Additional restrictions for construction partners and suppliers – September 2021

Please note that this advice has been updated. Please view: Construction industry guidance as Victoria hits 80 per cent double dose target
 

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Victorian Government has introduced additional legal requirements for construction sites across Victoria, as well as a two-week shutdown in some areas.

Construction industry shut down for two weeks in designated areas

The Victorian Government has announced construction will shut down in metropolitan Melbourne and other Local Government Areas in lockdown until 5 October 2021.

All construction projects in metropolitan Melbourne, City of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast Shire and Mitchell Shire will be closed, with a strictly limited exemption for workers to attend the sites to respond to an emergency or perform urgent and essential work to protect health and safety.

An amnesty will be put in place so that a limited number of workers can attend construction sites in order to shut them down safely.

The shutdown action is being taken to reduce movement, minimise transmission and allow for the entire industry to appropriately adapt to the Chief Health Officer Directions, including increasing vaccination rates.

Construction sites outside of metropolitan Melbourne and other Local Government Areas currently in lockdown

All construction sites are permitted to continue to operate in regional Victoria (with the exception of the City of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast Shire and Mitchell Shire).

Construction sites outside of metropolitan Melbourne and other Local Government Areas currently in lockdown, must follow additional legal requirements.

These requirements have been put in place to limit the spread of COVID-19 in the industry, allowing people to keep working safely.

Effective immediately, all permitted construction sites must:

• have a COVID Marshal
• have worker shift bubbles, including staggering the start, finish and break times, to reduce mixing of workers in different bubbles
• prevent the consumption of food and drink indoors except for water (and except for where there is a medical requirement to consume food or drink)
• have additional restrictions to tea rooms. Shared indoor spaces where workers eat and drink, such as staff rooms and tea rooms, have been identified as key areas where COVID-19 transmission is likely to have occurred
• apply the necessary workforce reductions (except for critical and essential infrastructure, including State Critical Infrastructure Projects. The list of State Critical Infrastructure Projects for regional Victoria is available here)
• face mask rules also apply.

Travel restrictions

Movement of construction workers between metropolitan Melbourne, the City of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast Shire and Mitchell Shire and regional Victoria is only permitted for fully exempt workers supporting safety and essential maintenance works at public infrastructure sites.

For example, this means, a contractor residing in Melbourne cannot attend a worksite in Shepparton except in supporting safety and essential maintenance works at public infrastructure sites.

Reopening the construction industry in metropolitan Melbourne

All sites will be required to demonstrate compliance with Chief Health Officer Directions prior to reopening – including the requirement for workers to show evidence to their employer of having had one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine before they return to site on 5 October.

Vaccination

Anyone who attends a construction site will need to have a first dose of COVID-19 vaccination by 11:59pm Thursday, 23 September 2021.

This means from Friday 24 September 2021, all construction workers in Victoria must be able to, as a minimum, provide evidence showing that they have:

• received at least their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, or
• proof of a vaccine appointment to receive a first dose by Saturday 2 October 2021, or
• an exemption evidenced by an authorised medical practitioner.

Construction workers can now access a priority vaccination booking by calling the Coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398. Walk-in appointments are also available for construction workers without a booking, every day until Sunday 26 September.

Construction industry shutdown FAQ

The construction sector guidance frequently asked questions (FAQ) page on coronavirus.vic.gov.au has been updated to include information about the construction industry shut down in metropolitan Melbourne, City of Ballarat, City of Greater Geelong, the Surf Coast Shire and Mitchell Shire.

You can find answers to questions about the construction shutdown in the Frequently Asked Questions section of the Victorian Government’s Construction sector guidance webpage.