The total number of cranes across Sydney increased by nine to 319, with the city’s residential sector suffering the most number of crane removals—dropping by 19—due to the recent housing downturn reducing residential construction by 2.5 per cent.
Across the state construction work done continued to grow, lifting 2 per cent in chain volume terms while engineering work remained constant.
“Visually, cranes across Sydney appear to be following the significant spend on transport infrastructure,” RLB director research and development Domenic Schiafone said.
“These are north along the Pacific highway, west along Parramatta Road, northeast along the M2 and south along the Kingsway.”
Melbourne’s total crane count contracted for the first time in three years with a decrease of 9 net cranes since the previous edition six months ago.
Across the city, 94 cranes were added to projects and 104 were removed, to reach a total of 213 cranes.
Melbourne also saw a net loss of cranes in the residential, commercial and mixed-use sectors, reducing by 3 to 145, shrinking for the first time in the past six reports.
The city’s commercial sector fell by three cranes with eight additions and 11 removals.
New cranes were sighted at Seek headquarters in Cremorne, Nexus Corporate Park, 555 Collins Street, 254-294 Wellington Road and Park Street in South Melbourne.
Melbourne Square also saw an additional commercial crane installed.
Infrastructure projects have continued to Melbourne currently has 13 cranes involved on the Melbourne Metro Tunnel and Western Distributor projects—including associated infrastructure and in ground services diversions.
Similarly the education sector has seen crane additions at Royal Victorian Ear and Eye Hospital, Mecwacare in Malvern, Goulburn Valley Health in Shepparton and Northern Hospital in Epping.