UPDATE FRIDAY JUNE 18th – FURTHER EASING OF VICTORIAN RESTRICTIONS

Click here to access a summary of the settings with further easing of restrictions. Vic Govt Covid -19 Easing of Restrictions Industry Presentation 17-6-2021 Please note the need to establish use of the Victorian Government QR Code for all businesses (e.g  your studio or practice) by July 1st.  For further information visit: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/how-we-work

SECOND  COVID-19 UPDATE FOR 9-6-21

Good news. From 11.59pm Thursday 10 June building and construction services will be  fully open but must operate with a CovidSafe Plan and according to CovidSafe principles. Acting Premier James Merlino has today said,  “When it comes to work, there’ll no longer be a list – but if you can work from home, you should”.  Today’s updated restrictions table therefore no longer lists authorised providers or authorised workers. 

Employment Minister, Jaala Pulford has also confirmed in an online briefing that construction and maintenance services are now permitted in occupied premises.

Every Victorian business that is open must have a COVIDSafe Plan.

Businesses should apply the Six principles of COVIDSafe workplaces.

• practice physical distancing, where possible
• wear a face mask
• practise good hygiene
• keep electronic records and act quickly
• avoid interactions in enclosed spaces
• create workforce bubbles.

See: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/how-we-work

COVID-19 UPDATE 9-6-21

Certain Construction, building and maintenance work can occur at occupied premises

In occupied premises, certain if:

• the service provider has an ABN
• the service is provided by five or less people, plus a supervisor
• the work occurs outside
  physical distancing can always be maintained.

A workspace is considered ‘outdoors’ if it is not fully enclosed. Renovation work in a space without a roof or wall, such as a house extension, is considered to be outside. A work space must be entirely separated from the occupied part of the house (for example, workers must not be able to enter occupied areas of the house even when residents are not present).

Workers must avoid contact with residents and always wear a mask.

Please also note that site inspections by clients are not permitted. 

For details see the FAQ at: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/current-restrictions-how-we-work-metropolitan-melbourne

COVID-19 UPDATE 3-6-21

Please note also that:

• Melbourne Metropolitan workers can travel to regional Victoria for authorised work and vise versa. Metropolitan  rules follow metropolitan workers into regional  Victoria and regional Victorian workers must abide metropolitan  rules when in metropolitan Melbourne.
• A question was lodged by the Institute at today’s Industry briefing given by  Employment Minister Jaaala Pulford and Dept. Jobs Precincts and Regions (DPJR), asking if Architects, Draftspersons and Designers in Metro Melbourne can visit occupied premises to undertake measurements essential to preparing plans for renovations and additions. Another  question  was also asked by the HIA in today’s Industry briefing session, as to whether  clients may attend final inspections. DPJR will provide responses to these and other unanswered questions in the coming days.
• Construction and renovation work may continue on unoccupied apartments, where other apartments in the block are still occupied providing that workers wear face masks at all times and have no contact with residents from other apartments (refer: Circuit breaker restrictions for how we work
• Support services to keep authorised activities going are permitted work (e.g. on site computer technician).

COVID-19 UPDATE 2-6-21

• Following today’s announcement by Acting Victorian Premier, James Merlino, an extension is being made to the Covid-19 lockdown and restrictions for a further week from 11:59pm on June 3^rd in metropolitan Melbourne.
• A number of outdoor jobs will be added to the authorised list – like landscaping, painting, installing solar panels.
• However restrictions will be eased in regional Victoria from midnight 11:59pm on June 3^rd – subject to confirming testing information such as Covid-9 levels in waste water on Thursday June 3^rd . This will likely mean that
  • People residing in regional Victoria can leave home for any reason
  • In terms of work at a practice studio in an office setting in regional Victoria, if you can work from home, you should continue to work from home. Capacity limits in regional Victorian workplaces such as offices will be capped at 50%or 20 people, whichever is greater.
  • Masks will still be required to be be carried at all times in regional Victoria and must be worn indoors except if at home, or if an exception applies They will also be mandated to be worn outdoors where 1.5 metres physical distancing cannot be maintained.
  • Private gatherings in the home will still not be permitted, except intimate partner visits / single bubble persons.
• In direct response to a question by the Institute to Employment Minister Jaala Pulford in an Industry briefing session this afternoon, the Minister stated that an authorised worker in Building Construction would be permitted to enter regional Victoria from metropolitan Melbourne to undertake authorised work, but that the metropolitan rules follow them. For example, masks must be worn indoors and outdoors except if at home, or if an exception applies. No sit-down dining would permitted by an authorised worker entering regional Victoria.

