Multiplex chief and WA’s Legacy Award winner Chris Palandri predicts construction sector in for another boom

Multiplex boss Chris Palandri has warned Perth’s construction sector is in the calm before the storm after being awarded the Property Council’s WA Legacy Award. The 35-year-industry veteran said pressure in the construction sector had started to ease slightly as Metronet works start to come to an end, and in the absence of any major new works. But the Multiplex regional managing director warned the sector would heat up again between 2026 and 2030, with a raft of new projects slated to come on board. This includes $5 billion to $8b worth of work at Perth Airport, the new women’s and babies hospital and the redevelopment of the Perth Convention and Entertainment Centre and adjoining office, to name a few. There is also the upcoming $165 million inner city school, the Indigenous museum and the $55m cultural centre redevelopment. “I think construction is going to get busy in 2026, ’27, ’28 and ’29 as some of the big projects that have been committed to come up,” he said. ‘”I am encouraging my clients who are thinking about when they might start to get going now, before those really big projects start to get going.” Mr Palandri said the rapid price escalations of the COVID era had settled down, and were now increasing just 3 to 4 per cent a year. He said some subcontractors had priced in a margin to account for geopolitical risks caused by Donald Trump’s tariffs, and wars in eastern Europe and the Middle East. Speaking at the Property Council event where he received the legacy award, Mr Palandri said he started working for Multiplex in 1990, when founder John Roberts offered him a job while the pair were standing on the back of Peter Laurance’s boat at Parker Point on Rottnest Island. “I had no idea what the job was but I needed the work, so I just said yes,” he said. “Since then, I’ve done the full tour — Perth, Darwin, Sydney, Auckland, back to Sydney, and finally back to Perth.” The industry’s night of nights saw Realside Ovest take out the best industrial development award for its Delta Street project in Wattleup. The best retail development went to Hawaiian for Forrestfield Shopping Centre, while Sirona Urban won best community infrastructure for the Angela Wright Bennett Centre women’s shelter in Northbridge. Brookfield Properties’ One The Esplanade won best mixed–use development as well as the president’s award. The best leisure or tourism development was taken out by DevelopmentWA for the Yagan Square redevelopment, while Peet’s Golden Bay won best masterplanned community. Finbar ended the long-running Civic Heart project saga, which at one stage involved the return of customer deposits, with a major win, after being recognised for delivering the best residential development. Northerly also had a win in this category for Altum. Best commercial fit-out or redevelopment was awarded to Arup for its office fit-out while GDI Property Group won best commercial development for WS2 in the city. Best commercial or retail operation went to GPT Group Karrinyup Shopping Centre, and best community activation or engagement went to Hawaiian’s SmartSparks. Hawaiian was also recognised in the marketing category for its Where It’s At! campaign. CBRE won the best innovation award for the QV1 DAS upgrade and won best sustainable project for the same building. The Stan Perron Rising Star award went to CBRE’s Abbey Agostino, while Stockland won team of the year. The industry impact award went to Taylor Burrell Barnett’s Samantha Thompson.