With the five-day lockdown now in place, the following rules apply for our industry:

  • The building and construction industry is closed
  • These are not the Stage 4 restrictions we worked with during August-September 2020. It is a full lockdown with the intention of being a shorter period with maximum effect. 
  • The only exceptions to this rule are:
    • Projects that have already been listed as 'State critical infrastructure projects' or 'Critical and essential infrastructure projects' including road construction services. (lists at https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/victorias-restriction-levels-covid-19 and listed below
    • Construction and maintenance for the purposes of national security and defence, and:
  • Any further permitted activity would only be considered in highly exceptional circumstances where urgently required for the purposes of sustaining human health, safety and wellbeing
  • The government has also advised that work required to make your sites safe and secure for the lockdown is allowed. For information on closing down sites click here
  • Display homes, display suites and offices must also remain closed, with real estate auctions taking place online only
  • Where essential amenities are unavailable to occupants, with no viable alternative, work can continue only to reach a point where these amenities become available for use
  • Even work on unoccupied premises, or requiring only one worker, is not permitted, unless it meets with the exceptions above
  • Further information related to manufacture and supply in our industry is provided below

 
Unfortunately, this means that the vast majority of our members will not be able to work until the lockdown is revised ahead of 11:59pm Wednesday, 17 February 2021.
 
Whilst we acknowledge the substantial disruption this will mean for our members and our community, MBV expects that everyone in our industry will follow these rules, in order that we can all get back to a COVID normal as quickly as possible.  Our team is available to support you if you are unsure what the restrictions mean for you, please contact [email protected] with any queries  
 
 
State Government Critical Infrastructure Projects

  • Critical maintenance and safety works to public infrastructure
  • Cladding Rectification Program
  • Early childhood learning, school and TAFE capital projects to meet time-sensitive enrolment demands
  • Victorian School Asbestos Safety Program
  • ICU Capacity Upgrade Works and health services maintenance work
  • Recommissioning works – Old Peter Mac hospital
  • Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital - new theatres
  • Northern Hospital Tower – Epping
  • Sunshine Hospital Emergency Dept - Sunshine
  • St George's Aged Care
  • Orygen Youth Mental Health
  • Critical Ambulance Station works
  • Victorian Heart Hospital
  • Essential public housing infrastructure
  • VIFM mortuary capacity and security works
  • Melbourne Remand Centre capacity works
  • Port Phillip Prison capacity works
  • Specialist Family Violence Courts infrastructure
  • VCAT Community Based Venues - Bundoora and Frankston
  • Dandenong Drug Court
  • New Victoria Police Centre
  • Melbourne Protective Security Enhancement
  • Youth Justice Redevelopment project at Cherry Creek
  • All road, public transport and telecommunications infrastructure safety and maintenance works
  • Road safety projects to maintain critical safe operations on the road network
  • Rolling Stock Maintenance & Manufacturing
  • Level Crossing Removal Project works – Hurstbridge, Frankston, Pakenham, Cranbourne, Werribee, Upfield, Craigieburn, Lilydale, Old Geelong Road (Werribee), Preston Package and Ballarat lines
  • Road Projects - M80 Ring Road Upgrade, Plenty Road, Mordialloc Freeway and Western Roads Upgrade
  • Monash Freeway Upgrade
  • Metro Tunnel Project and associated works
  • West Gate Tunnel works
  • Upper Yarra Dam upgrade and critical safety maintenance works
  • Critical fire station works

 
Manufacturing and materials businesses in our industry
 
Businesses that include manufacturing, fabrication or assembly of goods and materials for the building and construction industry are included in the five day lockdown unless they are deemed essential.
 
This means those businesses that are essential for the continued operation of:

  • A factory or facility that is not able to be shut down without causing damage or loss to plant and equipment, but only those operations that are necessary in order to prevent that damage or loss;
  • Commercial operations that supply goods or service necessary:
    • to support any business activity that may be carried out in accordance with the government directions; or
    • to support the export of goods and services from Victoria.
  • Manufacturing, fabrication or assembly of goods and materials necessary for or related to supporting defence or security industries.

