. Multi-unit commencements in the March quarter declined to their lowest level since June 2012. “Multi-unit commencements have fallen by almost 50 per cent since their last peak in March 2018 and are 53.4 per cent lower than their record peak in March 2016." Capricorn clocks up $80b major project pipeline Projects valued at $80 billion are detailed in the latest edition of the Capricorn Enterprise Central Qld Major Projects 2021 Summary. Whilst coal projects total a massive $61.3 billion, other general infrastructure projects make up the difference including Shoalwater Bay Remediation Project, ADF/Singapore Armed Forces Military Training Initiative, Rookwood Weir, schools, national and state funded roads and bridges as well as local projects such as aged care facilities, residential developments and commercial developments. Capricorn Enterprise said that while major projects contributed to significant employment and development, local projects were also important contributors to improved employment statistics with investment in schools, retail and real estate supporting economic growth. Local projects, such as the Dinosaur Park at Cooberrie Park, have provided employment during construction and will contribute to future employment opportunities with increased tourism visitation and spend. The major projects report is available for purchase from Capricorn Enterprise, while Corporate, Platinum and Gold members can request a complimentary copy. (Email admin@capricornenterprise.com.au) The 2021 Capricorn Enterprise Annual Major Projects Forum is scheduled for Thursday, October 28, at the Frenchville Sports Club in Rockhampton. Water mains work in Mackay Contractor Roebuck Civil will be undertaking water main renewal works in Andergrove, Mackay, from Monday. Mackay Regional Council will be decommissioning the existing water main and replacing it with a larger main on Bedford Rd between Andergrove Rd and Glenpark St. This will result in a reduced risk of failure and increased water supply for the local network. Crews are expected to be working in the area until late October.

Construction, civil and infrastructure briefs

Industry Queensland

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