The Urban Developer recently reported on stronger than expected construction activity for the month of August in Australia. The decline in apartment building activity was tempered by a boost in engineering projects and home building work.
CoreLogic's construction figures for July estimated that the value of construction entering the pipeline in July was $21.7 billion.
Here is a brief construction update in Australia, state by state, courtesy of CoreLogic's Cordell Construction Monthly data for August 2017.
[Related reading: Engineering Projects Bolster Australia’s Construction Sector; What Will The Construction Downturn Actually Look Like?]
The urban renewal construction project will integrate a new high school, aged care facility with a seniors wellness centre, two child care centres, a supermarket, cafes and specialty retail shops, nature based playgrounds and exercise stations, a basketball court, open green spaces and community gardens.
Ivanhoe Estate.
The construction project has been awarded to The Aspire Consortium, which is made up of Mission Australia Housing, Frasers Property Australia and Citta Property Group.
In Parramatta, GPT have selected Fender Katsalidis as lead architects for their future office tower, which was a site purchased off the Salvation Army earlier this year. Due to a deficiency in A-grade office supply, GPT's building is expected to see high demand. The construction design will feature ground level event space and a terrace facing the Parramatta River.
Meanwhile, the NSW Government has confirmed the relocation of Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum to Parramatta, with the new facility to be built on a car park site beside the Parramatta River.
Toga announced a design competition for its Surry Hills Shopping Village construction which has gateway approval for rezoning.
Proposed Surry Hills Shopping Village.
Architectural firms will be requested to design a mixed use construction development with over 170 apartments and 9,000 square metres of commercial and retail space.
Australian Capital Territory
A 1.17 hectare site which will be constructed to accommodate for approximately 500 apartments was awarded to Geocon for future work. Termed ‘City 7’ by the ACT Government, the site is zoned for mixed use residential, retail and hospitality development.
Approval has been granted for subdivision of the first stage of construction of West Belconnen’s Ginninderry, which will pave the way for the project's first 356 homes.
Ginninderry is a joint housing estate venture between the ACT Government and Riverview developments, near the Murrumbidgee River and Belconnen. Ginninderry is set to become a massive community to be constructed over the next 30 years.
Victoria
Construction commenced on a 39 storey tower that will serve as a state-of-the-art Australian Police headquarters in Melbourne’s CBD. Construction is expected to be complete by late 2019 to allow for Police and staff to move in during 2020.
A $2.1 million investment is set to be distributed across several Latrobe Valley Schools in order to create new buildings and facilities. Cordell's report said $1.5 million will go to Yallourn North Primary School for the replacement of office facilities, amenities and class rooms, and $600,000 will go to Moe South Primary School to replace staff resources and classrooms. This is reportedly the first beneficiaries from the $85 million funding allocation in the Victorian Budget 2017/18 for the removal of buildings containing asbestos and their replacement with construction of modular buildings.
Remaining in the education sector, the new Casey Tech School at the Berwick campus of the Chisholm Institute is ready to be built as AMP construction was appointed to the job. Site works are to commence shortly on the new two-storey building which will include workshop areas, a bio-med lab, a virtual reality lab, a video production studio and a digital media studio.
This project will form part of the Australian $128 million ‘Tech School’ initiative to boost performance in STEM subjects. The shared hub is expected to be completed late 2018.
Queensland
The Sunshine Coast Council, John Holland, the University of the Sunshine Coast and SunCentral Maroochydore have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop five ‘super lots’ in the new Maroochydore city centre. The site spans 1.4 hectares, with plans for a high-rise civic-centre and new council chambers construction with customer service and office space on one of the lots.
It is not all glowing success in the world of construction in Queensland. Despite the tendering process and early works commencing, the Cross River Rail project is still uncertain after no federal funding has been allocated to the infrastructure project, even though the Queensland state government committed to provide $5.41 billion.
The ASF Integrated Casino Resort development on the Gold Coast Spit was officially terminated by the Government, with the State set to move forward with a community-led masterplan instead. The $3 billion integrated resort development was to include five hotels, waterfront plaza, retail and entertainment precincts.
Tasmania
The proposed $25 million Glenorchy development at Derwent Park is seeking architectural work. Developers Hesta and Glenview community services plan to include 15, six-bedroom tailored houses, a supermarket, cinema, café, beauty salon and gardens. Construction is expected to commence in 2018 and completion for the following year, this facility will provide a safe and supported community where residents can live freely, recreating real life experiences.
Ridley Corporation are awaiting council and EPA approval on a development application submitted for an Aqua Feed mill in Westbury. If approved, this will see the construction of a state of the art Aqua Feed Mill with onsite bulk storage. The mill would host fit-for-purpose warehouses for both raw materials and finished goods and liquid storage tanks.
Construction has commenced on the $4.3 million Launceston Civic Square redevelopment. Vos Construction will work towards bringing the project new play space, street furniture, landscaping and earthworks.
South Australia
South Australia's Oaklands Park Grade separation project and Port Dock Spur Line project have called for tenders for geotechnical and environmental consultancy services. The Oaklands Park project will include the construction of a lowered rail line to the south of the existing corridor to remove the existing rail crossing with Morphett Road.
The state is also planning to create a 150 megawatt, solar thermal power plant. Early planning has commenced for the Aurora Solar Energy Project near port Augusta, which will feature about 12,000, billboard-sized mirrors, measuring 100 square metres arranged in a circle area of about 600 hectares. Developers SolarReserve will build the plant.
Aurora Solar Energy Project concept.
On Adelaide's former Trims retail site, Echelon Residences, is inviting tenders so developer Karidis Corporation for the construction of a North and South tower which are 30 and 31 levels (respectively). Estimated to cost around $275 million, Echelon Residences will contain residential apartments and commercial sections including a wellness centre, fitness centre, movie theatre and restaurants.
Western Australia
Much of Cordell's reflection on Western Australia's construction activity revolves around transport and infrastructure.
The State Government invested $23 million to upgrade the last remaining single lane section of Marmion Avenue with a road duplication between Camborne Parkway in Butler and Yanchep Beach Road in Yanchep. Travel time is expected to be cut considerably, with construction set for 2018. Completion is expected in 2020.
The Swan River Bridge Alliance saw Civmec join its ranks to build key components of the $83 million project, which is set to be completed in 2018. Accompanying York Rizzani and Main Roads in the alliance, Civmec will now manage the steel fabrication, painting of arches, transportation and organisation with other companies to assist.
In support of continued Perth population growth, $1.2 billion of federal funding has been secured for METRONET – a plan to link Perth suburbs and reduce congestion through construction of road works and public transport.
The Joondalup line extension to Yanchep will see an extra 13.8 kilometres of rail and the construction of three stations at Alkimos, Eglinton and Yanchep. Thornlie and Cockburn stations will see a 17.5 kilometre rail link and the construction of two new stations at Nicholson Road and Ranford Road in Canning Vale.
Northern Territory
Sitzler has been awarded a $6 million contract for construction of the PET scanner and associated CT scanner at the Royal Darwin Hospital. Construction will start in the coming months with completion anticipated for late next year.
Construction works has commenced on $550,000 worth of renovations to the Flynn Drive Health Centre in Alice Springs. To be carried out by local company MPH Carpentry and Construction, upgrades include a new baby care room, clinic room and administrative office.
