Tower Cranes

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<p>Anyone thinking Melbourne's construction activity is slowing may want to consider the all-time high number of tower cranes currently in use across Melbourne.</p>

<p>This current instalment of the Urban.com.au Crane Count sees 165 in use, propelled by strong commercial construction activity and the propensity of many smaller-scale builders to employ tower cranes across projects which in the past have not warranted such units.</p>

<p>The takeaway point of this count is the rise and rise of commercial construction activity, heralding the beginning of another peak in the commercial construction cycle. This is especially evident along Collins Street which has seen tower cranes pop up in strong numbers.</p>

<p>By pooling varied resources and conducting a physical count, we believe the census to be accurate to within 1-2 units.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_9999.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The CBD's west end is awash with new tower cranes."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="738" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_9999.jpg?itok=awJHk2pq" title="The CBD's west end is awash with new tower cranes." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The CBD's west end is awash with new tower cranes.</figcaption></figure><h2>The rise and rise of Melbourne</h2>

<p>The current record high mark for tower cranes across Melbourne continues the upward trend observed by Urban.com.au that stems <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/the-cranes-have-it-a-melbourne-construction-overview">back to 2013</a>. In that year 97 tower cranes were in use across metropolitan Melbourne, and of those 65 were committed to residential projects. <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/the-biannual-urbancomau-crane-census-july-2014">2014</a> added another 10 units to reach at total of 107.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/the-biannual-urbancomau-crane-count-march-2015">March 2015</a> jumped to 131 in use (with 91 dedicated to residential), whilst <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/a-new-record-urbancomaus-october-2015-crane-count">later that year</a> the number rose further to 144.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/pulse-of-the-construction-industry-melbourne-tower-crane-count-march-2016">Early last year</a> another benchmark was achieved at 161, and whilst the number tapered off to 140 during <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/finger-on-the-pulse-metropolitan-melbourne-crane-count-march-2017">summer 2016/2017</a>, the current surge in commercial projects has once again propelled the tower crane count across Melbourne to new highs.</p>

<p>Earlier this year 10 of tower cranes were employed on commercial projects. Currently that figure stands at 21, with the prospects of it increasing over the next few months exceedingly strong.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_0823aa.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Trilby in Collingwood received its tower crane during mid October"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="378" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_0823aa.jpg?itok=isRsP1Zs" title="Trilby in Collingwood received its tower crane during mid October" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Trilby in Collingwood received its tower crane during mid October</figcaption></figure><h2>A sign of the times</h2>

<p>Recent weeks have also seen first time tower cranes erected for two builders in a continuing sign of the changing dynamic at the lower end of the residential construction sector.</p>

<p>Aspekt Construction Group have a unit in service for Hawthorn Club Apartments whilst Atelier Projects have just seen the installation of a tower crane for the Grocon-backed Greenwich Fairfield. Having another builder deliver the 77 apartments sees Grocon a long way from its halcyon days of being the undisputed builder of choice in Melbourne.</p>

<p>In the weeks ahead tower cranes are likely to appear for boutique construction companies ARC3 and Marcus Group, whch are aligned with established builders Buildcorp Commercial and ABD Group respectively.</p>

<h2>Ending on oddities</h2>

<p>It's not all residential and commercial across Melbourne.</p>

<p>Two oddball projects are sporting tower cranes at the moment. Over the weekend MCG Cranes commissioned a tower crane for Hacer on their Waratah Place Zone Substation build in the CBD. Spanning Heffernan Lane to Waratah Place, the build will eventually see a CO-OP Studio-designed structure built with interactive facades to both laneways.</p>

<p>Another irregular project sees a tower crane in Marr Contracting colours plying its trade at the Mobil Altona Refinery. The Sydney-based heavy lift tower crane firm is a rare sight in Melbourne.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/heffernan.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Hacer sees another crane in the skyline with its markings. Images: MCG Cranes"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="431" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/heffernan.jpg?itok=-b_oxwpk" title="Hacer sees another crane in the skyline with its markings. Images: MCG Cranes" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Hacer sees another crane in the skyline with its markings. Images: MCG Cranes</figcaption></figure>
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silvermb

