February 7, 2025
Welcome to the February edition of Projects & Construction Monthly.
This edition addresses:
- Recent Construction News;
- Mandatory Climate Reporting for Large Australian Construction Companies;
- LPC Lawyers’ recently completed ‘Ask the Specialists’ series; and
- Opportunities to join the LPC Lawyers’ team.
Recent Construction News
Melrose Road Bridge Project
The Melrose Road Bridge was officially reopened on 30 January 2025, providing a significant upgrade for a key rural route.
The Toowoomba Regional Council constructed a new two-lane concrete bridge to replace the single-lane timber bridge on Melrose Road, Brookstead. The bridge crosses the North Branch of the Condamine River.
The $4.35 million project will improve access for local agriculture businesses operating in the region and enhance the bridge’s resilience to natural disasters.
Lake Macdonald Dam Improvement Project
Major works for the Lake McDonald Dam Improvement Project are set to commence in March 2025.
The project is part of Seqwater’s Dam Improvement Program and will enhance water security and enable the dam to withstand extreme weather conditions in the future.
Works commenced in November 2024 to prepare the site for major construction activities in 2025. The works included taking aquatic fauna surveys and the construction of haul roads and office buildings.
Victoria Bridge Works
Major infrastructure works will continue in early 2025 on the Victoria Bridge to support metro and bus services, as well as active transport connections from the Brisbane CBD to South Brisbane.
The works include resurfacing works, the construction of a new cycleway on the bridge deck, strengthening works on and under the bridge and sewer works.
Mandatory Climate Reporting for Large Australian Construction Companies
From 1 January 2025, new financial disclosures relating to climate impacts will need to be made by large Australian companies. Construction companies will need to be aware of this legislative change.
The Australian Government passed the Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Market Infrastructure and Other Measures) Bill 2024 (Cth) on 9 September 2024 and the Bill received Royal Assent on 17 September 2024. Schedule 4 of the Bill sets out the new climate reporting requirements.
The mandatory climate reporting requirements will be rolled out over the next three years across three groups of reporting cohorts, with the first reporting cohort required to prepare annual sustainability reports for the financial year commencing on or after 1 January 2025. The second and third reporting cohorts are required to prepare annual sustainability reports for the financial years commencing on or after 1 July 2026 and 1 July 2027 respectively.
Construction companies subject to the new reporting requirements will need to know the emissions throughout their supply chain resulting from the production, use and transport of construction materials and energy consumption activities, to disclose in their climate statements.
LPC Lawyers’ Recently Completed ‘Ask the Specialists’ Series
According to the rule against opinion evidence, witnesses are not ordinarily permitted to express opinions on matters. However, expert (opinion) evidence is a recognised exception to this rule, where specialised knowledge is required to draw inferences and conclusions. This three-part series explored the nature of expert opinion evidence, considerations when finding the ‘right’ expert and their duties, as well as explaining the conclaving process and joint expert reports.
Ask the Specialists – Part 1: An Introduction to Expert Evidence
Part 1 provides an explanation of what expert opinion evidence is, the purpose and significance of expert opinion evidence and the rules of the admissibility of expert opinion evidence. Read the full article here.
Ask the Specialists – Part 2: Duties and the ‘Right’ Expert
Part 2 looks at the duties and responsibilities of the expert and various considerations for instructing solicitors when engaging an expert. Read the full article here.
Ask the Specialists – Part 3: Expert Collaboration
Part 3 explores expert conclaves and joint expert reports and sets out the relevant rules under the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 1999 (Qld). Read the full article here.
LPC Lawyers’ Continued Expansion
LPC Lawyers is looking to hire with opportunities for growth in our expanding practice.
Litigation Lawyers (1-3 years PAE)
Working closely with an ex-top tier partner, this role is ideal for a candidate who is highly motivated and has experience in drafting correspondence, simple pleadings, briefs for Counsel, and some client advisory work.
For more information about our current opportunities visit our website here or to apply, please email your resume and cover letter to Manaia at [email protected].