News | 01 October

The Victorian Government has announced today, that all sectors of the Building and Construction Industry can ‘Reset for Restart’ next Tuesday, 5 October. A copy of the State Government’s Media Release is attached for your reference.

This announcement is testament to the collaboration and efforts of Government and all industry stakeholders such as unions, employers and employer associations for preparation and advocacy of the Re-opening plan, actively facilitated and supported by the Department of Jobs Precincts and Regions (DJPR).

There is now a clear Construction Industry Roadmap that outlines the key capacities, densities and requirements for each sector of the industry – Small Scale, Large Scale, Early Development Sites (Greenfield Development) and State Critical Infrastructure Projects.  The requirements for each sector differ predominantly with regards to worksite capacities and densities and I refer CCF members to the attached Roadmap for further details.

For Early Stage / Greenfield Development and civil construction works, we advocated hard for cross-border access between restricted (metro- Melbourne & select LGA areas) and regional Victoria on behalf of members and the roadmap outcome reflects a significant outcome for the industry that enables metro and regional workers to attend worksites subject to compliance with “fully vaccinated”. 

Working with industry partners, our collaborative advocacy efforts has resulted in a clearer definition of what constitutes a “fully vaccinated” worker, which allows for greater worker transition across these restricted boundaries. Government has confirmed that “fully vaccinated” workers are clear to cross metro and regional boundaries to attend construction work sites.

The definition of “fully vaccinated” means a worker that complies with either of the following criteria:

  1. A worker that has had first and second vaccination doses; or
  2. A worker that has had a single vaccination with a second booking prior to Saturday, 13 November.

This represents a significant advocacy outcome and will allow workers on small-scale and Early-Stage land development sites to cross between metro-Melbourne and regional Victoria in line with the industry reopening on Tuesday 5 October, ensuring those sites can return to productive operation in line with other sites.

Ahead of 5 October

Before the site reopens, the site operator (i.e. the contractor that has possession of site) must complete a COVIDSafe construction declaration form available on the Service Victoria platform from Saturday 2 October.

This is a statutory requirement and will make it easier for construction workplaces to follow the Chief Health Officer directions and keep worksites safe. Workers can enter a site to improve crib facilities, receive deliveries and for site re-induction.

Your COVIDSafe Plan must be reviewed and updated regularly and discussed with your workers.

Single dosed vaccinated workers can also attend worksites to:

  • Prepare crib facilities;
  • Receive deliveries required to recommence work;
  • Re-induct workers on new measures

Please find attached a “Reset to Restart” guide to assist you in your preparatory works.

On Restarting (wef 5 October)

There will be an ‘Attestation’ (ie: a declaration) that each construction site operator will be required to sign, confirming that the required COVID-19 measures are in place. This Attestation form will be available on the dedicated Construction website tomorrow, Saturday 2 October.

Finally, a concise summary of the Industry COVID-19 Guidelines is attached to assist employers and all workers understand their obligations to re-commence work on Tuesday.

In conjunction with the “Reset to Restart” guide, the following are useful links to review in preparation for re-opening and outline specific obligations on employers and employees.  

Construction Restart Plan

https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/construction-restart-plan#early-development-sites

Construction sector guidance

https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-sector-guidance-construction

I will continue to keep CCF members abreast of further developments and announcements made over the weekend in preparation for opening next Tuesday.

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