Its a record! Metropolitan Melbourne crane count November 2017

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<p>Melbourne's construction sector and the local development industry at large is showing a high degree of resilience, as tower cranes continue to populate the skyline in healthy numbers.</p>

<p>Despite predictions and warnings of an easing in the apartment sector in particular, Urban.com.au has this city's tower crane count currently at a strong 140, just short of the October 2015 figure of 144 and well above the July 2014 figure of 107. Although holding strong at 140, the figure is well short of this city's high benchmark of <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/pulse-of-the-construction-industry-melbourne-tower-crane-count-march-2016">161 achieved during March last year</a>. </p>

<p>This current instalment of the Urban.com.au Crane Count also sees a number of firsts, with peripheral suburbs such as Mernda and Werribee South in the tower crane mix for the first time, as is Spanish tower crane manufacturer Saez who's units are beginning to appear across Melbourne.</p>

<p>By pooling varied resources and conducting a physical count, we believe the census to be accurate to within 1-2 units.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_7192.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Saez have landed in Melbourne"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="417" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_7192.jpg?itok=Un9Q_ZFi" title="Saez have landed in Melbourne" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Saez have landed in Melbourne</figcaption></figure><h2>Residential...and then the rest</h2>

<p>Apartments projects are as always dominant in the census - all bar 21 of the 140 units around Melbourne are devoted to residential builds.</p>

<p>The vast majority of tower cranes are perched above low and medium density residential projects; although not in the limelight relative to their inner city, high-rise equivalents, these smaller projects continue to be the unheralded driver of Melbourne's development scene.</p>

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 578px;"><tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 289px;">Purpose</td>
			<td style="width: 279px;">Number in use</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 289px;">High-density Residential</td>
			<td style="width: 279px;">119</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 289px;">Commercial and Civic</td>
			<td style="width: 279px;">10</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 289px;">Health and Research</td>
			<td style="width: 279px;">5</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 289px;">Student Accommodation</td>
			<td style="width: 279px;">4</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 289px;">Hotel accommodation</td>
			<td style="width: 279px;">2</td>
		</tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2>The bulge continues</h2>

<p>A trend that continues to intensify is the outward spread of tower cranes into some of Melbourne's newer suburbs. </p>

<p>As touched upon earlier, Wyndham Harbour at Werribee South is sporting its first tower crane, as is Mernda (although the latter is doing precious little currently). Add the likes of Werribee, Wantirna South, Narre Warren, Berwick and Patterson Lakes, and the spread of tower cranes points to the intensification of development in many of Melbourne's outlying suburbs.</p>

<p>In terms of the middle/outer suburb with the highest tower crane count, there's no surprise that Box Hill takes that honour with 6 in use, and with more to follow.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image13_14.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Werribee South, Berwick and Ringwood are part of the outer suburban spread"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="253" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image13_14.jpg?itok=IoG5h4Ht" title="Werribee South, Berwick and Ringwood are part of the outer suburban spread" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Werribee South, Berwick and Ringwood are part of the outer suburban spread</figcaption></figure><h2>Future intent</h2>

<p>Caydon's Mason Square project on the former Moonee Ponds Market site looms as the single largest project by tower cranes employed. With three currently onsite, a further two will be installed according to provider MCG Cranes in order to deliver the project that will yield Caydon in excess of 1,000 apartments.</p>

<p>Melbourne's commercial construction scene is also due for a boost following a quiet period of construction activity. Projects such as ANZ's 839 Collins Street, Collins Arch and 477 Collins Street are all at early construction whilst 80 Collins Street may well be sporting tower cranes by the next census, as onsite works are progressing on the long delayed project.</p>

<p>Brunswick flanked by Brunswick East and West shape as a forthcoming suburban hot spot for tower cranes, with a healthy number of projects poised to begin construction, or well into their sales campaign.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_6510.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="2 of 5 tower cranes for Caydon's latest build"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="870" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_6510.jpg?itok=gGtJIq0B" title="2 of 5 tower cranes for Caydon's latest build" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>2 of 5 tower cranes for Caydon's latest build</figcaption></figure>
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Finger on the pulse: Metropolitan Melbourne Crane Count March 2017

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<p>Has much of anything changed in the past six months regarding Melbourne's commercial construction output? </p>

