CCF WA NEWS

The Civil Contractors Federation National has welcomed the Albanese Government’s announcement of an additional $2 billion investment in housing enabling infrastructure, describing the measure as a critical recognition that housing supply cannot be delivered without investment in civil construction.

The funding, announced ahead of Tuesday’s Federal Budget, will support enabling infrastructure including roads, water, sewerage and power connections required to unlock new housing developments across Australia.

CCF National CEO Nicholas Proud said the announcement reflected the reality that civil infrastructure is the foundation of every new housing project.

“You cannot spend a dollar on housing until you spend a dollar on civil infrastructure,” Mr Proud said.

“Before a single home is built, civil contractors are delivering the roads, sewerage, drainage, water and power infrastructure that makes new communities possible.”

“For too long the national housing discussion has focused on houses alone, without enough recognition of the enabling infrastructure required to unlock supply.”

Mr Proud said the allocation of funding to local governments and regional Australia was particularly important given the growing infrastructure pressures facing councils and utilities providers.

“Many regional communities have projects ready to go but simply do not have the financial capacity to deliver the enabling infrastructure needed to support growth,” he said.

“This funding recognises that housing affordability and infrastructure delivery go hand in hand.”

Mr Proud said attention must now turn to ensuring the civil construction sector has the capacity and policy settings needed to deliver the increased pipeline of work.

“The industry is already managing record levels of demand alongside rising fuel and material costs, workforce shortages and significant pressure on existing infrastructure programs,” he said.

“If governments want to accelerate housing delivery, we also need to focus on workforce development, procurement reform and building long-term industry capacity.”

“Civil infrastructure is not an optional extra in the housing conversation. It is the starting point.”

For further information: Rowan Carter, Director of Policy and Advocacy, 0407 896 862

Western Australian civil contractors caught between fixed price contracts and major costs increases on state and local government infrastructure projects are seeking urgent relief.

Civil Contractors Federation WA CEO Andy Graham said a recent survey of local civil contractors showed more than 90% were on fixed price contracts, which forced them to bear the brunt of recent diesel and construction materials cost increases.

“Many of those contractors are working for government, which is our industry’s biggest client,” Mr Graham said. “We’re asking government to step in to assist where its contract terms have left contractors exposed to this unprecedented escalation.

“Our survey suggests civil construction costs have typically increased by 10 to 15 per cent since the start of this crisis. With average profit margins in our industry around 5 or 6 per cent, it’s clear that contractors are hurting and can’t continue without help.

“Concerningly, around 60% of survey respondents said that without some sort of relief, they’ll be forced to stand down staff and subcontractors in the near future.”

Mr Graham welcomed recent diesel price reductions while noting a significant contributor had been fuel excise cuts which did not benefit operators of excavators, loaders and other off-road mobile plant.

“It’s certainly a relief to see diesel trending down, but the reality is it’s still around two-thirds higher than before this crisis,” he said. “And direct diesel costs are just one problem for civil contractors. Pretty much everything else has gone up too, including sand and other quarry products, bitumen and asphalt, PVC and HDPE pipe, concrete, waste disposal – the list goes on and on.

"As our recent report demonstrated, civil construction is more exposed to diesel-related price shocks than any other sector."

Mr Graham said local companies delivering government projects on fixed price contracts were now preparing April payment claims that wouldn't cover their costs for the month.

“Most have already taken a hit in March, and April will be worse,” he said. “The question is, how many can keep holding out without help? We would rather not find out, and have urged the State Government to act now so that contractors, subcontractors and suppliers on its projects can breathe easier.

“We understand local government authorities are waiting on guidance from the State Government before they can consider assistance.

"CCF WA also urges private sector clients to help their contractors to navigate this crisis, and we've been pleased to hear that many are stepping up to do so."

CCF WA is pleased to announce a record 135 nominations in the 2026 WA Civil Construction Industry & Training Awards. The nominations come from 31 companies across WA's civil construction industry; once again making these Awards the industry's biggest night of the year. Congratulations to all confirmed nominees.

