Sunday 6 September, 2020

Key points.

• Stage 4 restrictions (with minor easing) extended until 28 September.
   
• From 28 September, subject to case numbers, the building, construction and development industry can increase its activity levels:
  • Large scale construction projects: Workforce limit can increase to the higher of 85% of baseline workforce, or 15 workers.
  • Small scale construction projects: Specialist contractors can move up to five sites/week, with a maximum of two per day.
  • Early stage land development projects: Density restrictions will ease, allowing 20 workers per hectare.

Important Government guidance for each project setting: 

• Industry restriction levels - early stage land development
• Industry restriction levels - small-scale construction
• Industry restriction levels - large-scale construction

Today's release of the Victorian Government's Roadmap to Reopening demonstrates a vote of confidence in the building, construction and development industry and provides confirmation that industry can increase its activity significantly from 28 September, dependent on case numbers remaining low.

UDIA Victoria has spent the past week providing expert advice to the Government demonstrating our industry’s ability to keep COVID cases at a minimum, manage and mitigate the risk of any outbreaks on worksites, and keep our industry working safely. This has put our industry in the strongest possible position to be able to get back to work as soon as possible.

As a result, Victoria's building, development and construction industry is one of the few industries able to significantly increase activity from 28 September, subject to Victoria's case numbers averaging 30-50 cases per day. 

While there is inevitably deep disappointment that our sector cannot return to work immediately, the building, construction and development industry remains committed to working diligently toward a full reopening, in partnership with the Government.

UDIA Victoria is being briefed this afternoon and will have more information to communicate in coming days.

As well as gaining clarity for members, we are also  advocating hard for the reopening of display homes and sales suites to keep the sales pipeline flowing. 

Victoria's Roadmap to Recovery: General Overview.

From 11.59pm 13 September: extend Stage 4 restrictions for two weeks with some changes.

Changes:

• Curfew eased to 9pm
• Exercise increased to 2 hours per day
• Social bubbles for people who live on their own like intimate partners arrangements (5km rule not apply, but curfew will)
• Public outdoor gatherings of 2 people from two households for up to 2 hours
• Playgrounds reopen

From 28 September, subject to precondition of 30-50 cases per day.

Permitted:

• Public gatherings up to 5 people from 2 households
• Staged return for schools
• Childcare reopens
• 100,000 workers go back to work across a range of industries (considering public health risk, and economic benefit)
• PT up to two people per trainer
• Religious gatherings

From 26 October, subject to preconditions: Less that 5 new cases per day.

• No curfew
• No restrictions on reasons to leave home, or distances
• Up to 10 people outdoors
• 5 people from one other nominated household
• Schools 3-10 
• Retail and hairdressing reopen
• Hospitality, outdoor seated service
• Staged return of outdoor, non-contact adult sport

Last step, not likely until 23 November.

• Public gatherings up to 50 people outdoors
• Visitors up to 20 to your home
• Open retail
• Indoor hospitality at 20/50 people
• Real estate reopening
• Community sport
• 50 people at weddings and funerals
• Most restrictions dropped
• Phased return to onsite work for those who have been working from home

Need assistance?

Industry Liaison Officer.

The Victorian Government has, on the advice of industry, appointed Michael Paynter to the role of Industry Liaison Officer, engaged by the DHHS. Please ensure you engage with Michael Paynter for any assistance with the Guidelines, particularly if there are any positive COVID-19 diagnoses on any of your sites. 

COVID-19 hotline for industry.

A specific COVID-19 hotline has been established for the building and construction industry. This number is being managed by DHHS through a dedicated call centre set up within the Victorian Building Authority. The number is 1800 675 398.

UDIA Victoria advocacy.

If you have questions and queries that have not been answered through the above channels, and you wish us to bring an item to government's attention, please email us at policy@udiavic.com.au. We will raise these matters with government and include answers as they are made available through our e-communications. 

Industry Response Partners.

UDIA Victoria appreciates the support of our valued Industry Response Partners.

We thank them for their deep and generous commitment to leading the industry through crisis, challenge and change.

We are here to help.

If you have any questions at any time, we're here to help! Contact us on admin@udiavic.com.au.

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Don't miss the most up-to-date COVID-19 information for industry.

Keep an eye on our rolling updates here.