A SHORTAGE of cranes, particularly of the mobile variety, is causing minor delays to some construction projects.
It is understood the commencement of at least one CBD apartment project was put back a couple of weeks due to the builder’s inability to source a crane.
Some other builders have reported delays in obtaining cranage.
Industry sources put the delays down to the amount of construction work currently under way around the CBD and some increased work in the resources sector.
D&G Hoist and Crane Hire managing director Gino De Cesare said the cranage industry was particularly busy at the moment.
“It has been a bit of a rush to finish large projects,” he said.
“Quite a few cranes have gone up north.”
Mr De Cesare said there was a lot of work on the horizon and the crane shortage would not resolve itself in the short-term.
“The industry has always been fairly busy but all of a sudden there are projects such as the convention centre for us that are using up a lot of cranes,” he said.
“Basically, wherever there is steel needed in construction you have to have a crane.”
However, Tom’s Cranes operations manager John Martinazzo said talk of a crane shortage was premature.
“There’s been a slight pick up in the number of enquiries but that’s about it,” he said.
Mr Martinazzo said Tom’s had some pin jib cranes – large mobile lifters that remain on site – going up to Telfer.
“But our 170 tonner has three day’s work this week and then it’s free and there are no real bookings for it after that,” he said.
