Premier's announcement on new COVID-19 restrictions for metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire

This afternoon, the Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews made an announcement about stronger lock-down measures that will affect all of metropolitan Melbourne due to spikes in COVID-19 cases.

A return to Stage 3 lock-down measures will take effect at 11:59 pm tomorrow, Wednesday 8 July, 2020 and will be in place for six weeks until 19 August, 2020.

There are only four things people living in metropolitan Melbourne can leave home for:

•            Shopping for food and supplies
•            Care and care-giving
•            Exercise (within metropolitan Melbourne)
•            Study or work – if you can’t do it from home.


The definition of ‘metropolitan Melbourne’ for the purpose of this issue is as follows:

All 31 Melbourne metropolitan Local Government Areas: Banyule, Bayside, Boroondara, Brimbank, Cardinia, Casey, Darebin, Frankston, Glen Eira, Greater Dandenong, Hobsons Bay, Hume, Kingston, Knox, Manningham, Maribyrnong, Maroondah, Melbourne, Melton, Mornington Peninsula, Monash, Moonee Valley, Moreland, Nillumbik, Port Philip, Stonnington, Whitehorse, Whittlesea, Wyndham, Yarra, Yarra Ranges.
 
And one regional shire: Mitchell Shire (map)
 
 
What this means for members and their employees
 
Building and construction is still being classified as an essential service so our industry will continue working.

• If you live and work in metropolitan Melbourne or Mitchell Shire you can continue to work if required with an essential letter (see below)

• If you live in metropolitan Melbourne or Mitchell Shire and work outside of metropolitan Melbourne or Mitchell Shire you can continue to travel for work if required with an essential letter (see below)

• If you live outside of metropolitan Melbourne or Mitchell Shire but work in metropolitan Melbourne or Mitchell Shire you can continue to travel for work if required with an essential letter (see below)

• It is important that if you live in metropolitan Melbourne or Mitchell Shire you return back home directly after work

• There will be 'booze bus-style' vehicle checks in areas for cars going in and out of metropolitan Melbourne or Mitchell Shire. It's important for those travelling in and out of Melbourne or Mitchell Shire for work that they are aware of this for possibly longer travel times, and to be ready to provide information about where they are working    

• Those living and working in all other parts of Victoria must be vigilant in following current protocols and restrictions so as to minimise any risk of these measures being introduced elsewhere, and for all of our collective health 
 

Essential letters for employees and clients

Master Builders Victoria has template letters available for members that they can provide to clients and team members in metropolitan Melbourne or Mitchell Shire that cannot work from home. These letters provide evidence of the legitimacy of your activity in the event you are questioned by Victoria Police while performing your work.

Please note that the letters are not a free pass. They should be used in appropriate circumstances only and while in full compliance with physical distancing and hygiene requirements.  It is important to understand that the final determination of legitimacy remains the prerogative of Victoria Police.  To obtain the letter templates, please call Master Builders Victoria during business hours on (03) 9411 4555 or email [email protected].

 
Display homes
 
Visits to display homes of all types will once again be possible by appointment only in what is defined as metropolitan Melbourne (and Mitchell Shire). There are currently no exceptions to this rule.

On advice from the Victorian Chief Health Officer, clients are still permitted to attend private appointments to view display homes and to meet with builders and consultants to make decisions, such as colours and fit-out details. 

COVID-19 Guidelines

In accord with Stage Three restrictions, it’s important for home and property owners and the community to know that, if physical distancing and hygiene measures are in place, there is no absolute limit to the number of workers you can have working on site. To observe these, we urge you to consult the latest version of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidelines for the Building and Construction Industry Victoria (Revision 4) 24 June 2020.

Home and property owners and our community should remember that safety is everyone’s responsibility; builders, workers, tradespeople and clients must ensure that social distancing and hygiene rules are adhered to.
We will keep you updated on any further adjustments or clarifications that develop on these restrictions.
 
 
Public housing towers
 
For those nine affected public housing towers in inner Melbourne on complete lock-down, the message remains the same as what we communicated on Saturday.

 
NSW/Victoria border travel applications
 
At this point the application process is still being setup, please check-in at this link for updates.
 
CLICK HERE TO READ THE PREMIER'S FULL STATEMENT
 
CLICK HERE FOR FULL UPDATED RESTRICTION INFORMATION FOR METROPOLITAN MELBOURNE AND VICTORIA