Infrastructure

SPECIAL REPORT: The national broadband network is throwing up unexpected competitive challenges for players in the communications sector.

Local engineering firm Monadelphous Group has won a $58 million contract to build an irrigation pipeline in New Zealand.

Global Construction Services will pocket $17.5 million when it completes the sale of its stake in Melbourne-based SmartScaff.

Diversified contractor Brierty will build car parks and access roads at the new Perth Stadium under an $8.1 million deal.

Telstra has defended the quality of its network after a series of major disruptions this year while also warning against the possible regulation of mobile roaming charges.

Work will start on the controversial $540 million Roe 8 highway extension project before the next state election, with a consortium led by CIMIC Group to be awarded a contract for the project in the coming days.

AMP Capital has bought the newly built Eastern Goldfields regional prison, joining the likes of Catholic Super, Australian Super and Aberdeen Asset Management as private owners of public infrastructure assets in Western Australia. Click through to see the BNiQ listing of public assets in private hands.

Spanish-controlled construction giant CIMIC Group has launched a $524 million takeover bid for its ASX-listed rival UGL.

Changes to freeway merging lanes have provided a welcome boost to Perth drivers, with the recent changes improving traffic flow and cutting journey times.

Perth-based surveying and construction contractor OTOC has raised $12 million from investors to fund its future growth plans.

The Western Australian arm of WHBO Group has won a contract to carry out upgrades across a large section of the Great Eastern Highway, in a project worth a total of $36 million.

The collapse of a ceiling section at Perth's Children's Hospital has been blamed by the construction union on builders John Holland doing a "rush job" on remediation work after asbestos was found in roof panels in July.

Victoria’s Labor government has reaped a bumper price of $9.7 billion from the sale of the Port of Melbourne, suggesting the WA government could potentially raise in excess of $2 billion from the sale of Fremantle Ports.

Mineral Resources is a step closer to developing its bulk ore transport system (BOTS) in the Pilbara after the project was recommended for approval by the environmental watchdog.

Hong Kong-based Brockman Mining has continued its run of legal victories in its efforts to gain access to Fortescue Metals Group’s rail infrastructure.

The WACA has started construction of a full set of drop-in wickets to be used at the new Perth Stadium, with hopes one of them will feature during the 2017-18 Ashes series.

Shares in civil and construction contractor Brierty tumbled after the company revealed a $50.4 million net loss.

Henderson-based shipbuilder Austal has suffered a loss for the 2016 financial year on the back of cost blowouts on its $US4 billion US Navy contract.

With CBH Group in the midst of an internal review of its structure, Business News thought it an opportune time to sit down with CEO Andrew “Andy” Crane at Julio’s in West Perth to discuss his career to date, and the grain cooperative’s future.

Decmil Group and Global Construction Services have swung into the red on the back of large write-downs and restructuring costs, but both are upbeat on the year ahead.

GR Engineering Services wrapped up the 2016 financial year with record revenue and increased profit, but says competition for design and construction opportunities remains high.

Waste management company Tox Free Solutions has lifted its dividend payout after releasing a mixed set of annual results that included weak earnings from its Western Australian and Queensland operations, but solid growth elsewhere on the east coast.

RCR Tomlinson says it has won $170 million worth of contracts for work across Australia, including at BHP Billiton’s operations in the Pilbara.

Shares in engineering firm Monadelphous Group fell sharply today after it posted a 27 per cent slide in profit on the back of lower activity in the resources and energy sectors and predicted contracting margins would remain under pressure.

CIMIC Group has launched legal action in the United States against Chevron over cost blowouts on jetty and marine structures it built at the Gorgon LNG project on Barrow Island.

Perth-based engineering firm Civmec has blamed low oil prices and a weaker Australian dollar for a near-halving of its full-year net profit.

After a year of acquisitions and big contract wins, diversified business OTOC has returned to the black and will pay its first-ever dividend.

Resolving disputes between contractors and subcontractors on government jobs is looming as a key state election issue.

Engineering firm UGL has won a $100 million contract to help build water reclamation infrastructure on the NSW south coast.

Opponents of the state government’s controversial Roe 8 highway extension project have taken their fight to the High Court following a recent decision that validated the project’s environmental approval.

Construction contractor Laing O’Rourke and engineering firm AECOM have won a $25 million contract to upgrade the East Perth train station, which is expected to take on larger crowds when the new Perth Stadium opens next year.

Investors welcomed news that GR Engineering Services had upgraded its profit and earnings forecasts for the 2016 financial year.