RLB CRANE INDEX®
The Gold Coast RLB Crane Index® increased from 447 to 500 points, the highest on record. A total of 30 cranes were added, and 22 were removed, bringing the region’s total to a new high of 75. Cranes on projects in the Gold Coast now outnumber cranes in Brisbane.
Q1 2026
Highlights
Residential activity continues to dominate, with 93% of all cranes located on housing projects. The only other sectors with cranes operational are aged care, industrial and education.
New additions include:
- Education: Emmanuel College, Carrara; Bond University, Robina
- Data centres / Industrial: Sanctuary Storage, Southport
- Residential: Cypress Palms, Surfers Paradise (two cranes); V & A, Broadbeach (two cranes); Crest, Broadbeach; Capital Court, Varsity Lakes; Marine Parade, Biggera Waters; Sea Glass, Broadbeach; Enclave, Broadbeach; Sola, Broadbeach; Madeline, Broadbeach; De-Luxe Burleigh, Burleigh Heads
Removals were recorded at suburbs including: Greyburn, Broadbeach, Coolangatta, Hope Island, Kirra, Main Beach, Mermaid Beach, Palm Beach, Robina, Southport, Surfers Paradise.
Q1 2026
Summary
| Region | Change | |
|---|---|---|
| GOLD COAST | 8 | |
| Sector | Change | |
|---|---|---|
| AGED CARE | -1 | |
| CIVIC | N/A | |
| CIVIL | N/A | |
| COMMERCIAL | N/A | |
| DATA CENTRES | 1 | |
| EDUCATION | 2 | |
| HEALTH | N/A | |
| HOTEL | N/A | |
| MIXED USE | N/A | |
| RECREATION | N/A | |
| RESIDENTIAL | 6 | |
| RETAIL | N/A | |
Q1 2026
Crane Activity
By Region
OPENING / CLOSING COUNT COMPARISON
| OPENING COUNT | MOVEMENT | CLOSING COUNT | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q3 2025 | % | NET | Q1 2026 | % | |||
| GOLD COAST | 67 | 7.9% | 30 | -22 | 8 | 75 | 8.9% |
By Sector
OPENING / CLOSING COUNT COMPARISON
| OPENING COUNT | MOVEMENT | CLOSING COUNT | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q3 2025 | % | NET | Q1 2026 | % | |||
| AGED CARE | 2 | 3.0% | 0 | -1 | -1 | 1 | 1.3% |
| CIVIC | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| CIVIL | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| COMMERCIAL | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| DATA CENTRES | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1.3% |
| EDUCATION | 1 | 1.5% | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4.0% |
| HEALTH | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| HOTEL | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| MIXED USE | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| RECREATION | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| RESIDENTIAL | 64 | 95.5% | 27 | -21 | 6 | 70 | 93.3% |
| RETAIL | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| TOTAL | 67 | 7.9% | 30 | -22 | 8 | 75 | 8.9% |
RLB CRANE INDEX®
PREVIOUS EDITIONS
-
Crane Index
RLB Crane Index® Australia Q3 2025
The previous editions of the RLB Crane Index® have offered valuable insights into Australia’s ...
Read -
Crane Index
RLB Crane Index® Australia Q1 2025
The RLB Crane Index fell by six index points to 197 points in Q1 2025. The index value of 197 points...
Read -
Crane Index
RLB Crane Index® Australia Q3 2024
The previous 24 editions of the RLB Crane Index® have provided valuable insights into the ...
Read -
Crane Index
Australia Q1 2024 Crane Index
The RLB Crane Index® fell by three index points to reach 204 points in Q1 2024. The index value of ...
Read