<p>There has been a spike in tower crane usage throughout Melbourne since the last census conducted during October 2015, contrary to the prediction made by Urban.com.au. As of last week there were 161 tower cranes (give or take one or two units) plying their trade Melbourne-wide, a noteworthy jump of 17 relative to the October 2015 figure.</p>

<p>Whilst the top end of town remains steady and well served by incumbents such as General Cranes, MCG Cranes, Select Cranes and the like, the majority of growth has occurred in the suburbs where the proliferation of small and medium sized apartment development continues to flourish. Growth in the overall tower crane count is due to a new breed of smaller tower cranes employed to service this growing sector.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_1274.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Smaller cranes for smaller builds have become more popular"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_1274.jpg?itok=xaf9mRUa" title="Smaller cranes for smaller builds have become more popular" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Smaller cranes for smaller builds have become all the more popular</figcaption></figure><p>Set aside the natural skew toward the City of Melbourne and the numbers reveal a relatively even spread of tower cranes throughout metropolitan Melbourne. Doncaster and Box Hill continue to be apartment hot spots as evidenced by the number of cranes in use through Manningham and Whitehorse. A notable mention also goes to Brunswick East with a handful of projects beginning their skyward path in recent months.</p>

<p>Of the cranes in use, a sizeable 85% are for residential use, including student accommodation and retirement living projects.</p>

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:100%;"><tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 314px;">Residential Tower Crane Location</td>
			<td style="width: 174px;">Tower Cranes</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 314px;">Melbourne CBD</td>
			<td style="width: 174px;">19</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 314px;">Docklands - Nth/West/East Melbourne</td>
			<td style="width: 174px;">23</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 314px;">Fishermans Bend/Southbank/Carlton/Parkville</td>
			<td style="width: 174px;">13</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 314px;">Port Phillip - Glen Eira</td>
			<td style="width: 174px;">12</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 314px;">Yarra</td>
			<td style="width: 174px;">12</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 314px;">Moonee Valley - Maribyrnong - Moreland</td>
			<td style="width: 174px;">19</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 314px;">Manningham - Whitehorse - Boroondara</td>
			<td style="width: 174px;">20</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 314px;">Wider metro Melbourne</td>
			<td style="width: 174px;">19</td>
		</tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2>A period of firsts</h2>

<p>The past six months have yielded a number of firsts, with the first tower cranes appearing within two urban renewal projects; Fisahermans Bend and Footscray's Joseph Road Precinct.</p>

<p>New logos mounted across Melbourne's skyline are evident with first time users of tower cranes continuing to flow through. The likes of Buildcept, Liberty Builders, AG Constructions and EyeQ Constructions all notching up the milestone of sorts since the last census.</p>

<p>The tallest hammerhead to be used in Melbourne also made its mark atop Brady Group's Vision Tower whilst a sorry MCG Cranes unit continues to sit forlornly atop 150 Queen Street. Achieving precious little over a two year period, the tower crane is a rather overt reminder of the legal struggles that CEL Australia have endured in realising Tower Melbourne.</p>

<h2>Lend Lease powers ahead</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/25092494402_08124fb780_b.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The newest builds within Lend Lease's Victoria Harbour. Image courtesy Oh Yes Melbourne"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/25092494402_08124fb780_b.jpg?itok=JZasV5FT" title="The newest builds within Lend Lease's Victoria Harbour. Image courtesy Oh Yes Melbourne" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The newest builds within Lend Lease's Victoria Harbour. Image courtesy Oh Yes Melbourne</figcaption></figure><p>Lend Lease is enjoying a purple patch with 12 tower cranes spread across two large residential developments and RMIT's New Academic Street project. The ever strong Victoria Harbour is currently sporting 6 tower cranes spread over a handful of residential towers which will accommodate near on 1,500 apartments upon completion</p>

<p>Toorak Park is also in full swing with five tower cranes delivering the residential enclave which holds an Orrong Road address. Lend Lease's 12 tower cranes in use sits behind the current 13 employed by Brookfield Multiplex, with residential builder Hamilton Marino in third place with 10 in use.</p>

<p>With Arup signed to Lend Lease's Melbourne Quarter, the developer also has another large-scale Melbourne project set to start.</p>

