2 August 2021
SEQ lockdown extended, the most commonly asked questions about the latest south-east Queensland lockdown, including wearing of masks and what building work can go ahead, plus NSW border closes to Queensland close contact venues and the support that is available.
*Due to the changing nature of COVID-19, this information may no longer be correct. Please check state and federal government information for up-to-date guidance.
Lockdown details
The south-east Queensland lockdown has been extended until 4pm Sunday, 8 August, people in the local government areas of Noosa, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redlands, Logan, Gold Coast, Scenic Rim, Lockyer Valley and Somerset will be required to stay at home except to:
- Attend work if you can’t work from home
- Buy essentials like groceries and medicine
- Look after the vulnerable, and
- Exercise within their neighbourhood.
Residents must stay within 10km of their home to perform essential shopping and exercise.
Read more about the restrictions details on movement and gathering, businesses and events and face masks on the Queensland Government’s website.
BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION REMAINS OPEN
While the industry has again been deemed essential, there are some differences to the previous lockdowns, including some limitations on work that can be conducted and the recent change that masks must now be worn at all times (if safe to do so), even when you can socially distance.
In today's press conference, Queensland's Chief Health Officer, Dr Jeanette Young praised the efforts of the building and construction industry and their ability to apply and comply with the COVID restrictions. It is critical that we keep this up to ensure our industry remains open.
The Department of Energy & Public Works has advised that where construction is on a site that is or includes a home residence or business (e.g. a restaurant or hospital), essential building and construction works can continue. It therefore means that work can be done on:
- New home sites
- New apartments or multi-residential sites
- New commercial building sites
- Other types of buildings where the building is unoccupied by homeowners (for example, a unit renovation on an unoccupied residence)
- Building work being done for a business for example a restaurant, hospital, or other essential building.
However, you need to make sure you limit interactions between your workers and any clients, occupants, staff or visitors to the site you are working at.
Queensland Health have requested a commonsense approach be taken to working in people’s homes or businesses.
Renovation, maintenance and service work will only be considered essential and can continue if it is:
- Renovations, repair work or maintenance work being done to make the property safe and functional (for example, restoring services that make a home liveable, such as kitchens, bathrooms, other plumbing work, stairs and access points, etc).
- Where the work is outside the home and you have very limited contact with the occupants – for example, external concreting or external painting.
- Service trade work such as plumbing or electrical that is essential to the property, for example, genuine emergencies to maintain fresh water and electrical supply to a house/ business.
If you are performing work outlined above, check with the client to make sure they are happy for you to attend their property and limit interactions whilst undertaking the work.
MASKS
If you leave home in the affected local government areas you must wear a mask at all times. You must carry a face mask with you at all times whenever you leave your home, unless you have a lawful reason not to.
Do I need to wear a face mask on a construction site?
If you’re on a construction site, you’ll need to wear a mask (if it’s safe to do so) even in situations where you can socially distance. The construction industry has remained open due to their successful adoption of COVID-safe practices and wearing a mask wherever possible is an essential part of this..
EXTRA ADVICE FOR MEMBERS
- Ensure your COVID-19 plan is up-to-date
- Implement hygiene measures – hand wash, sanitiser, and cleaning protocols
- Ensure social distancing measures are in place and enforced
- Limit numbers of people doing tasks to only those necessary
- Schedule work so that numbers of people in the same place are limited
- When dealing with homeowners – ensure that you only undertake work that is essential, and send only those people who are needed to perform the work.
We remain open for business and as always, are here to answer any questions you might have, so please feel free to call us on 1300 30 50 10.
FAQs
We're already fielding calls from members regarding finer details of the lockdown. Here's what we know so far.
Can I travel in and out of the lockdown area for construction work?
Yes, as far as we know at this point in time, you can leave the local government areas that are locked down once the lockdown period commences to perform construction work. However, you will need to abide by the lockdown restrictions at all times.
For example, if you live on the Sunshine Coast and you have a project in Hervey Bay, you can go there to do this work as long as you abide by the lockdown restrictions while on site.
You can enter the lockdown region from areas outside, such as from Central Queensland or North Queensland to perform construction work, and then return home. However, you must follow restrictions while in the lockdown area and then also abide by the lockdown restrictions on your return home.
For example, if you are a construction worker who lives in Central Queensland and you have a project in Brisbane, you can attend the site in Brisbane.
You will need to follow the lockdown rules while on site as well as when you return home, such as staying home and only leaving your home for essential purposes, wearing a mask when travelling outside your home, and limiting the numbers of people into your home.
What documentation do I need?
We recommended that if you are travelling to locations to and from the lockdown area then you should:
- Take personal identification with you
- Take information with you about your purpose of travel, such as a contract or work order or evidence that you are a construction worker.
- Go directly to and from your home to the worksite without stopping to do non-essential activities (such as shopping, or grabbing a bite to eat)
- Wear a mask
- Follow hygiene and social distancing rules.
NSW BORDER CLOSURES
If you have visited one of Queensland's close contact venues, as listed in the Service NSW's COVID-19 concerns notice (these are the venues listed on the Queensland Health website), you will be unable to complete a NSW border declaration and enter the state for work purposes. However, if you have visited one of these close contact venues, you should be following Queensland Health restrictions and remaining at home, as per their instructions.
SUPPORT AVAILABLE
In addition to federal assistance for individuals who may be eligible for support payments due to work hours lost, the Queensland Government has just announced the 2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grant program to assist small businesses through the current lockdown.
The government will provide $5,000 payments to small and medium businesses across Queensland affected by the current COVID-19 lockdown and lockdowns in other states.
More information is available on the Queensland Government's small business website.
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