And the nominees are...

TRAINING AWARDS

Aboriginal Apprentice/Trainee of the Year:

• Lewis Henry - Melchor 
• Ben Maslin - A&B Building
• Brendon Walley - RC Construction
• Deborah Williams - Georgiou Group

Apprentice of the Year (General)

• Teariki Framhein - Melchor
• Ramadhan Guriman - Castleross Construction
• Ben Maslin - A&B Building
• Brendon Walley - RC Construction

Civil Apprentice of the Year

• Callum Chance - APEX Utilities
• Mortaza Huseini - APEX Utilities
• Kane McClure - APEX Utilities
• Indie Oakley - Georgiou Group
• Kaienua Pera - Melchor
• Lachlan Sharpe - APEX Utilities
• Hayley Smith - APEX Utilities
• Brett Tedman - APEX Utilities

Certificate II Civil Trainee of the Year

• Austin Haslam - Motivation Foundation/Georgiou Strabag
• Larissa Macgregor - Motivation Foundation/Georgiou Strabag
• Zayne May - Motivation Foundation/ERTECH
• Joshua Morris - Motivation Foundation/ERTECH

Certificate II Trainee of the Year (General)

• Jermain Hansen - Carey Group Training Organisation
• Jacob Steffanoni - Structerre Consulting Engineers
• Shaun Stokell - Structerre Consulting Engineers

Certificate IV Civil Trainee of the Year

• Nicholas Dolin - Georgiou Group
• Adam Sheavyn - APEX Utilities
• Todd Sheavyn - APEX Utilities

Certificate IV Trainee of the Year (General)

• Shane Atkinson - Structerre Consulting Engineers
• Anthony Blazeski - Structerre Consulting Engineers
• Brett Tedman - APEX Utilities

Training Professional of the Year

• Victor Cavallaro - HRTA

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

Administration Professional of the Year

• Tara Burke - Calroc
• Elyse Burrell - Alkimos Pipeline Alliance
• Tracey Daly - APEX Utilities
• Kiara Daly - Busselton Civil
• Keelie Elliot-Shircore - Ertech
• Deimante Kaulakyte - O'Brien Civil
• Allyana Lopez - Saltire Infrastructure
• Saoirse Maguire - PCH Civil
• Amy McGrigor - SRG Global
• Mladenka Orelj - FSC Civils
• Sinead Scott - BMD
• Ebony Tindall - Structerre Consulting
• Mika Weygoood - Celotti Workforce
• Rubee Wilson - Tracc Civil

Bid Professional of the Year

• Lisa Carmichael - BOS Civil
• Tracey Daly - APEX Utilities
• Adam Dring - O'Brien Civil
• Nayelly Garcia - CPB Contractors
• Paul Hidding - Tracc Civil
• Iain Lawrence - BMD
• Andy Lyon - DT Infrastructure
• Kelly Maughan - AsssA
• Roxanne Picado - Celotti Workforce
• Kirsten Seinor - PCH Civil
• Michael Sloan - Saltire Infrastructure

Civil Tradesperson of the Year

• Niall Bourke - O'Brien Civil
• Jose Dos Santos - Melchor
• Manuel Dos Santos - Melchor
• Matt Humpski - Melchor
• Abbey-Lee Johnson - APEX Utilities
• Aodhan Keane - O'Brien Civil
• Sean Walsh - Tracc Civil

Communications/Engagement Professional of the Year

• Joey Bal - CPB Contractors
• Chelsea De-Vries - AsssA
• Michael Dolton - BMD
• Alison Lennon - Georgiou Group
• Candis Smartt - Georgiou Group

Engineer of the Year

• Adeel Ahmad - Georgiou Group
• Naveed Atbein - Georgiou Group
• Jared Bodger - Ertech
• Brendan Carroll - DM Civil
• Luke Chadwick - CATS Construction
• Ben Desmier - PCH Civil
• Lorrany Ferreira - Melchor
• Jatila Manage - Calroc
• Jason McAleer - CATS Construction
• Ciara McCrystal - O'Brien Civil
• Wai Myo - Melchor
• Rajkumar (Raj) Parmar - FSC Civils
• Jeevan Paudel - Tracc Civil
• Andrew Reynalds - BMD

