Residential cranes down while Cross River Rail, Queen’s Wharf hold up Brisbane total

The latest crane count has found two mega-projects are responsible for a third of Brisbane’s cranes, but one sector has plummeted from once dizzying heights.

NEW statistics show major apartment construction in Brisbane has collapsed, as two major projects hold up the city's crane count.

The latest crane count released by Rider Levett Bucknall shows there were 58 cranes in the river city in March, up just one on September last year.

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With 10 and seven cranes respectively, Queen's Wharf and Cross River Rail account for 30 per cent of that total.

Only 20 cranes were working on residential construction sites across Brisbane last quarter, a stunning decline on the 94 recorded in 2015.

The metric has long been considered an indicator of economic growth in Queensland, since being championed by former Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen.

Construction at Queen’s Wharf was cracking ahead, with RLB reporting 10 cranes at the site. Picture: AAP Image/Josh Woning

Of the 58 cranes across Brisbane, two thirds were found in Inner Brisbane.

RLB director Paul Megram said Cross River Rail and Queen’s Wharf, both costing several billion dollars, would remain the mainstays of the construction industry.

But Mr Megram said the residential apartment market had failed to recover from an oversupply in recent years, which was weighing on new projects.

“I think supply peaked and the demand fell away, particularly when the banks were tightening their credit. The market slowed and hasn’t picked up,” he said.

“Potentially there are opportunities in the future for residential to come back.”

“That recovery will probably be delayed somewhat.”

Kate Jones at a Cross River Rail site. There were seven cranes at three Cross River Rail sites. Picture: Annette Dew

Mr Megram said he expected more cranes to be erected in civil construction, in particular the healthcare sector, as governments looked to revive the economy in coming years.

Rapid changes in working arrangements could also see demand for office space impacted.

“Working from home, and flexible working arrangements, was on the increase but fairly slowly,” Mr Megram said of conditions pre-coronavirus.

“You may see a rapid increase in adopting alternative working methods.”

“It may mean (companies) need less space.”

Destination Brisbane Consortium project director Simon Crooks standing in front of the construction site of Queen’s Wharf in 2019. Picture: File.

Destination Brisbane Consortium project director Simon Crooks said work was continued as planned at the construction site of the $3.6 billion Queen’s Wharf project, with workers practising social distancing.

“Motorists heading south along the Riverside Expressway will now get a good look at towers two and three, The Star Grand Hotel lift cores, as they continue to rise from the construction site footprint,” Mr Crooks said.