Regional Australia is continuing to transform through major infrastructure delivery, improved lifestyle amenity and growing economic confidence.
That is the observation of McCullough Robertson Lawyers Brisbane-based partner Matt Bradbury, who has advised on major projects around the world for 25 years, with a particular focus on regional Australia construction.
He said, despite the logistical challenges of delivering major projects in regional and remote locations, these areas of Australia were delivering outcomes through a collaborative practical mindset.
“Delivery teams turn up every day and always find a way to get things done,” he said.
“A lot of people are opting to leave the metropolitan centres, but with that comes the need for additional community housing, water and trunk infrastructure projects, additional sewerage and all the things that come with having population shifts to those particular geographies.”
Mr Bradbury said despite this growing need, regional areas were innovative and resourceful in enhancing their lifestyle options and making themselves a genuine alternative to the capital cities.
The appeal of moving to some of these centres is helping to offset the drop in the number of people wanting to do Fly-in, Fly-out (FIFO) roles since the COVID pandemic years.
McCullough Robertson, which is celebrating its centenary in 2026, has its origins rooted in Barcaldine Queensland, and continues to be highly active in regional areas across Australia.
Mr Bradbury, who grew up in the Central Queensland City of Rockhampton, hosts McCullough Robertson’s Annual Construction Conference in Brisbane that attracts participants from all across Australia with a strong attendance from regional proponents and consultants in Queensland.
He also frequently hosts regional workshops in Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton and Toowoomba.
“I am really thankful to our regional clients that they continue to support us and engage with us for these events,” he said.
“We enjoy being entrusted as a connector in many of these cities.”
Mr Bradbury said common themes in recent McR regional workshops were supply chain issues, concerns about insolvency and retention of good people.
Insolvency is a particular concern, with the number of construction companies becoming insolvent more than doubling over the past 15 years.
Despite this, there is “a lot of agility and resourcefulness” within the construction sector to ensure that regional projects are delivered.
“That’s the case whether it be through government agencies, government-owned corporations, contractors or subcontractors,” he said.
Mr Bradbury said he had also noticed a lift in the sheer value of projects being funded in the regions, particularly in transport and water.
There was also regional infrastructure activity being generated through programs sparked by the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“The scale of projects outside of LNG, resources and renewables now being delivered in regional communities would have been difficult to imagine only a decade ago,” Mr Bradbury said.
“For example, we’re now seeing large water infrastructure projects where the contract sums are regularly in excess of $400 million.”
Despite advances in technology and remote working, Mr Bradbury said one thing has not changed in regional Australia – relationships still matter.
“People will see me in my McCullough Robertson shirt and introduce themselves and tell me that they’ve been a client of our firm for 50-plus years,” he said.
“It’s a really nice thing for us to have those deep relationships with long-term clients. McR has always had the approach that we go to our clients, and that is something we will continue to take with us into the next 100 years.”