Plant Operator of the Year

• Paul Byl - Tracc Civil
• Eoin Corcoran - O'Brien Civil
• Thomas McCool - PCH Civil
• Lachlan Sharpe - APEX Utilities

Project Manager of the Year

• Dinuka Corera - Tracc Civil
• Brian Donohoe - Georgiou Group
• Mark Faulkner - CPB Contractors
• Kate James - DT Infrastructure
• Fiona Lethbridge - Georgiou Group
• Sandra McCagh - Busselton Civil
• Muhammad Musaab - FSC Civils
• Campbell Saunders - BOS Civil
• Michael Smith - CPB Contractors
• Declan Wims - BMD

Safety Professional of the Year

• Gary De-Vries - AsssA
• Jordan Fabia - BMD
• Michael Farmer - SRG Global
• Andrew Grant - CPB Contractors
• Ronan Hartin - Calroc
• Georgia Hoetzel - Melchor
• Kate Jensen - Busselton Civil
• Robert Orelj - FSC Civils
• Usama Qurban - AsssA

Site Supervisor of the Year

• Ian Byrne - BOS Civil
• Ben Day - Georgiou Group
• Shane Doherty - Calroc
• Pio (Brendan) Duffy - FSC Civils
• Liam Hansberry - O'Brien Civil
• Daniel Howarth - Saltire Infrastructure
• Stewart Kay - BMR Piping & Civil
• Ryan McLardy - DM Civil
• Patrick McLaughlin - Castleross Construction
• Libby O'Brien - BMD
• Tarson Parkyn - Tracc Civil
• George Porter - Castleross Construction
• Russel Scheffer - APEX Utilities
• Adam Sheavyn - APEX Utilities
• Todd Sheavyn - APEX Utilities
• Gordon Snell - O'Brien Civil
• Shane Walsh - Melchor
• Andy Watson - BOS Civil
• Dean Whitehead - DT Infrastructure

CORPORATE AWARDS

Aboriginal Engagement Award

• Georgiou Group

Supplier of the Year

• Abaxa
• Acu-Tech Piping Systems
• Celotti Workforce
• Coffey Testing
• HRTA
• Mayday Rental
• TDDA Australia

Training Employer of the Year

• APEX Utilities
• Coffey Testing
• Georgiou Group
• Structerre Consulting Engineers
• Tracc Civil

WA’s peak civil construction industry body has urged local government authorities to support contractors hit hard by recent diesel-related cost escalation.

Civil Contractors Federation WA Chief Executive Officer Andy Graham said most contractors delivering local government road projects and other civil works were now losing money on those projects, and businesses and jobs were under threat.

Mr Graham said the civil sector was reeling from unprecedented cost escalation of diesel fuel and materials – including sand, aggregates, bitumen, pipe, and concrete. A new report by leading economist Saul Eslake (click here to view) underlines the civil construction sector’s dependence on diesel and its unusually high exposure to related price shocks.

“Costs on civil infrastructure projects have jumped by up to 15%, which is enough to wipe out margins,” Mr Graham said.

“Most local government infrastructure projects are delivered under fixed price contracts with no rise and fall mechanism designed to share escalation impacts.

“This means that contractors have to wear cost increases. Usually, this is manageable, but these recent increases are unprecedented. Businesses and jobs are at risk, and civil contractors will need help to pull through.”

Mr Graham said CCF WA members were reporting that many local governments were responding positively and willing to consider ways to provide support, such as approving variations to existing contracts.

“However, we have also heard that some LGAs are sticking to the letter of contracts and refusing to discuss temporary relief for contractors and their supply chains,” he said.

“CCF WA urges all LGAs to work with their civil contractors and suppliers and support them through this crisis.”

“We are happy to advise local governments on effective measures to achieve this.”

