29 June 2021
All you need to know about the latest lockdown and specific details on how it impacts the building and construction industry.
From 6pm on Tuesday, 29 June until 6pm Friday, 2 July, people in the local government areas of Noosa, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redlands, Logan, Gold Coast, Scenic Rim, Lockyer Valley, Somerset, Townsville, Palm Island, and Magnetic Island, 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.
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
As was the case during the recent short lockdowns in January and March 2021, building and construction is considered an essential service, and remains open for business. You must follow your COVID-19 plan, ensure your hygiene and social distancing measures are in place and wear a mask wherever possible.
Display villages
Like last time, it is likely Master Builders display villages will be required to shut to the public for this period of time. If there are any changes to this, we will advise our display village builder members immediately.
MASKS
If you leave home in the affected local government areas you must wear a mask in indoor spaces where you can’t physically distance. 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 inside on a construction site and cannot socially distance, you’ll need to wear a mask, if it’s safe to do so. 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.
For more information, head to the Queensland Health website.
CHECK IN QLD APP
From 1am on Friday, 9 July, the Check In Qld app will become mandatory for a number of new sectors and it will become very common place for you to be required to check in when attending supermarkets and shopping centres and numerous other settings.
Display homes
While the information from Queensland Government has been a little unclear regarding display homes specifically, we have taken a cautious approach and are urging individual builders to make the QR code available at each of their individual display homes.
Building sites
Building sites are not considered restricted businesses in the Queensland Government health directive or included in the required sectors outlined in the Check In Qld app details, therefore, use of the app on building sites is not mandatory. However, they can absolutely participate if they wish to do so as a business.
Master Builders offices, training and events
When you visit one of our offices across Queensland or attend one of our training courses, we’ll soon have the Check In Qld app QR code ready for you to scan. It’s simple and easy and will now be part of our usual process for signing in as a visitor.
For events held off our premises, we’re subject to each venues’ Check in Qld app requirements. The venue will supply you with the QR code to check in appropriately and you must abide by their rules and directions.
How to register your business
It’s easy to register your own business so you are complying with the requirements. Visit the Check in Qld website and register your business. The process takes up to three business days and you’ll be supplied with a business set-up guide, including a QR code poster. You can print and display these posters in multiple accessible locations. If you have customers who cannot use the app, there is a business profile mode that can be used for you to check them in.
The Check In Qld app website provides answers to common questions or you can contact 134 COVID (12 42 68) for support.
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