Quantity Surveying Archives - Collaborative Cost Management

2026 Victorian Budget

by Ashleigh Nikolich | May 11, 2026 | Industry News, Quantity Surveying

This Budget acknowledges the real challenges that Victorians are facing.

Making healthcare easier to get by opening a new community hospital and supporting services at 3 others, and providing young families with better paediatric and maternity services.
Investing in our kids’ future by continuing to fund kinder and building schools for a great education closer to home.
Keeping communities safe with increased resources for Victoria Police and more PSOs, delivering serious consequences for violent crime, and boosting the Violence Reduction Unit to stop crime before it starts.

This Budget confirms a budget surplus of more than $700 million for 2025-26 and maintains operating surpluses over the forward estimates.

In the last 6 years, business investment is up 44%, with 123,000 new businesses opening in Victoria and more than 646,000 jobs created. Amid global economic challenges and unrest, the Victorian economy will continue to grow. That growth will be supported by the rapid rise of cutting-edge technologies creating new solutions to old ways of working.

This Budget continues to build for the future, with $4.4 billion total estimated investment (TEI) added to the Government’s infrastructure program.

Government Infrastructure Investment (GII) is projected to be $21.4 billion in 2025-26 before averaging $16.5 billion over the budget and forward estimates.

Property

This Budget also extends concessions for buying off-the-plan, which saves home buyers money and supports housing supply.

This Budget also invests $97 million to continue delivering housing reform and improving confidence in the building industry. This includes $16 million to protect consumers and raise standards in the building industry through the implementation of registration and licensing requirements.

Public Transport

$318 million for maintenance and safety upgrades that will help the regional passenger rail network run more reliably
$92 million to improve train services, including running up to nine daily services on the Shepparton Line, increasing capacity on the Wyndham Vale Line with larger trains, and uplift services along the six lines that run through Clifton Hill and Burnley
$76 million to take the next steps towards electrification of the Melton Line
$7.5 million to make the public transport network, cycling facilities and walking paths safer and more accessible.

Healthcare

This Budget also invests $284 million to open and operate hospitals – making it easier to get free public healthcare in your community – as well as supporting and expanding emergency departments. This includes:

$95 million for Werribee Mercy Hospital emergency department expansion
$45 million to open expanded acute care capacity at Angliss Hospital
$35 million to uplift Cranbourne Community Hospital
$34 million to uplift Craigieburn Community Hospital
$20 million to uplift University Hospital Geelong paediatric emergency department
$19 million to open Pakenham Community Hospital
$7.1 million to operate the new PET scanner at Goulburn Valley Health
$2.8 million for services at Mernda Community Hospital, building on the recent $25 million investment to open it
$2 million to support early transition work at the New Melton Hospital.

Regional Health

$75 million for the Regional Health Infrastructure Fund, for projects ranging from operating theatre refurbishments to equipment upgrades
$35 million for new and upgraded medical equipment in operating theatres, emergency departments, surgical wards, intensive care units and neonatal and maternity services across our public hospitals
$20 million to continue upgrading and replacing engineering infrastructure at hospitals across Victoria
$15 million to upgrade equipment and renew, reconfigure and refurbish metropolitan health services’ infrastructure.

Aged Care

$36 million to sustain public sector residential aged care services
$17 million to deliver hospital care at residential aged care facilities, allowing older Victorians to be cared for in their own home and reducing annual hospital presentations by almost 30,000
$15 million to support changes requiring nurses to administer medication in non-government aged care, delivering higher-quality care
$7.5 million to upgrade Victoria’s public sector residential aged care facilities
$5.1 million to continue reducing delays in hospital discharge for older patients without decision-making capacity.

Mental Health

$30 million for new and existing mental health Hospital in the Home beds to enable more people to access home-based acute inpatient mental health care
$6.5 million for the prevention of suicide initiatives
$5.4 million to continue the Youth Outreach and Recovery Service, Victoria’s dedicated statewide outreach service for young people with complex mental health challenges
$4.9 million to support Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals and Hubs so they can keep delivering free care for anyone who needs it.

Education

$552 million for school building maintenance and compliance, delivering high-quality spaces for learning, including to make school buildings more accessible for students and staff with disabilities
$295 million to upgrade 31 schools across Victoria, including upgrades to visual and performing arts spaces, sports facilities and learning spaces
$217 million for modular classrooms to provide flexible spaces for learning at schools where they’re needed including at Broadford Secondary College
$104 million to acquire land for new schools and new campuses, including in Cardinia, Greater Geelong, Melbourne, Hume, Mitchell and Wyndham
$25 million for minor works such as upgrading bathrooms and fixing roofs
$22 million to begin planning for future new schools.
$95 million to upgrade nine schools across Regional Victoria.

Police / Correction Centres and Court Services

$229 million to increase capacity in the corrections system, including youth justice, ensuring we have the facilities to hold offenders accountable and keep the community safe
$125 million for 40 new forensic mental health beds at Thomas Embling Hospital
$117 million for a specialised, fast-tracked youth court list in the County Court, meaning alleged youth crime matters will be heard faster
$11 million for maintenance, repair and renewal works of courts across the state

CFA

$26 million to build new Country Fire Authority (CFA) stations at Charlton and Woodvale, in Central Victoria, Mirboo North, in South Gippsland, and Kingston, in the Central Highlands.

Sports & Cultural

$29 million to continue the delivery of the Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation project, including Arts Centre Melbourne and the National Gallery of Victoria
$27 million to attract new international productions, digital games and visual effects through the new Victorian Screen Incentive stream of the Victorian Investment Fund
$23 million to continue to attract business events to Melbourne and regional Victoria, including attracting events to the new Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre
$12 million for Hamer Hall upgrades to support our outstanding music events
$92 million to the State Sport Centres Trust and the Kardinia Park Stadium Trust to continue community access to sporting facilities, including the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre
$13 million to operationalise the Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre and for the Victorian Convention and Exhibition Trust

Victorian Budget 2026-27

Welcome Tom Ryan!

by Ashleigh Nikolich | Apr 29, 2026 | Education, Quantity Surveying, Staff

Collaborative Cost Management are pleased to welcome Tom Ryan to the Melbourne office!

