Queensland industrial and construction sector growth

Queensland is undergoing significant industrial and residential expansion driven by large-scale infrastructure and manufacturing investments.

Initial developments focused on strengthening the state’s industrial base through over $1.9 billion in proposed private investment for steel and manufacturing projects. These include facilities by Equest Steel, Future Forgeworks, and the redevelopment of the Sims Metal site. To support residential growth, the government allocated $55.5 million from the Residential Activation Fund for water, road, and sewer upgrades in Central Queensland communities, aiming to unlock land for nearly 2,900 new homes.

This activity has evolved into a massive construction surge, with a development pipeline valued at $174 billion. Data from the Queensland Construction Portal identifies over 617 major projects valued at $50 million or more. The residential sector has seen a 35.6 percent increase in homes under construction over the last two years, making Queensland a national leader in residential building. This rapid growth has raised concerns regarding the availability of materials and the need for nearly 60,000 workers by 2026-27.