Despite the booming construction industry, it might be difficult for startup civil engineering contractors to land significant projects. One of the main reasons is the stiff competition that startup firms face from established civil engineering firms. However, the civil engineering industry is laden with a myriad of civil works opportunities, but your firm will not gain a foothold if you focus on what every other company is doing. It is crucial to be selective regarding the civil engineering projects you take up. This write-up discusses civil works that startup civil engineering firms should explore.
Rural Roads: In 2017, the Australian government announced plans to invest approximately $75 billion in a bid to transform the country's transport infrastructure. The infrastructure that will benefit from the investment includes some of the major highways, inland railway lines and rural roads. Of particular importance is the fact that Australian rural roads have been ignored for a long time, which has led to road safety concerns. The Western Australian Government has also outlined a $37 million program that is meant widen road shoulders in rural roads. With these massive investments, there should be enough rural roads projects for everyone – both established and startup civil engineering firms.
Outer Suburbs Water Management: The population in Australian cities is snowballing; therefore, the outer suburbs are experiencing unprecedented growth rates. For instance, Mickleham, which is one of Australia's fastest-growing outer suburbs, increased by more than 3,500 people between June 2016 and June 2017. With water supply infrastructure in these suburbs still at its infancy, residents are desperate for water management systems. Therefore, outer suburbs offer the perfect opportunity for startup civil engineering firms to gain industry experience while still making a profit. However, the sheer size of water management projects in the fast-growing outer suburbs can be overwhelming for a single startup. For this reason, the best strategy is to partner with one or two startup firms and pool resources while sharing risks.
Stormwater Management Systems: As one of the driest continents on the planet, Australian authorities have made stormwater management a core priority of their water management plans. However, increased urban population and consequent construction are threatening the effectiveness of current stormwater management systems. Therefore, instead of flocking to the more saturated civil works sectors such as drainage, sewerage and residential development, startup civil engineering firms can focus on and provide solutions for current stormwater management issues.