A copy of the revised restrictions are available at: RESTRICTIONS FROM 11.59PM THURSDAY 3 JUNE

UPDATE 31-5-21

IMPORTANT READING FOR INSTITUTE VIC CHAPTER MEMBERS –  a summary of FAQ from  Circuit breaker restrictions for how we work

This update provides important information about work that is and is not permitted.

• All aspects of construction are permitted to operate for unoccupied premises and new builds. during circuit breaker restrictions as well as service and maintenance for unoccupied premises and new builds.
• However, construction and renovations, including pool installation, painting, and landscaping, must not proceed at occupied premises. 
• If a building inspection is critical to the building or construction project, it is considered a part of the construction and may occur.
• Landscaping works and painting may continue where they are occurring as part of a new build, or as a standalone project on an existing property where there are no residents. Landscaping works are not permitted at occupied properties. If the premises are occupied, painting should not proceed. 
• Authorised Workers or workers at Authorised Providers do not require a worker permit or employment letter to prove they can work.
• Emergency repairs and maintenance are permitted, however workers must wear face masks and have no contact with residents.
• Workers can collect materials or equipment they require to work from home, but they must not remain at the workplace for any other reason if they are not Authorised Workers as listed on the Authorised Provider and Authorised Worker list. 

Update 28-5-21

• • The Victorian Government has announced a 7 day lockdown effective from midnight on May 27th. A link to details of the 7 day Circuit Breaker Restrictions can be found here.
  • Architects are among the authorised workers as one of any persons “who performs work that is essential for the continued operation of ….
    building and construction services” are therefore permitted on
    construction sites. This was confirmed on May 27th in direct response to a question put by the Institute to the DPJR Industry Coordination
    Centre forum held at 2:00pm 
  • Architects must follow the rules of the Covid Safe Plan for the construction worksite they visit.
  • A density quotient of one person per two square metres applies to areas that can be accessed by members of the public in most workplaces.
  • Mask wearing is mandatory.
  • Construction sites nor offices are on the list of venues and facilities that are required to undertake electronic record keeping using the free Victorian Government QR Code Services list, however they are encouraged to do so.
  • The Construction sector guidance page at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-sector-guidance-constructionadvises that:
    • For worksites where a principal contractor has control of the project, subcontractors must adhere to the principal contractor’s COVIDSafe Planfor that worksite.
    • For sites where a principal contractor does not have control of the project, subcontractors must complete their own COVIDSafe Plan for the worksite they are on, even if that worksite is shared with another employer.
    • Subcontractors must also complete a COVIDSafe Plan for their own worksite, such as a head office, work vehicle or warehouse. Work vehicles used predominantly  to travel between the work premises and their ordinary place of residence do not require a COVIDSafe Plan, but a vehicle used predominantly as a work premises, (for example a food truck or dental van), does require a COVIDSafe Plan.
  • NB for the purposes of this advice “subcontractor” is not defined as to whether it refers to consultants or tradespersons.
  • For further information on construction specific guidance see: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-sector-guidance-construction
  • The detailed circuit breaker restrictions set out in their list that, Authorised workers include any person who performs work that is essential for the continued operation of ….commercial operations that supply goods or service necessary…. to support any business activity that may be carried out in accordance with these directions;
  • As far as possible work that normally occurs in offices should be performed from home.