Tom brings 20+ years of cost management experience to the table, his expertise includes feasibility studies, cost planning, bill of quantities, documentation preparation and contract administration. His sector experience includes government, commercial, infrastructure, healthcare, education and residential.

Bachelor of Construction Management (Honours) | Certified Quantity Surveyor | Fellow of the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors

Welcome Tom

PROJECT UPDATE Woody Point Special School

by Ashleigh Nikolich | Feb 17, 2026 | Education, Quantity Surveying

Collaborative Cost Management are pleased to share an update on the ongoing development of Woody Point Special School from Lucas Hadebe.

Since the commencement of Stage 1 in early 2022, our team has proudly provided quantity surveying services across multiple stages of this significant project.

Stage 1A involved the temporary relocation of the existing Centre of Network, refurbishment of existing General Learning Areas (GLAs), and the conversion of the outdoor court into a temporary administration block to support the school’s broader expansion. These works established the foundation for future growth, ensuring services, access, and site conditions were appropriately prepared to accommodate new facilities.

Stage 1B delivered a new GLA block comprising of a Resource Centre, administration, Student and Staff Amenities, 10 GLAs, a Gymnasium, a Sensory space, and carpark refurbishment works, significantly enhancing the school’s operational capacity and learning environment.

Over the past year, through Stage 2, we have supported the successful completion of site preparation, excavation, and base stage works. This progress positions the project strongly for the construction of a new GLA block incorporating 12 GLAs, three Specialty Spaces and associated areas, along with a new Groundsman and Cleaners Hub and an enhanced outdoor learning area. The project is now transitioning into the frame stage, followed by lock-up, as the built form continues to take shape.

This milestone reflects the strong collaboration, expertise, and commitment across our teams and project partners. We look forward to continuing our support through the upcoming phases and contributing to the successful delivery of these important facilities for the school community.

Seven Years of CCM

by Ashleigh Nikolich | Feb 17, 2026 | Quantity Surveying, Staff

Celebrating Seven Years of CCM!
This week marks seven years since the commencement of CCM – a milestone that invites reflection.

As Aristotle said, “Give me a child until he is seven and I will show you the man,” suggesting that foundational traits are formed early. If this holds true for business, then CCM’s first seven years have laid the groundwork for a company that delivers value to clients, nurtures talent, and supports genuine work-life balance.

We’re proud of what we’ve built. Some highlights from the journey so far include:
· Senior staff members with over six years’ tenure
· Strong, enduring relationship with our key client
· Industry recognition as leaders across several key sectors
· A formal mentoring program embedded across the business
· Repeat business rate approaching 80%
· Successful training of junior staff and cadets
· Offices in two countries and a team of over 70 professionals
· Strategic alliance across Asia, connecting us with over 400 like-minded professionals

On a personal note, the past seven years have flown by. CCM has enabled me to achieve things I’m deeply proud of, including:
· Collaborating with fellow Directors and senior leaders in a truly open, solutions-focused environment
· Maintaining a work-life balance that has allowed me to coach both my sons in basketball and attend most of their games
· Embracing hybrid work arrangements that support family life
· Remaining hands-on across the majority of Australian projects
· Contributing to standout projects—from major fitouts in Brisbane to a significant share of mainstream and non-mainstream education facilities across Southeast Queensland

If the first seven years have shaped our foundation, I’m proud of what we’ve built. I look forward to the next chapter as CCM continues to grow; locally, nationally, and across Asia, guided by the same values that brought us here.

PROJECT HIGHLIGHT Holding Redlich Brisbane Fitout

by Ashleigh Nikolich | Feb 17, 2026 | Fitout, Quantity Surveying

Project Highlight by Lakma Wijewickrama

One of my highlight projects at Collaborative Cost Management has been the Holding Redlich Brisbane Office Fit Out.

This large-scale project transformed 2,400m² of premium office space. At the early stage, CCM prepared the pre-tender estimate, providing a strong foundation for procurement and cost control.

As someone who began my career in Sri Lanka and now works in the Australian construction industry, this opportunity has been one of the best for me. My main involvement was in the post-contract phase, where I focused on assessing progress claims, reviewing and preparing variations, and providing payment recommendations to ensure financial accuracy and contractual compliance.

This experience strengthened my skills in post-contract cost management and stakeholder collaboration, and I am proud to have contributed to this milestone project as CCM celebrates 7 years of success.

PROJECT HIGHLIGHT Brisbane South State Secondary College

by Ashleigh Nikolich | Feb 17, 2026 | Education, Quantity Surveying

Project Highlight by Liam Wood

As Collaborative Cost Management celebrates its 7-year milestone, I’ve been reflecting on the projects that shaped my 6+ year journey at CCM — and Brisbane South State Secondary College stands out.

As Queensland’s second vertical school, it represented a bold shift in educational infrastructure, demanding innovation in both design and delivery. Constructed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the project challenged all parties to adapt quickly and work collaboratively in a rapidly evolving environment.

CCM’s role as quantity surveyors was central to maintaining contractual fairness, managing cost fluctuations, and supporting clear, consistent communication. Post-completion, we used the experience to refine our internal processes — improving how we manage risk, interpret contract obligations, and support clients throughout the project.

It’s a great example of how CCM doesn’t just deliver — we evolve.
Here’s to seven years of learning, adapting, and building better outcomes.

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