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For every dodgy tradie there are many others delivering high-quality work, who are dealing with their own set of challenges, including customers whose expectations can be as demanding as they are unrealistic.

opinion
opinion
OpinionVideoCommentsPremium
opinion
It’s not them, it’s you: Why tradies might not call back

With tradies in high demand, it is not just about whether the job stacks up but whether the customer does, too.

Gary Martin

This pile of delivered fill sand cost $650, but in 2021, it would have cost only $400

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
BuildingCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Building costs soar as Sandgroper State faces sand shortage

WA’s identity as the Sandgroper State may have been forged in its coastal plains, but sand is no longer dirt cheap, with costs jumping by two thirds - or $10,000 to $15,000 per block.

Kim Macdonald

Iron ore generates about a quarter of WA’s income.

EconomyCommentsPremiumWhy WA would be most at risk if Iran war rages on

WA’s economy was among the strongest in the world through the GFC and pandemic but new analysis warns a prolonged Middle East war could bring that lucky run to an end.

Matt Mckenzie

Artist impression of the proposed development at 2 Upham Street.

ConstructionCommentsPremiumControversial $150m Perth apartment block gets green light

A $150 million triple-tower apartment complex has been approved by WA’s peak planning body despite significant backlash from the community.

Harriet Flinn

A Hamilton Hill building site in early 2025.

ConstructionCommentsPremiumRegulators keep close eye on building cost squeeze

Regulators will be watching WA builders to prevent excessive price hikes for homebuyers as the industry braces for war-driven cost blowouts.

Matt Mckenzie

ECU City has been named as a finalist in the 2026 Australian Construction Achievement Award.

PropertyCommentsPremiumECU $853m project named industry’s highest awards finalist

ECU City has been named a finalist for the 2026 Australian Construction Achievement Award, the industry’s highest honour.

Sophie Gannon

D & C Corporation worked on two of VIctor Goh’s builds — Capital Square on Mount Street and EQWest on the banks of the Swan River.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
ConstructionPremium
The West Australian exclusive
From Goh to woe: Secret docs reveal EQWest delay dispute

The company building Victor Goh’s Elizabeth Quay skyscrapers was blasted for withholding millions of dollars from a contractor in a previously secret legal ruling.

Matt Mckenzie

Brickie Gavin Depledge on a worksite in Nollamara. Mr Depledge says the brick shortage is holding up construction, his subcontracting team would would normally have 14 people but they're struggling to find enough work for six at the moment because of the brick shortage.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
HousingVideoCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Brick shortage the latest challenge in WA’s housing crisis

First Covid, then labour shortages, a squeeze on materials, and then a fuel cost blow-out. Now a brick shortage is the latest challenge to building a home. When will the construction sector catch a break?

Kim Macdonald

Treasurer Rita Saffioti has admitted there would be 'impacts' on infrastructure projects as Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas called for some projects to be paused.

State PoliticsVideoCommentsCalls to put WA projects on ice amid fears of cost blowouts

Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas said rumblings had already begun over the implications higher fuel prices would have on major projects as the Government argues ‘we can’t stop the economy’.

Caitlyn Rintoul

Master Builders WA chief executive Matt Moran met with Roger Cook on Wednesday morning to discuss the industry.

State PoliticsCommentsPremiumHousing meeting floats longer worksite hours amid fuel woes

Allowing worksites to operate for longer hours and changing bitumen levels on certain roads have been raised when WA builders met with the Cook Government to discuss fuel shortage issues.

Oliver Lane

John Carey held a press conference at a new housing development near Yanchep Beach Road.

state politicsCommentsPremiumUnwanted record as Perth’s housing queue hits all-time high

The priority list at the top of the State’s queue for public housing has exceeded 8000 for the first time, as the Cook Government struggles to build its way out of a rent squeeze. 

Jessica Page

Roof carpenters Tristan Massimi, Dave Carlile and Cooper Martin say rising fuel costs are already hurting them financially.

ConstructionCommentsPremiumMiddle East war adds thousands to cost of building a house

The Middle East conflict has already added a staggering amount to the cost of building a standard project home, according to the Housing Industry Association.

