Monday 3 August, 2020

Key points. 

Today is a hard day for our industry. We welcome construction being able to continue at a reduced capacity, but we have numerous concerns. UDIA Victoria is working hard to gain clarity and negotiate fine detail with the Victorian Government before the changes come into force.

From Friday night at 11.59pm, construction projects will be split into three categories with varying restrictions that will dramatically reduce the industry's output.

1. Large scale – projects of more than 3 stories exc. basement

• Maximum 25% of normal employees onsite at any time
• Must implement high risk COVID Safe Plan

2. Small scale – projects of 3 stories or less exc. basement

• Maximum 5 workers inc. supervisors
• Must implement universal COVID Safe Plan

3. State and civil construction projects

• Exempt from staff reduction targets, but assessed on a project basis 
• Must implement high risk COVID Safe Plan

Requirements across all sites

• No blending shifts
• Workers may only work on one site
• Contact tracing is required as part of the COVID Safe plans

Immediate next steps

UDIA Victoria will be working through the details of these changes with departmental staff and key decision-makers between now and Friday. We will be making the case for extended worksite hours to keep projects viable and keep more workers employed. We will be seeking clarity on the 'small-scale' project requirements apply to a land development site and what the implications are for site preparations and civil works. 

Industry update: Stage 4 restrictions. 

After 48 hours of intense briefings and negotiations with various decision-makers across the Victorian Government, we can provide some clarity on how Victoria's building, construction and development industry will be impacted by stage 4 restrictions.

The Premier Daniel Andrews today announced that from 11.59pm on Friday 7 August 2020, Victoria's building, construction and development industry will not completely close, but must dramatically reduce the number of workers on-site for the next 6 weeks. 

This includes: 

• Mandated reductions to the number of workers onsite to allow the industry to keep ticking
  • ​Large scale construction
    • Any building construction project of more than three storeys (excluding basement)
    • Maximum of 25 per cent of normal employees on site compared to normal operations
    • Must have High Risk COVID Safe Plan
    • Must demonstrate not blending shifts and workers can only work at one site during Stage 4​​
  • ​Small scale construction
    • Any building construction project of three storeys or less (excluding basement)
    • Maximum of five workers (including supervisors)
    • Universal COVID Safe Plan
    • Must demonstrate not blending shifts and workers can only work at one site during stage 4
  • State and state civil construction (including time critical new school builds) are exempt from reduction targets but will be required to implement High Risk COVID Safe Plan.
     
• Industry will have until 11:59pm Friday 7 August to enact a COVID Safe Plan focused on safety, prevention and response in the event that coronavirus is linked to the workplace. More information on the COVID Safe Plan here.
   
• Additional requirements will include extra PPE, staggering shifts, staggering breaks, health declarations and more support for sick workers to ensure they stay home.
   
• These changes will be enforceable and the onus will be on employers to make sure they’re doing the right thing by their workers, including ensuring those with symptoms do not come to work.
   
• For those businesses and industries that fall into grey areas when it comes to their operation, the dedicated Industry Coordination Centre within the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions will consider their case.

Click here to read the Premier's statement on changes to Melbourne business restrictions.

Click here to see summary of all stage 4 restrictions for businesses and industries. 

The Premier has not ruled out further business support for affected businesses and industries. 

We know what a huge impact these changes will have on our industry, and that there are several outstanding questions. 

We will communicate with you regularly as we get more information this week. Stay in touch by checking our emails, following us on LinkedIn, and you can subscribe your team to our mailing list by directing them here.

Advocacy.

Click here to read our letter to to the Premier, urging the Government to keep industry open as an essential industry.

Click here to read our Briefing Paper, containing several key recommendations to enhance worksite measures.

Click here to read our joint letter to the Premier, communicating how our industry is staying safe, and keeping many hundreds of businesses viable during and after this pandemic.

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.

Stay socially connected.

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