<h2>High times ahead</h2>

<p>The point at which the next Urban.com.au Crane Count is conducted will invariably throw up two projects with newly installed tower cranes. Both Australia 108 and Aurora Melbourne Central are roughly tracking square with one another in terms of where they find themselves in construction progression.</p>

<p>The marquee projects will yield in excess of 2,000 private apartments between them and in Aurora's case an additional 200+ serviced apartments.</p>

<p>With build times out to 2019 and beyond, these two skyline defining projects will act as a visible 'backbone' for Melbourne's immense construction boom for some years to come.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_1573_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The current state of Aurora Melbourne Central"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_1573_0.jpg?itok=QUNDmq6n" title="The current state of Aurora Melbourne Central" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The current state of Aurora Melbourne Central</figcaption></figure>
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Pulse of the construction industry: Melbourne tower crane count March 2016

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<p>Since the inception of the Urban.com.au crane count, the number of tower cranes has never failed to decrease on a period to period basis.</p>

<p>This remains the case once more, with the second and final count of 2015 revealing a record number of tower cranes dotted throughout metropolitan Melbourne. At our best assertion, the current number stands at 144. This compares to an October 2014 count of 110 and a <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/the-biannual-urbancomau-crane-count-march-2015">March 2015 figure of 131</a>.</p>

<p>The continual movement of the figure upwards points toward the exceptionally strong residential sector, which accounts for a massive 81% of all tower cranes currently in use.</p>

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 100%">
<thead><tr>
<th>Sector</th>
			<th>Tower cranes</th>
		</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Residential</td>
			<td>117</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Commercial</td>
			<td>17</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Education / student housing</td>
			<td>1</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hotel use</td>
			<td>2</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Demolition use</td>
			<td>1</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Health and medical research</td>
			<td>2</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Retail</td>
			<td>4</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Total</strong></td>
			<td><strong>144</strong></td>
		</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>South east in form</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_7553.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Chadstone stands as a highly visible project under construction"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_7553.jpg?itok=-SN_aVgi" title="Chadstone stands as a highly visible project under construction" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Chadstone stands as a highly visible project under construction</figcaption></figure><p>Traditionally an area which has lagged behind more established construction hot spots, Melbourne's south eastern suburbs have come into their own in recent months, with 17 tower cranes in use over and area bound by Malvern East to Dandenong, and all the bayside suburbs found in between.</p>

<p>Underpinned by larger projects such as Chadstone and Caulfield Heath, the remaining tower cranes are employed on an increasing number of projects in suburbs where apartment living has began to flourish. Oakleigh for example has not been without a tower crane for two years, as one completed high density residential project is replaced by another under construction.</p>

<p>Projects which have recently received tower cranes in the south east include Holmes Hill, Caulfield Heath, Drummond Rise, Gascoigne and Monash University Clayton with all bar the latter residential projects.</p>

<h2>All bar one</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_7042.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Marco Melbourne looking less precarious than in recent times"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="410" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_7042.jpg?itok=0ckpIrno" title="Marco Melbourne looking less precarious than in recent times" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Marco Melbourne now looks less precarious than in recent times</figcaption></figure><p>The count is of course minus one unit, owing to the removal of the General Cranes machine which <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/inside-marco-melbournes-tower-crane-collapse">suffered a malfunction</a> in August.</p>

<p>Over two months later, the remnants of both the tower crane and the crushed Lubeca jump form have been removed, with the exposed concrete lift well of the stalled western tower now set for a new jump form to be applied. Where the replacement tower crane will stand remains to be seen.</p>

<h2>Future prediction</h2>

<p>What can be said for the crane count heading into 2016? Aside from 80 Collins Street and the Rialto Towers Forecourt project, relatively few commercial projects are set for tower cranes over the next six months. The same can be said for health and retail uses as large-scale projects such as Monash Childrens Hospital, Chadstone and Eastland no longer requiring the use of tower cranes.</p>

<p>While residential projects will continue to absorb the majority of units, we predict the overall tower crane count employed throughout Melbourne over the next six months will remain steady or dip slightly.</p>
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A new record: Urban.com.au's October 2015 crane count

