Transportation & Infrastructure

The federal government will spend $45 million over the next four years to develop bilateral agreements with states that will put an end to duplicative environmental approvals. 

Despite its loss in a class action against Queensland power companies, which has put it on the hook for $32 million in costs, funder LCM has avoided calls for cash security in a representative proceeding over toll road charges.

ASX-listed data centre operator NextDC has raised $750 million from a subordinated wholesale notes offer, bringing its cash pile to $6.6 billion.

Mining company Fortescue will invest US$680 million ($960 million) to develop new green energy infrastructure in Western Australia's Pilbara region for new industry, including the booming data centre sector.

Holding Redlich has advised on the country's first utility scale solar microgrid led by a First Nations cooperative in a remote area of the Northern Territory, a project that will deliver critical energy autonomy in the community.

Microsoft is planning to invest a record $25 billion in Australia's AI and cyber infrastructure over the next three years.

A former Queensland minister allegedly threatened to trash a $1.6 billion contract for the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing unless a consortium led by Acciona continued to work with the CFMEU, an inquiry into the union has heard. 

As it bets on the growth of the global data centre market, industrial real estate group Goodman has sold off two Sydney warehouses for a reported $438 million to property investor Aliro.

New federal fuel cost pass-through laws are expected to generate uncertainty in the construction industry, according to partners in Corrs Chambers Westgarth's leading construction practice group, who say the reforms may apply more widely than anticipated. 

HSF Kramer has appointed four new partners in Australia with expertise in major projects, energy and infrastructure amid a boom in large-scale energy and infrastructure projects.