Metro Melbourne construction restrictions moderately eased

As Metropolitan Melbourne moves into the second step on its coronavirus roadmap some restrictions on construction sites have been eased.

Metro Melbourne moved into stage two of its roadmap at 11.59pm on Sunday 27th of September. The construction industry has now moved from ‘heavily restricted’ to a ‘restricted’ level.

For large scale construction this means there must be a daily maximum limit on the number of onsite workers to whichever is greater than 85 per cent of their baseline workforce or 15 workers.

As was in place during the ‘heavily restricted’ level, all sites must also have a high risk COVIDSafe plan in place to continue to ensure physical distancing, face coverings, good hygiene, staff records, avoidance of interactions in enclosed spaces and the continuation of workforce bubbles.

At the ‘restricted’ level these sites are required to have a dedicated COVIDSafe monitor on site, with audits of the COVIDSafe plan and compliance checklist for face coverings and PPE. Sites must also ensure they have culturally and linguistically diverse resources and messaging around hygiene.

In addition, all site inductions and toolbox meetings are to be held outside.

For small scale construction the limit for no more than five workers per site still applies. Almost all of the ‘heavily restricted’ protocols apply including high risk COVIDSafe plans. However, specialist contractors may visit a maximum of five sites per week, up from three, with a maximum of two sites in one day and workers are no longer restricted from attending only one site.

For early stage land development works, density restrictions increase to 20 workers per hectare. Requirements for the high risk COVIDSafe plans still apply.

More information can be found on the Victorian Government Website under industry restriction levels.

The Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews further announced yesterday that the notion to move into step three and the final COVID normal step, will no longer be defined by calendar dates.

Instead, the Public Health Team will determine any movement based on reaching case number targets.

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