Civil Contractors Federation WA

Local contractors have expressed concern that work on the next two Metronet rail projects, worth about $1 billion, could be packaged together for tendering purposes.

SPECIAL REPORT: Contractors are buoyant despite the twin challenges of uncertainty around infrastructure spending and an employment market tipped to tighten.

Early works for the Yanchep rail extension and Thornlie to Cockburn link will be contracted separately, as the state government attempts to give opportunities for smaller players after combining the main portions of the two projects into one package.

Maddington-based civil contractor All Earth Group, which held contracts on two state government projects, has gone into voluntary administration.

A new report shows construction work in Western Australia has increased for the first time in five years, while warning that local industry must future-proof itself from capacity and capability risks.

Subcontractors WA chair Louise Stewart has welcomed the state government’s decision to expand the use of project bank accounts (PBAs) to protect subcontractors, but is pushing for the introduction of legally binding statutory trusts.

SPECIAL REPORT: Western Australia may not be ready with the workforce and skills needed for the next boom.

The state government has fallen $1.7 billion behind its infrastructure spending commitments over the past two years, according to Western Australia’s civil construction industry’s peak body.

SPECIAL REPORT: Unprecedented transport infrastructure spending and an uptick in mining investment have buoyed the spirits of WA’s major contractors.

Fresh forecasts have pushed any recovery in Western Australia’s embattled home building sector out another year, while concerns have been raised about the capacity of the state’s building sector to cope with a predicted increase in activity in civil and engineering construction.

A more efficient freight network is a key priority for the state government, but upgrading the status quo requires a big spend and some complex solutions.

Concerns are mounting over the future pipeline of projects as construction companies adapt to social distancing requirements and continue building.

A $154 million package to support tenants and landlords and boost the construction industry has been unveiled by the state government, in its latest effort to reduce the economic carnage of COVID-19.

The state government is fast-tracking tenders for $2.37 billion in transport infrastructure projects, while also ensuring small- and medium-sized contractors have an opportunity to be involved in smaller packages of works.

The state government has unveiled reform packages designed to improve procurement processes and environmental approvals, with the latter seen as an important step towards a keenly awaited bilateral approvals plan with the federal government.

Western Australia’s civil contractors are feeling the pinch of the government stimulus measures that prompted a surge of new house-and-land sales, with industry calling for timeframe extensions.

The state government has announced free infrastructure-related training for up to 250 students, as part of a wider $57 million initiative.

WA’s civil construction industry could be facing the perfect storm.

More than 60 per cent of civil construction businesses believe worker shortages are constraining their ability to deliver contracts, with an estimated 3,900 unfilled jobs.

Insourcing road maintenance contracts could cost taxpayers more and reduce road quality, industry has warned, while regional housing and competition for workers are concerns.

Construction industry groups have called on the state government to scrap new laws forcing thousands of excavator operators to obtain costly new qualifications.

Attracting young workers to civil construction will help WA complete a big pipeline of infrastructure projects.

Business groups are calling for a more holistic response across all tiers of government to infrastructure and supply chain pressures.

Supply of workers and materials remain key challenges for contractors in project delivery across the board.

A federal government review of infrastructure projects has delayed progress on numerous roads projects in WA, with contractors and the state government calling for action.

In this podcast Mark Beyer and Mark Pownall discuss Aboriginal Cultural Heritage, planning backflip, airlines, road project delays, LNG industrial action, Hancock and more

Traffic controllers in WA are in line for a 38 per cent pay rise and contractors expect similar increases will apply across the board because of new tendering rules set by Main Roads.

Business groups say a government industrial relations policy pilot trial will drive project costs up and productivity down.

Western Australia’s civil construction lobby has warned a workforce pay deal is giving excessive power to the under-siege CFMEU and placing pressure on building costs.

An updated listing of 450 occupations that will qualify for skilled migration has been welcomed by the motor trade but the building industry was disappointed by the outcome.