Crane Numbers Across Australia Increase

For the first time in 2 years the number of cranes in Australia’s major cities has increased, bringing the total number to 619. In the past 6 months alone there has been an increase of 16 cranes.

This increase has been across several different sectors. The mixed-use sector had the biggest rise with an additional 26 cranes while education and civil sectors, supported by government sponsored projects, increased by 19 and 16 respectively.

Key points for each of the country’s major cities:

• Brisbane recorded its biggest increase in crane numbers since late-2015. The city’s residential construction outpaced other cities with an increase of 12 residential cranes accounting for more than half of its net gain of 21, which lifted its total to 71, the most in two-and-a-half years.
• Sydney’s retail sector erected its first crane since late 2018 with a crane at Bridge Street in Pymble while residential cranes fell below 200 for the first time since early 2016. Six cranes were added to the $828-million Sydney Football Stadium redevelopment, the largest number of cranes on a single project in Sydney.
• Melbourne recorded its first increase in total cranes in two years as decreasing numbers of cranes on residential CBD projects were replaced by growing numbers of mixed-use developments. Cranes on civil projects such as Melbourne Metro Tunnel, West Gate Tunnel and the Level Crossing Removals, as well as education and health projects, increased.
• Perth’s total fell by six cranes to 30, reflecting fewer on education and commercial projects.
• Canberra dipped in total by one crane to 26, as the net loss of six residential cranes was largely offset by five new cranes on civic projects such as Canberra Airport’s 6 Brindabella Circuit business park.
• Adelaide remained steady with 10 cranes, while Hobart and Darwin’s totals were also flat-with no cranes-for the second report in a row.