The Eslake report notes that the civil construction sector’s vulnerability to collisions between rapid, unforeseen cost increases and fixed-price contracts is evident in the sharp increase in the number of contractors entering administration following the dramatic rise in input costs driven by post-Covid supply chain disruptions. Cost escalation over the past month has been even more dramatic and potentially more damaging.

The Civil Contractors Federation (CCF) has released a major new economic report by leading economist Saul Eslake, confirming that the civil construction sector is the most exposed to the current global fuel shock and faces significant risks to project delivery and business viability.

CCF National Chief Executive Officer Nicholas Proud said the report, The Impact of the Middle East Fuel Crisis on Australia’s Civil Construction Sector, was a rigorous, independent assessment from one of Australia’s most respected economists, and its findings were clear.

“Civil construction is the most diesel-exposed sector in the Australian economy and is being hit hardest by this fuel shock,” Mr Proud said.

“Diesel underpins every aspect of civil construction. When prices spike at this scale, the impacts are immediate, systemic and unavoidable.”

CCF Western Australia CEO Andy Graham said civil construction projects were usually delivered under fixed price contracts, with no rise and fall clause to shield contractors from the full impact of fuel and materials cost increase.

“As the report shows, our exposure to diesel price shocks is massive, “ Mr Graham said. “For civil earthworks projects, diesel can be anywhere up to 20% of total costs.

“On top of that, civil contractors are being hit with big price rises of all key materials including sand, aggregates, concrete, asphalt, and pipe.

“Our contractors were hit hard in March but April looks much worse. Margins are evaporating and businesses and jobs are under threat.

“The support of our clients in the public and private sectors is crucial, and we thank those clients that are stepping up to help contractors work through this crisis.

“CCF WA is urging the State Government to lead the way by immediately inserting appropriate Rise & Fall clauses in existing and new civil works contracts.”

Download the report here.

The Civil Contractors Federation (CCF) is calling for targeted, practical support to help manage the impact of rising fuel prices on infrastructure delivery across Australia.

Civil construction is one of the largest users of diesel in the economy, with CCF members consuming around one billion litres annually to deliver vital infrastructure. With fuel accounting for up to 12 per cent of project input costs, recent price increases are already placing significant pressure on project delivery.

Early analysis indicates additional fuel costs of over $100 million across the civil construction industry in the first month alone, with further impacts expected as volatility continues.

At the same time, many contractors are operating under contracts that do not include rise and fall provisions, limiting their ability to share cost increases across the supply chain. As a result, some contractors are now exposed to delivering projects at a loss.

Without support from Commonwealth, State and Local Governments, these pressures risk flowing through the industry, with smaller contractors particularly vulnerable. There are growing concerns that sustained cost increases could lead to insolvencies and a loss of delivery capacity, particularly in regional areas. 

CCF is calling for governments to engage constructively with industry, including consideration of this issue through National Cabinet, to ensure infrastructure delivery remains sustainable.

CCF National CEO, Nicholas Proud, said practical, measured responses are needed to keep projects moving.

“Civil contractors are absorbing significant cost increases in real time, and that is not sustainable without adjustment,” Mr Proud said.

“This is about maintaining the delivery of essential infrastructure and ensuring the industry remains in a position to deliver for communities.”

Infrastructure numbers

• Construction requires 3.4b litres of diesel per year of which around 60% is used by civil infrastructure plant and equipment.
• Construction is the most reliant Australian industry on diesel with 79% of its energy coming from diesel.
• Like agriculture, construction uses around 10% of total diesel usage today.
• Construction contracts are largely fixed price and with government – with low margins of around 1% for $1b plus jobs and there is not a huge amount of room for additional costs.
• • Our fuel calculation indicates that fuel is roughly 7.5% of the cost of a project.
  • In this respect the increase since the conflict started has added around $50m to the price of a $1b project.
• To today, analysis indicates additional fuel costs of over $100 million across the civil construction industry in the first month alone, with further impacts expected as volatility continues.

