Chinese construction company Greenland Construction, linked to Chinese state-owned conglomerate Greenland Group which is building Sydney's tallest residential tower, is said to be looking to set up a construction company in Australia, sources have indicated. 
The company, which has not yet entered the Australian market, was looking to start its footprint in Australia through the acquisition of existing construction businesses.
Sources have said the company has also conducted preliminary meetings with several sub-contractors in Sydney to gauge their interest in moving to Greenland Construction from other employers.
The group, based in Shanghai, is managed separately to the main Greenland Group.
Outside its core construction activities in China, mainly in real estate and metallurgical construction services, the group also has projects in Malaysia.
Greenland Group also has a construction subsidiary, but its Australian arm, Greenland Australia - which is responsible for the $800 million 81-storey Greenland Centre in Sydney CBD, said it was not aware the group was setting up construction operations in Australia.
News of Greenland Construction's interest in Australia comes just after Greenland Australia and construction giant Brookfield Multiplex terminated their building contract for Greenland Centre.
While Greenland has not named a replacement builder for its 235-metre tower on Bathurst Street, it said it was committed to delivering the 478-apartment project on time.
The project is scheduled for completion in 2018.
Demolition of the former Sydney Water Board at the site at 115 Bathurst Street is under way, and will take a year before a new builder would have to start construction of the new apartment building.
Outside of Greenland Centre, Greenland Australia is also building apartments in Leichhardt, in innerwest Sydney, North Sydney and Potts Point in the CBD fringe.