Yesterday
Qube wins bitter court fight to claim $7m from Martinus Rail
The rail builder’s attempts to block the logistics group from getting access to $7 million in funds held as part of a security deposit have been dismissed.
- Jenny Wiggins
Building industry payments firm shelves Aussie ambitions, heads to UK
ProjectPay founder Louise Stewart has won a British grant to get her start-up off the ground there, having felt stymied by the political culture in Australia.
- Hans van Leeuwen
This Month
Kahlbetzer-backed solar start-up eyes Nasdaq proceeds for SA projects
Vast Renewables expects to commit to building a concentrated solar project and a separate green methanol project in the state in the second half of 2024.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
NSW wind farm heads for approval, breaking project drought
A contentious renewables project near a historic gold mine looks set to be the first large wind farm approved in NSW since May 2021.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
- Exclusive
- Industrial relations
‘We can cause you grief’: Gatto’s warning to Melbourne developer
Underworld figure Mick Gatto has long played a role in the building industry, but rarely would people speak publicly about it, until now.
- David Marin-Guzman and Nick McKenzie
Santos secures drilling approval for Barossa gas project
The approval will allow Santos to resume drilling at the Barossa field in the Timor Sea, which it had to suspend last year after a successful legal challenge by a Tiwi Islander.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Homebuilders worry about costlier kitchens after benchtop ban
Builders and materials suppliers say there’s no clarity on alternative products for the to-be-banned material, and no supply chain to meet demand, either.
- Michael Bleby
Boral adds $2b in value as Kerry Stokes finds right CEO
Vik Bansal has given local managers more decision-making powers and greater accountability for delivering profits and cost-cutting.
- Simon Evans
Engineered stone ban must focus on silica levels: producers
The country’s largest supplier of the potentially lethal product is pushing for a solution that would allow its low-silica alternative.
- Michael Bleby
Home builders will compete for business in 2024
Profit margins are already weakening for many of Australia’s home builders and greater competition will make that worse.
- Michael Bleby
Engineered stone ban leaves builders, customers in disarray
A ban on the artificial product was expected, but there was little detail on the immediate practical implications in a government agreement announced Wednesday.
- Michael Bleby
Steel, concrete shortages ‘threaten housing, clean energy projects’
Steel imports have been rising, sparking concerns that infrastructure projects could again become vulnerable to global supply chain glitches.
- Jenny Wiggins
No visa fast track for foreign tradies despite housing shortage
Business groups, the property industry and housing advocates are warning the carve out will undermine the government’s target of building 1.2 million homes.
- Michael Read
- Exclusive
- Risk management
Meet the builder aiming for a 5pc profit margin
The global average EBIDTA margin for builders is 1.8pc, but Hickory boss Michael Argyrou says it’s time for developers to take on more risk.
- Michael Bleby
High land prices stalling office developments: Hines
Land values have yet to adjust to rising cost and the price of debt, the developer and fund manager says.
- Michael Bleby
November
Housing approvals have bottomed and migrants mean growth: JPMorgan
Australia’s housing shortage isn’t just about demand – interest rates must fall to make purchasing affordable for buyers.
- Michael Bleby
Australia’s $21b home building surge hides slump to come
Weather delays, labour and capacity constraints have kept residential construction ticking over. But there’s a big drop in new work to come.
- Updated
- Michael Bleby
On a mission to drive down EV charging costs
A Melbourne-based EV charging company will use its new charging-as-a-service offering, targeted at corporate fleets, to attract institutional investment.
- Agnes King
How to slash labour costs – and build 2000pc growth
Wild Modular has burst on to the accommodation scene with pre-fabricated accommodation that takes just weeks to manufacture and days to install.
- Sian Powell
Former Leighton executive David Savage appears in Sydney court
David Savage has returned from his French chateau to attend court hearings in Sydney as prosecutors try to prove they have enough evidence to bring a criminal case to trial.
- Jenny Wiggins
