The newly-elected head of the State’s civil construction body has declared the sector to be at its worst point in memory.

Gerard Beltrame was elected President of the Civil Contractors Federation (SA branch) this week.

A Director at contracting firm Beltrame Civil, Beltrame said the industry is struggling.

“I have worked in civil construction all my life and I have never seen the industry as bad as this,” he said.

“Private investment has dried up and the soon-to-be-completed so called ‘iconic’ public projects will be quick to follow.

“I have the support of an enthusiastic and capable board.

“Together, we will be pushing for more government investment in infrastructure and reducing the cost of doing business in South Australia, so that the State is more attractive for private investment.

“We will continue to work collaboratively with the government, but not hesitate to highlight shortcomings in government policy where these are not in the best interests of our members or industry.”

On a broader note, today’s release of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s (CBA) Future Business Index shows confidence among mid-market Australian businesses is on the rise.

The index found that confidence amongst Australian businesses with annual turnover of between $10 million and $100 million has more than doubled to 10.8 during the September quarter from a reading of 5.2 during the June quarter.

Businesses reported an expectation that revenues will increase in the next six months (25 per cent for the September quarter, up from 20 per cent in the June quarter), amid reduced salary pressures and reduced operating costs.

Despite the rosier outlook, businesses reported that the previous six months had underperformed on revenue and profitability.

Around 35 per cent of businesses reported a drop in revenues during the six months to September, when only 19 per cent had anticipated that revenues would fall during that period.