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<p>What better way to judge the health of the construction sector than by ushering in the first Urban.com.au crane count for 2015. And the sector must be booming given the current number of tower cranes plying their trade, blitzing any previous count to set a new record at 131 units.</p>

<p>It's not necessarily the inner city shouldering the burden either with tower cranes spread far and wide. Ringwood for instance has seven in use while Werribee, Knox, Frankston and Melbourne Airport also add to the spread.</p>

<p>At our assertion there's currently 131 tower cranes in use, comfortably outnumbering previous periods where the count averages roughly 110. While a variance of a handful of units is always factored in, there's no doubt that at this point in time Melbourne has never seen so many projects under construction. The importance to the employment rate and Melbourne's overall economic health can be extrapolated from the very healthy current numbers.</p>

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 100%;">
<thead><tr>
<th>Sector</th>
			<th>Cranes in use</th>
		</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Residential / aged care</td>
			<td>91</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Commercial office</td>
			<td>13</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Education / affiliated student housing</td>
			<td>8</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Health and medical research</td>
			<td>7</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Retail shopping centres</td>
			<td>10</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Demolition of existing structures</td>
			<td>2</td>
		</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Considered the wheel house of our city's property development sector, the City of Melbourne accounts for a relatively light one third of all the tower cranes currently in use, with the remainder throughout greater Melbourne.</p>

<p>As always crane use for residential projects is at the heart of the census, accounting for 70% of all tower cranes erected at the moment. While those dedicated to commercial use have seen insignificant change over recent years, the number dedicated toward student housing and retail purposes have served to spike the crane count.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_0453.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Ringwood's Eastland development providing a boost"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="309" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_0453.jpg?itok=Jf7gj9NV" title="Ringwood's Eastland development providing a boost" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Ringwood's Eastland development providing a boost</figcaption></figure><p>Probuild are handling large-scale expansions of Eastland Ringwood, Chadstone and Pacific Werribee, which now account for ten tower cranes dedicated toward the retail aspect of these three projects. The combined monetary value of these three developments is about the $1.5 billion mark, with The Glen and Westfiled Knox also shaping up for regeneration during the latter part of 2015, which is valued at a combined $1 billion.</p>

<p>The high demand for cranes in Melbourne has seen new operators flood into the market in recent years. Latest to appear on the Melbourne skyline is Sydney-based Titan Cranes who provided cranes for Leighton Contractors' Melbourne Airport expansion, and are now present at Knox Private Hospital in Wantirna.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_0864.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Titan Cranes at Melbourne Airport during late 2014"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_0864.jpg?itok=NwHIEM3b" title="Titan Cranes at Melbourne Airport during late 2014" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Titan Cranes at Melbourne Airport during late 2014</figcaption></figure><p>Peering into the next Urban.com.au crane count toward the last quarter of 2015, a host of high profile apartment towers will keep demand for tower cranes buoyant. The likes of Lighthouse, Australia 108, Victoria One, Tower Melbourne and EQ Tower are set to receive multiple tower cranes each over the course of 2015, with the shortest of these five being EQ Tower at 200 metres.</p>

<p>Elsewhere a rash of projects in Docklands will see the precinct attract its fair share of tower cranes while Doncaster looks like a construction hot spot to watch in the latter part of the year.</p>
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The biannual Urban.com.au crane count - March 2015

<html><body>
<p>It's time once more to take the pulse of Melbourne's development scene, with another installment of the Urban.com.au Crane Census. Akin to the <a href="http://rlb.com/publications/rlb-crane-index-4th-edition-2014/" target="_blank">RLB Crane Index</a>, the Urban.com.au version assesses the location of tower cranes throughout metropolitan Melbourne as opposed to the RLB Crane Index which concentrates on Melbourne's inner suburbs, hence providing a more comprehensive report of what is being built and where.</p>

<p>By pooling varied resources and conducting a physical count, we believe the census to be accurate to within 1-2 units.</p>