 
All workers that can work from home must do so.
 
 
MBV Media Statement from CEO Rebecca Casson:
 
“As of today, the vast majority of the building and construction industry in Victoria will not be able to go on to worksites.
 
“The few worksites that are exceptions and will continue, are critical infrastructure projects – road projects like the M80 Ring Road and Monash Freeway upgrades.
 
“There will be exceptions made for emergency housing repairs, and builders are also allowed to carry out work required to make their sites safe and secure, prior to closing the site.
 
“This represents the harshest lockdown our industry has experienced during the pandemic. And, for the first time, our wider industry will be almost completely stopped. It’s a step beyond the Stage 4 restrictions we endured through much of 2020.
 
This is incredibly disappointing, especially given our sector’s very strong safety record. And, if this lockdown was to go on any longer than five days, there would be catastrophic economic ramifications.”
 
“We urge everyone in our industry to follow the rules over the coming days, so we are best-placed to open back up on Thursday.”
 
“In the meantime, Master Builders Victoria is working with our members through this difficult period. We’d advise all in our industry to check our website, Member Bulletins and social media for further updates.”
 
 
 
Exposure site updates:
 
New exposure sites have been identified over the last 24 hours.
The new sites are: 

  • Brunetti: Terminal 4, Melbourne Airport 4:45am - 1:15pm, 9/2/2021
  • Terminal 4 Melbourne Airport  4:45am – 2pm 9/2/2021
  • Craigieburn Train line (Broadmeadows Railway Station to Glenroy Railway Station) 1.25pm - 1.59pm 9/02/2012
  • Caltex Woolworths, 50 Old Geelong Road, Hoppers Crossing 6:40am – 7:15am 8/2/2021
  • Coates Hire Werribee, 148a Geelong Road, Hoppers Crossing 6:45am-7:30am 8/2/2021
  • Function Venue, 426 Sydney Road, Coburg 7:14pm-11:30pm 6/2/2021
  • 513 Eltham to Glenroy bus (bus from Glenroy Railway Station towards Eltham) 1:35pm-2:17pm 9/2/2021
  • 901 Frankston to Melbourne Airport bus (bus from Melbourne Airport to Broadmeadows Railway Station) 1:02pm-1:49pm 9/2/2021

If any worker has been to these sites in these timeframes, they must get tested, isolate for 14 days and follow further instructions.

These sites have been added to the overall list, which can be read here. We urge all members to check this list regularly and update your workforce.

Please ensure that anyone exposed does not enter a worksite.
For information on where to get tested see here.  
 
Further information from yesterday’s bulletin can be found here


A Reminder

Master Builders Victoria remains available to support our members. Your health and safety and that of our team, sponsors and stakeholders, are of the utmost importance to us. While many of our team has transitioned to working remotely, we continue to deliver our services and products to you. We have plans in place allowing this to continue as the effects of COVID-19 unfold. We will keep you notified of any changes that may affect the way we serve you.

Please also note that while our walk-in shops are closed, the online shop is still active and will deliver to your homes. To access the online shop, please click here.

At this time of uncertainty, we encourage members to take advantage of the numerous support resources available to them, including:

 

Partners in Wellbeing Helpline 

The Victorian Government has also launched it's Partners in Wellbeing Helpline for Victorian business owners, their employees and business advisers. The 1300 375 330 Helpline is available seven days a week from 9am to 10pm on weekdays and 9am to 5pm on weekends.


The Helpline offers free and confidential one-on-one access to wellbeing and mental health support. The telephone helpline has also been expanded to provide business owners under stress with free access to financial counsellors.


More information is available on the Business Victoria website, while the Victorian Government has other programs and resources to support the local business community through the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which you can find on the Business Victoria website.
 
Members are reminded to call the MBV team for support, information and resources on (03) 9411 4555.