Regional Victoria COVID Update, 13 September 2021
This rollercoaster of can and can't is giving me a headache. I hope you are managing okay. Just when we thought business might be able to return to something that resembles normal in regional Victoria - construction sites are seeing high levels of COVID-19 outbreaks.
Whilst the Business Victoria website still does not offer clear instructions about what can and cannot be done the following is listed on the new Public Health Order (Number 8) that came into effect on 9 September and has finally been posted on the Vic Health website. Unfortunately, restrictions have not been relaxed as much as we had hoped. Regional Victoria remains under “Stay Safe Directions” and whilst some industries have been allowed to re-open the Construction Industry remains under strict restrictions.
Construction Sites
There has been no change to restrictions on construction sites in regional Victoria.
- Large Scale Construction sites: 25% of baseline workforce or 5 workers at a time and specialist contractors can only attend up to 3 sites per week
- Small Scale Construction Site: 5 workers at any one time and specialist contractors can only attend up to 3 sites per week
- Early Stage Land development: 10 workers per hectare and specialist contractors can only attend up to 3 sites per week
Residential Work
During the Stay Safe period, you should not allow a person to enter your residence and conduct renovation work unless:
- The work is solely outdoors where physical distancing can be maintained at all times, or
- The work that is urgent or essential.
Examples: a tradesperson may enter an occupied residence for the purpose of carrying out urgent or essential repairs but renovations that are not urgent or essential, are not permitted.
A work space is considered ‘outdoors’ if it is not fully enclosed. This means renovation work, such as a house extension, that occurs in a space without a roof or wall is considered to be outside. The ‘outdoor’ work space must be entirely separated from the occupied part of the house, so that workers and residents cannot access the same space. Workers must avoid contact with residents of the building and must wear face masks indoors and outdoors, unless a lawful reason not to wear one applies.
Worker Permits are only required if a worker from regional Victoria is travelling into metropolitan Melbourne for work.
Public Health Order Number 8
Probably not the news you were waiting on - but emergency and essential work can continue. And if the walls are not fully enclosed then the work is considered outside work and is permitted to continue.
Stay strong and as soon as there are any changes I'll let you know.
Stay safe and take care,
Melissa Baker
National Industry Development Manager
Australian Glass and Window Association