<h2>By the numbers: The Urban.com.au crane census</h2>

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 100%">
<thead><tr>
<th>Locality</th>
			<th>All</th>
			<th>Residential</th>
			<th>Commercial</th>
			<th>Health/Institutional</th>
		</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Melbourne CBD</td>
			<td>14</td>
			<td>10</td>
			<td>4</td>
			<td>-</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Melbourne LGA / Docklands</td>
			<td>12</td>
			<td>7</td>
			<td>4</td>
			<td>1</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Melbourne Southbank</td>
			<td>5</td>
			<td>5</td>
			<td>-</td>
			<td>-</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Melbourne Carlton/Parkville</td>
			<td>8</td>
			<td>3</td>
			<td>-</td>
			<td>5</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Port Phillip</td>
			<td>5</td>
			<td>4</td>
			<td>-</td>
			<td>1</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Stonnington</td>
			<td>16</td>
			<td>13</td>
			<td>1</td>
			<td>2</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Boroondara</td>
			<td>6</td>
			<td>3</td>
			<td>3</td>
			<td>-</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Yarra</td>
			<td>15</td>
			<td>13</td>
			<td>-</td>
			<td>2</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Manningham / Whitehorse</td>
			<td>7</td>
			<td>6</td>
			<td>1</td>
			<td>-</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>North &amp; West</td>
			<td>8</td>
			<td>6</td>
			<td>2</td>
			<td>-</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>South &amp; East</td>
			<td>11</td>
			<td>5</td>
			<td>5</td>
			<td>1</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Total</td>
			<td>107 (100%)</td>
			<td>75 (70%)</td>
			<td>20 (19%)</td>
			<td>12 (11%)</td>
		</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>Highlights</h2>

<ul>
<li>Ten tower cranes currently on health related projects with five alone for the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre.</li>
	<li>The equivalent count last year saw residential projects account for 67% or tower cranes in use.</li>
	<li>The current figure has increased to 70% as tower cranes become more common on smaller scale residential projects, and is expected to continue growing.</li>
	<li>Commercial tower crane use has risen marginally from 17% to 20% over the equivalent period.</li>
	<li>The breadth of tower crane placement has never been greater, from Tullamarine to Ringwood to Frankston.</li>
</ul>
<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_7325.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The most recent arrival, Caelli's Eastland lifter"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="416" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_7325.jpg?itok=CuhM9NnP" title="The most recent arrival, Caelli's Eastland lifter" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The most recent arrival, Caelli's lifter for Probuild's Eastland redevelopment</figcaption></figure><h2>All in the timing</h2>

<p>Melbourne's large crane count is a reflection of the success of relatively new tower crane operator, Clark Cranes. This half yearly census shows that in excess of 20 Raimondi tower cranes with Clark Cranes' blue and yellow trim are distributed throughout greater Melbourne, with only two of their tower cranes found within City of Melbourne.</p>

<p>Having been a mobile crane operator for some time, Clark Cranes evidently read the tea leaves perfectly and entered the tower crane hire market a few short years ago at a point when low and mid-rise residential projects were proliferating throughout greater Melbourne. The niche service they provide in smaller scale tower cranes for predominantly residential projects has clearly resonated with many of Melbourne's smaller builders.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_7363.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A typical Clark Cranes project - Blu Apartments Edithvale"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="395" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_7363.jpg?itok=0ss0ReGw" title="A typical Clark Cranes project - Blu Apartments Edithvale" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A typical Clark Cranes project - Blu Apartments Edithvale</figcaption></figure><h2>Looking ahead</h2>

<p>As has been the norm for some years there's no shortage of upcoming projects warranting tower cranes of all sizes. Over the months to come hubs of construction such as Doncaster, Box Hill and Fitzroy can expect additional cranes while Clayton can expect a potential count of 5-7 tower cranes by year's end due to imminent residential, education and health projects.</p>

<p>Within the CBD a number of cranes will continue their upward journey while a batch of new cranes will grace the cities skies for large-scale projects such as Light House, Victoria One Melbourne and 35 Spring Street. This new wave will emerge into the new year, just in time for the next Urban.com.au crane count.</p>
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The biannual Urban.com.au crane census - July 2014

<html><body>
<p>Tower cranes are always an excellent indicator as to the health of the local construction scene, and by extension the economy at large. Long gone are the gloomy days of the early 1990's when a tower crane was a rarity, replaced today by a brigade of new operators successfully carving out their niche fuelled by Melbourne's seemingly insatiable population growth.</p>