Kim Macdonald

IAG chief executive Nick Hawkins in Perth today.

Insurance & Estate PlanningCommentsPremiumInsurance boss warns of premium threat from Middle East war

The insurer also insists RAC’s 1.3 million members have nothing to fear from a sale of the motoring mutual’s State-leading general insurance business.

Sean Smith

Boral names Matt McKenzie as new CEO

ConstructionCommentsPremiumBoral names new CEO for next phase of growth

Vik Bansal, the man credited with transforming Boral into a leaner, Australia-focused building materials business, is giving up the job of chief executive but will remain a key part of its next phase of growth.

Daniel Newell

The Premier Roger Cook at the Pan Pacific Hotel for an HIA Breakfast.

State PoliticsCommentsPremiumCook calls for construction roundtable as fuel costs bite

The Cook Government will bring together leaders from the construction industry to discuss the impacts of rising fuel prices and worries of shortening supply.

Oliver Lane

A render of the Botanic Arc from the Civic Precinct’s concept design.

ConstructionCommentsPremiumLocal outrage puts $68m western suburbs development in doubt

The City of Subiaco is likely to be going back to the drawing board on its proposed $64 million civic precinct redevelopment after a community survey revealed disapproval towards the projects current design.

Harriet Flinn

Gold Fields built a solar farm to power its Granny Smith gold mine near Laverton.

EnergyPremiumFortescue kicks off construction of WA’s biggest solar farm

Fortescue has turned the sod on a massive new solar farm in the Pilbara in the latest of a raft of new energy projects to get the Andrew Forrest-led miner to its 2030 emissions deadline.

Simone Grogan

Matt Holcz

WaterCommentsPremiumRio, Water Corp go halves to double Pilbara water plant

Rio Tinto and the State Government will both bear the cost of doubling the capacity of a $1.1 billion Pilbara desalination plant as the mining giant looks to reduce its burden on precious water supplies. 

Simone Grogan

More than 2,400 houses and units were green-lit in January, according to seasonally adjusted data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

ConstructionCommentsPremiumWA home approvals hit close to five-year high

New home approvals in WA have hit their highest level since the pandemic-era building bubble’s peak, defying a national downturn to start the year strong.

Matt Mckenzie

Owners of a mansion on Perth’s Millionaire’s Row have been given the approval to build a $500,000 staircase leading from their Dalkeith property to the Swan River foreshore.

ConstructionCommentsPremiumDalkeith millionaires to build stairs from mansion to river

Owners of a mansion on Perth’s Millionaire’s Row have been given the approval to build a $500,000 staircase leading from their Dalkeith property to the Swan River foreshore. 

Harriet Flinn

New Metronet trains ‘made in WA’ likely won’t operate across the majority of the passenger network for years to come with the Cook Government uncommitted to delivering crucial upgrades. 

State PoliticsCommentsPremiumMidland station opens as Metronet project officially ends

The Cook Government has no timeline for crucial upgrades to allow new WA-made Metronet trains to run across the majority of Perth’s rail network, despite the multi-billion-dollar program’s completion.

Charlton Hart

A general view of Claisebrook Station, which the City of Perth is looking to merge with McIver station.

ConstructionCommentsPremiumPlan to axe two inner-city stations for single hub revealed

Perth’s inner-city rail network could be set for an overhaul, with the City of Perth proposing to axe two long-standing CBD train stations in favour of a single, modern transit hub.

Caitlin Vinci

The unfinished monument is already the world's tallest church but still requires more construction. (AP PHOTO)

ConstructionPremiumBarcelona's Sagrada Familia reaches maximum height

Barcelona's Sagrada Familia reached its maximum height with the placement of a cross on its central Tower of Jesus Christ.

Staff Writers

Iluka Resources swung to a big loss on a weak mineral sands market.

MiningCommentsPremiumMake-or-break year ahead for Iluka’s rare earths refinery

Iluka Resources has swung to a largely-expected loss following a rough 12 months in the mineral sands market, with investors focus on a crucial build period for Australia’s first separated rare earths refinery.

Simone Grogan