CCF WA represents civil contractors on the Utility Providers Services Committee (UPSC), which brings together all the major utility asset providers (including Water Corporation, Western Power, ATCO, Telstra and NBN) to engage with key industry and government stakeholders.

One of the UPSC’s primary functions is maintaining the Utility Providers Code of Practice, which documents best practice and provides essential information and guidance in managing and undertaking works associated with the provision of underground utility services in public road reserves. The Code of Practice is an authoritative reference for utility services providers, local governments, developers, and contractors throughout WA.

The UPSC is currently reviewing of the Code of Practice. The aim of the review is to enhance its relevance and longevity as a living document by:

• Ensuring clarity and relevance to all users.
• Streamlining and removing unnecessary information 
• Using diagrams and visual aids, where possible, to convey critical information.

The Civil Contractors Federation (CCF) has warned that calls from the ACTU for nationally mandated temperature shutdown rules would directly delay major infrastructure projects across regional Australia, while duplicating and undermining existing state based safety frameworks that are already managing heat risks effectively.

CCF National Chief Executive Officer Nicholas Proud said the proposal ignored both the realities of Australia’s climate and the way work health and safety is regulated and enforced across the country.

“Projects like the $8 billion Bruce Highway Upgrade, Brisbane Olympics infrastructure, the Eyre Peninsula Desalination Plant and the Reid Highway Upgrade are all delivered in environments where heat is a known, predictable and actively managed risk,” Mr Proud said.

“A blunt national shutdown trigger would take weeks of productive work off the table each year, regardless of the controls already in place and regardless of whether work can be done safely.”

Mr Proud said Australia already has a robust work health and safety framework that deliberately avoids one size fits all temperature thresholds, because heat risk cannot be reduced to a single number.

“Heat risk depends on a combination of factors including humidity, workload, air movement, clothing, acclimatisation and the specific controls on site. That is why regulators have adopted risk based approaches rather than arbitrary shutdown rules.”

He said state and territory guidance, including practical frameworks such as WorkSafe Western Australia’s Working safely in hot conditions, already provide clear direction to employers and workers on how to manage heat safely.

“These frameworks allow work to continue safely by adjusting start times, rotating tasks, increasing rest breaks, providing shade and hydration, and closely monitoring workers for signs of heat stress,” Mr Proud said.

“They are flexible, evidence based and designed to respond to real conditions on the ground.”

Mr Proud warned that imposing national rules from Canberra would override these established systems and disproportionately impact regional Australia, where heat is a regular part of daily life and construction windows are already constrained.

“Bureau of Meteorology data shows the mean number of days over 35 degrees each year is 28.8 in Perth, 13.9 in Darwin and 14.2 in Adelaide,” he said.

“In regional Australia, heat is not an occasional event. It is a normal operating condition that is already being managed safely through existing laws.”

Mr Proud said automatic shutdown rules risk creating perverse outcomes by encouraging rigid compliance rather than active risk management.

“Blanket rules replace judgement and consultation with a trigger point,” he said.

“That does not improve safety outcomes, but it does delay projects, increase costs and slow the delivery of the housing, water, transport and energy infrastructure communities rely on.”

CCF reaffirmed that worker safety is non negotiable and said the industry remains committed to continuous improvement as summers become hotter. However, Mr Proud said reform should focus on strengthening and supporting existing state systems, not duplicating them.

“We support strong safety outcomes,” he said.

“What we do not support are unnecessary national rules that cut across effective state frameworks and make it harder to deliver critical infrastructure safely and efficiently.”

Perth

https://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_009021_All.shtml

Adelaide

https://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_023090.shtml

Darwin

https://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_014015_All.shtml

The State Government has published a draft Excavation Work Code of Practice, with comment due by Friday, March 13.

The Draft Code is available online at safetyline.wa.gov.au/consultations/draft-code-of-practice-excavation-work/

Like the harmonised Codes already in force in other Australian states, the draft WA Code is based on Safe Work Australia’s model Code of Practice for Excavation Work. However, the draft WA Code differs so significantly from the others that it barely qualifies as harmonised at all.