<p>Whereas four months ago we provided a static list of <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/the-cranes-have-it-a-melbourne-construction-overview" target="_blank">tower cranes operational in Melbourne</a>, included today is an active map highlighting tower crane locations throughout greater Melbourne.</p>

<h2>Then and now</h2>

<p>To understand today's state of play it's worth considering what has transpired post 2000. When the author began taking more than just a passing interest in Melbourne's development and construction scene, it was a different beast to what exists today. Boom Logistics, Verticon and Caelli Cranes were the dominant players of the day, erecting cranes on large build projects generally within a tight radius of the CBD.</p>

<p>While Caelli marches on, Vertigon fell by the wayside and Boom morphed into General Cranes. Joining these survivors though were a raft of new operators such as Active Crane Hire, Clark Cranes, MCG Cranes, Hudson Peat and Select Cranes who all required work for their fleet.</p>

<p>Perhaps the best example is that of Clark Cranes; call it luck or exceptional forecasting, but by concentrating on providing tower cranes for smaller scale project generally outside the CBD, the operator has successfully ridden the boom in suburban apartment living, something that was not plausible a decade ago.</p>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/Upper-West-Side0094.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="View from the top. Image © Hudson Peat "><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/Upper-West-Side0094.jpg?itok=-qoiEUa8" title="View from the top. Image © Hudson Peat" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>View from the top. Image © Hudson Peat</figcaption></figure><h2>Far and wide</h2>

<p>With a little help, we have devised the map below, providing a visual recognition of Melbourne's current large scale construction activity. Accurate to within one or two units, the map sees 84 tower cranes currently in use, with areas east of the CBD well represented.</p>

<p>Pascoe Vale, Ringwood, Hawthorn East and Doncaster East all sport projects between 3-5 levels, yet command tower cranes. These are relatively small projects but very much symptomatic of construction practices changing to meet the sustained surge toward higher density living in suburban Melbourne.</p>

<p>Where 70 cranes in the mid 2000's indicated boom times, it's now considered the norm. Of the 84 tower cranes currently operational, 70% are dedicated toward residential projects demonstrating how the attached dwelling sector has surged ahead in recent years.</p>

<p><iframe height="480" src="https://mapsengine.google.com/map/embed?mid=zqdl6A2iXb4Y.kULlyqp67wXU" width="580"></iframe></p>

<h2>What lies ahead</h2>

<p>We thought it worthwhile to include an additional map forecasting expected tower cranes within the next quarter. That is, projects where site works have or are about to begin, facilitating the installation of a tower crane in the near term.</p>

<p>The map highlights the further spread of tower cranes throughout greater Melbourne, with Dandenong benefiting in particular. Often maligned, the envisaged 'Second CBD' should kick ahead with four tower cranes likley on Mosaic Apartments, 27 Scott Street and the new ATO complex at 11-13 Robinson Street in the near term.</p>

<p><iframe height="480" src="https://mapsengine.google.com/map/embed?mid=zqdl6A2iXb4Y.kCvQb5GjyV1E" width="580"></iframe></p>

<p>While manufacturing in Victoria may be under the pump, it's worth noting that population growth is strong, apartment build starts are solid and commercial office requirements/construction remains fair. This in turn maintains momentum in one of the state's largest employment sectors; and not just held to the confines of the inner city.</p>

<p>As for when north and western areas of greater Melbourne will match the output of the south and east? That's near impossible to pinpoint although there's no lack of proposals ready to propel Footscray, Moonee Ponds and Sunshine onto the above maps.</p>

<p>By and large, Melbourne's construction sector remains resilient.</p>
</body></html>

February major construction activity mapped

<html><body>
<p>Articles have surfaced in recent weeks highlighting the number of cranes appearing throughout Melbourne and the implied construction/economic activity that follows. Yesterday yielded the most recent piece with the Australian Financial Review running an article titled 'Crane count a good construction indicator' where international property and construction practice <a href="http://rlb.com/" target="_blank">Rider Levett Bucknall</a> counted the number of cranes populating the skylines of state capitals - an index of construction prosperity if you will.</p>

