The City of Latrobe has entered a seven-day lockdown to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the community. 

There has been some confusion if this lockdown includes the building and construction industry. However, as per our advice on social media last night, we have re-confirmed with the Victorian Government, and it has confirmed that our industry is included and must shut down. This change is incorporated in the Area Directions.

As with Melbourne, there will be a strictly limited exemption for workers to attend sites to respond to an emergency or perform urgent and essential work to protect health and safety.  

An amnesty is in place so that a limited number of workers can attend sites to shut them down safely. 

If the regional LGA’s come out of lockdowns sooner than 5 October 2021, the building and construction industry in these areas may be able to reopen earlier.  

There is more information below about making worksites safe during shutdown. 

Victoria’s acting Chief Health Officer advised that there are a growing number of signals in the City of Latrobe that are of concern and declared that, from 11.59pm Tuesday 28 September 2021, the Latrobe local government area (including Churchill, Moe, Newborough, Morwell, and Traralgon) will be under the same restrictions as Melbourne - apart from the curfew. 

Residents can’t leave the Latrobe City area and travel elsewhere in regional Victoria other than for limited reasons, such as authorised work and permitted education, care and compassionate reasons, visiting an intimate partner, and necessary goods and services (only if they can’t be obtained locally). 

This will last for seven days until 11.59pm on Tuesday, 5 October. 

Making Worksites Safe During Shutdown 

As mentioned above, an amnesty is in place so that a limited number of workers can attend sites to shut them down safely. 

With the Government mandated a closure/shutdown of worksites, there is an allowance for a strictly limited exemption for workers to attend sites to respond to an emergency or perform urgent and essential work to protect health and safety. This has been captured in the updated Workplace (Additional Industry Obligations) Directions no 44 - refer in particular to section 7 (38) for directions enabling sites to be made safe and for strictly critical urgent and essential work, to protect the health and safety of workers or members of the public.