MEDIA RELEASE
April 27, 2010	Embargo: 11.30 am (CANBERRA TIME) 27/04/2010	43/2010

The value of engineering construction has exceeded the value of building construction in South Australian for the first time in over 20 years according to a report released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The upsurge in engineering construction work since December 2007 is due to increased public works and coincident with an increase in employment in the South Australian construction industries.

Public infrastructure works being undertaken during this time were the South Road overpass for the Glenelg tramline in the latter half of 2009 and early 2010, the extension of the tramline from North terrace in the city to the Entertainment Centre on the Port Road from April 2009 and construction for the Adelaide Desalination Plant and water pipeline.

In the December 2009 quarter transport infrastructure expenditure was $286.2 million and water infrastructure expenditure was $341.4 million.

The proportion of the public sector engineering construction work contracted to the private sector increased from 34% in the September 2008 quarter to 65% in the December 2009 quarter.

Engineering construction includes items such as bridges, roads, water supply and public transport infrastructure. Building construction includes houses, units and office blocks.

Further information, and information on South Australian specific updates on New Vehicle Sales, Housing Finance & Retail Sales, can be found in SA Stats (cat. no. 1345.4).