<p>Quoting the article, "Melbourne has 43 visible cranes in the CBD, and 15 more within a ­five kilo­metre radius. Of that, 33 cranes are supporting residential developments. There are 13 on commercial sites, six are on health sites and the remainder are working on sport, retail and education projects."</p>

<p><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/ntc%2020130221.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A snapshot of Melbourne early 2013"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-702px" src="http://urbanmelbourne.info/sites/urbanmelbourne.info/files/styles/article_full_width_702px/public/pictures/article-images/ntc%2020130221.jpg?itok=MtQTfoKo" title="A snapshot of Melbourne early 2013" typeof="foaf:Image"></a></p>

<p>Using the resources at Urban.com.au's disposal we've decided to take this index a step further, today providing a breakdown of greater Melbourne's crane count accurate to within one or two units. Melbourne first broke through the 100 tower crane barrier during November 2012, with the peak achieved during June 2013 where an impressive 108 tower cranes were plying their trade.</p>

<p>While a General Cranes unit was disassembled last weekend at Melbourne Star and Melbourne Sky within Melbourne's CBD, Clark Cranes erected a unit for a 77 apartment complex at 701 Barkly Street Footscray bolstering the current count to 97 cranes visible over greater Melbourne's skyline. Although many projects are in the construction phase, it's interesting to note that pre-sales for certain large residential projects commenced well over two years ago. Regardless the table below is gives a clear indication of Melbourne's current construction progression.</p>

<div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 100%;">
<thead><tr>
<th>Locality</th>
			<th>Total</th>
			<th>Residential</th>
			<th>Commercial</th>
			<th>Institutional</th>
		</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Melbourne CBD</td>
			<td>26</td>
			<td>18</td>
			<td>8</td>
			<td>0</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Melbourne LGA / Docklands</td>
			<td>11</td>
			<td>5</td>
			<td>5</td>
			<td>1</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Southbank / Carlton</td>
			<td>17</td>
			<td>8</td>
			<td>0</td>
			<td>9</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Port Phillip</td>
			<td>2</td>
			<td>2</td>
			<td>0</td>
			<td>0</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Stonnington</td>
			<td>7</td>
			<td>7</td>
			<td>0</td>
			<td>0</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Boroondarra</td>
			<td>6</td>
			<td>5</td>
			<td>0</td>
			<td>1</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Yarra</td>
			<td>8</td>
			<td>7</td>
			<td>1</td>
			<td>0</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>Whitehorse</td>
			<td>4</td>
			<td>1</td>
			<td>2</td>
			<td>1</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>South East suburbs</td>
			<td>5</td>
			<td>3</td>
			<td>0</td>
			<td>2</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>North West suburbs</td>
			<td>11</td>
			<td>9</td>
			<td>1</td>
			<td>1</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>All</td>
			<td>97</td>
			<td>65</td>
			<td>17</td>
			<td>15</td>
		</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>

<p>What can be deuced from this? Residential projects account for 67% of tower cranes in use. While a number of big ticket projects such as Richmond Icon, Central South Yarra and Vision Apartments will gain cranes in coming months, it's expected the overall number of cranes working on residential projects will decrease, mirroring current market sales. The suburban spread of tower cranes is healthy with localities such as Sandringham, Pascoe Vale and Glen Iris hosting sizeable residential projects, further bolstering the march of apartment living into outer suburbs.</p>

<p>Commercial projects are holding up well given the market is cycling out of its peak. Aside from KPMG anchoring a substantial office development within Collins Square relatively few office projects are in the pipeline. Institutional projects cover medical facilities, government buildings and education builds. The Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Mercy Fernhill, Royal Children's Stage 2, Warringal Private Heidelberg and Carlton Wellbeing headline big ticket medical projects requiring tower cranes; always a good sign when money is invested into fundamentals such as health.</p>

<p>In the wider sense consigned to history are the boom and bust days that typified Melbourne during the 1990's where no cranes were visible in Melbourne's skyline for years on end. While any free market is susceptible to corrections, the cycle has flattened out considerably to the point where any project can commence subject to its own stipulations. Add the proliferation of apartment living and tower cranes will always be a part of Melbourne's vista, as they should be as part of any progressive city.</p>
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