Some of the differences are hard to fathom. The section on ‘ground conditions’ is Part 6.1 of the model Code and all state Codes but is an appendix in the draft WA Code, while ‘adjacent buildings or structures’ is in Part 3 (planning excavation work) of every other Code but Part 5 (controlling risks) of the draft WA Code. Useful guidance in the model Code around plant operator protective structures has been omitted from the draft WA Code. There are many other major and minor examples.

In a recent discussion paper, Safe Work Australia noted that nationally consistent WHS laws simplify compliance and improve safety outcomes by making it easier for duty holders to understand and meet their obligations. The same logic applies to nationally consistent Codes of Practice.

Some inconsistencies are of course necessary to reflect WA-specific regulations, but others look like change for change’s sake. It would be helpful to understand the reasons for the many departures from the harmonised framework, but no explanations have been provided. CCF WA is unfortunately not a member of the Construction Industry Safety Advisory Committee (CISAC), which advises the WHSC on construction safety issues and was consulted during the development of the Code.

We will continue to advocate for a seat at CISAC on behalf of the civil construction industry. An initial review of the draft Code has already revealed a number of examples where more civil expertise may have been helpful. The scope and complexity of major excavation works on civil projects is not always appreciated by those outside our industry.

Guided by our Safety Committee, CCF WA will be reviewing the draft Code in detail over the next few weeks.  A summary document is available here. This document also includes space for member comment on each section of the Draft Code and can be used to provide your company’s feedback to CCF WA.

Your company’s comment is welcome by February 27 (or earlier if possible) so that CCF WA can prepare a comprehensive submission by the March 13 deadline.

CCF WA Summary and Comment Template

CCF WA’s Local Government Contracting Survey shows most contractors believe councils will achieve better value through open tenders for civil construction works rather than using the WALGA Preferred Supplier Program (PSP).

While many contractors saw potential in the PSP concept to deliver value for money by streamlining local government works procurement, there were widespread concerns with the way it operates.

Currently, contractors pay WALGA a commission of 1% of the value of civil works contracts won through the PSP. Despite contractors having to factor in this extra cost, WALGA tells councils they will receive cheaper prices through the PSP. The survey results challenge this claim, with 88% of respondents saying councils don’t receive better value using the PSP. As one survey respondent commented: “The 1% must come from somewhere”.

The PSP commission on a $10 million contract can mean that either the contractor or the LGA (depending on who ultimately absorbs the extra cost) effectively makes a $100,000 donation to WALGA.

Two-thirds of survey respondents believe a fairer, more transparent system would be for WALGA to charge LGAs a fee for using the PSP. A fee-for-service payment structure would allow LGAs to make an informed decision, weighing the cost of using the PSP against any internal administrative savings.

Other findings from the report include:

Most respondents (69%) said LGAs are generally ineffective at communicating their forward pipeline. While there are some welcome exceptions, the general lack of pipeline communication means contractors are often given inadequate time to plan their workflows and allocate resources.

The quality of project designs and tender documentation prepared by LGAs is highly variable. Many respondents noted that the quality of designs and documentation often depends on the consultant engaged by the council, which creates a risk as the experience and qualifications of consultants varies widely.

While some LGAs clearly communicate their tender evaluation processes and reasons, there is generally room for improvement. An earlier CCF WA report, Transparency in Western Australian Local Government tender evaluation (July 2022) looked at this issue in detail. CCF WA has welcomed proposed legislative reforms to improve transparency (amendments to Section 5.23) and we look forward to their implementation.

LGAs are mostly regarded as fair and reasonable in their management of contracts and payments. A resounding 93% of respondents rated contract management and payment practices as always or usually fair and reasonable, although about half noted occasional issues. These issues tend to stem from the lack of certainty created by poor designs and documentation.

CCF WA has shared the survey report with all Local Government CEOs and Mayors/Presidents, Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley, and new Local Government Inspector Tony Brown. We hope this survey can be a catalyst for much needed changes in this important sector.

Click here to download CCF WA’s 2025 Local Government Contracting Survey.