Brisbane’s biannual crane count soars by 12 per cent as Olympic expansion arrives

Construction experts are warning of looming capacity challenges as Brisbane's crane count jumps to a huge 73, signalling the city's biggest building boom in decades.

Brisbane's crane count has soared.

If you think there are more cranes on the Brisbane skyline, you’re right.

Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) say’s there’s been a 12 per cent increase in the number of cranes across the Brisbane’s skyline as the city gears up for a new wave of expansion fuelled by the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

However, RLB warns that capacity challenges lay ahead as major projects come online.

The 27th edition of the biannual RLB Crane Index finds Brisbane’s skyline now hosts a total of 73 cranes, with 28 new additions outpacing the 20 removed since the last report in first quarter of 2025.

This crane index snapshot shows just a portion of the cranes around Brisbane.

RLB Queensland director Jamie Smith says the latest results revealed the city was in a transitional phase before entering a new wave of expansion fuelled by the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“With Brisbane on track to reach 3.1 million residents by 2032, the time to build housing is now, and this is reflected in Brisbane’s skyline where more than half of the cranes operating in the residential sector,” he says.

Two cranes at work in Brisbane.

The report reveals 42 residential projects, seven mixed-use, nine health and five civil projects were underway in Brisbane.

Smith recommends it will be crucial to plan strategically to meet demand in Brisbane’s next phase of growth.

“This means mapping out public projects strategically to safeguard trade capacity and embracing modern methods of construction – like prefabricated components – to ease pressure on traditional trades and diversify the supply chain,” he says.

Green shift

Builders McNab has snared a 45 per cent shareholding in Powershift, a leading provider of mobile battery storage systems.

The partnership will see Powershift’s advanced technology replacing McNab’s traditional noisy diesel generators with the next generation clean, quiet and rapidly deployable energy systems that reduces fuel use and emissions by up to 75 per cent.

McNab chief executive Kunjan Ganatra says the investment reflects the company’s belief that Powershift’s technology represents the future of temporary power in commercial and industrial settings.

“Rather than build this capability from the ground up, we have chosen to partner with a company that is already delivering on-the-ground solutions across Australia and beyond,” he says.

McNab chief executive Kunjan Ganatra.

“We’ve seen the benefit first-hand, with Powershift’s mobile units being used on McNab construction sites delivering significant cost savings, quieter working environments and cleaner energy solutions for our team, our clients and the community.

“This partnership will help accelerate the transition to cleaner and smarter energy solutions, redefining how the construction industry, as well as many other industries, powers its future.

“Powershift’s rental fleet of mobile battery systems is capable of powering entire construction sites including cranes, hoists, site sheds and multiple items of plant, as well as keeping projects moving through commissioning and handover even if the grid is not yet available.”

The Sunshine Coast-based Powershift co-founder and chief executive Sandra Brodie says McNab’s investment provides the momentum Powershift needs to scale more rapidly and to amplify its impact across multiple industries.

“Our vision has always been to redefine what’s possible in delivering temporary power here in Australia and our partnership with McNab enables us to expand our presence in the market and to deliver greater benefits to our clients,” she says.