Cranes rising above the CBD skyline and Perth’s suburbs, a measure of construction activity, has dropped in the latest Rider Levett Bucknall Crane Index.
Perth’s RLB Crane Index fell from 107 to 95 points in the first quarter of 2025, representing 41 cranes across the city.
That figure is slightly down from 46, recorded in the last quarter of 2024, with 13 cranes added to developments but offset by 18 cranes being brought down across Perth.
“Construction in Western Australia increased 14 per cent in calendar year 2024, with $46.7 billion worth of work completed,” the report said.
“Last year’s fourth quarter construction activity was 10.2 per cent higher than in the previous third quarter.
“The Residential sector was down by 1.8 per cent compared to 2023. House activity was down by 3.6 per cent, while apartment activity was up by 1 per cent.
“The residential sector continues to dominate in Perth, accounting for more than 53.7 per cent of all cranes.”
According to RLB, Sydney saw the largest reduction in crane numbers, with a drop of 14 cranes.
In contrast, three cities — Melbourne, Sunshine Coast, and Wollongong — experienced increases, while five cities saw declines.
Sectoral trends from the third quarter of 2024 to 2025’s first quarter reveal significant growth in the data centre and mixed-use sectors. Conversely, the education, commercial, and civil sectors have seen notable declines, indicating a slowdown in these areas.
Residential construction, however, has experienced more moderate changes, with 174 new cranes commencing on projects and 179 removed in the six months.
Since its inception in October 2012, the RLB Crane Index has provided invaluable insights into the Australian construction landscape, helping industry stakeholders make informed decisions.
Now in its 26th edition, the Index continues to serve as a vital tool in tracking the health of the industry.