A Queensland police investigation has uncovered an alleged industrial espionage operation that potentially contributed to a major construction company missing out on hundreds of millions of dollars in projects. Two former employees of Shadforth on the Sunshine Coast had sensitive files hacked and data leaked to competitors.
Stricter workplace exposure limits for nine hazardous chemicals that impact construction workers and those in tunnelling and demolition have been put on hold by the majority of state and territory governments. These include known cancer-causing chemicals such as respirable crystalline silica (RCA), benzene, and formaldehyde. This is contrary to Safe Work Australia’s report finding the health and economic benefits would outweigh the costs.
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NSW’s first Construction Safety Roundtable has been held with representatives from construction firms, industry associations and others who discussed safety performance, key risks and opportunities for collaborative improvement. While SafeWork NSW found most construction businesses meet WH&S obligations, some employers continue to expose workers to unnecessary risks through inadequate safety management systems.
Victoria’s IMPACT (Integrating Mansfield’s Productivity, Agricultural Communities and Tourism Route is now complete – a major infrastructure project designed to improve connectivity, support local industry, and enhance visitor experience across central eastern Victoria. The project included an all-weather access road and upgrades to a major culvert on Rifle Butts Road, a new low-level crossing at Lanky Creek, and enhancements to the Delatite River Bridge.
Five heritage-listed warehouses from 1911 in Sydney’s Surry Hills at 4-22 Wentworth Ave will be adapted to accommodate flexible commercial spaces and multiple entries, while a “faceted, prism-like” tower will be constructed above part of the project, with a multi-storey landscaped atrium linking the buildings internally.
Image credit: DKO and Aileen Sage.
About the author
Desi Corbett
Desi is the Editor of Concrete in Australia, at the helm since December 2013, and our weekly news writer since 2016. Her expertise in this field forms part of a journalism career spanning three decades. To get in touch please email desi@corbettcomms.com