Enter your email and password to access secured content, members only resources and discount prices.
Did you become a member online? If not, you will need to activate your account to login.
If you are having problems logging in, please call HIA helpdesk on 1300 650 620 during business hours.
If you are having problems logging in, please call HIA helpdesk on 1300 650 620 during business hours.
Enables quick and easy registration for future events or learning and grants access to expert advice and valuable resources.
Enter your details below and create a login
The Victorian Government has introduced a number of restrictions on residential building sites due to the current COVID-19 lockdown across Victoria.
The complete details regarding the restrictions are continually being updated. This information sheet provides details based on the current publicly available information as they impact the residential construction industry.
Building and construction is classified as “authorised work” and therefore residential building work is allowed to continue throughout Victoria despite any stay at home (lockdown) requirements.
This information sheets sets out the restriction that apply to the following types of construction work are permitted:
Internal renovation work is not currently permitted at an occupied home.
Outdoor work at an occupied home is permitted but must meet certain restrictions subject to whether the site is located in metropolitan Melbourne or regional Victoria.
New construction projects can commence as long as the current restrictions are complied with.
Different restrictions apply to small-scale construction work, including renovations on unoccupied properties and there are a number of requirements that must be complied with on all construction sites across Victoria.
An early stage residential land development site comprises all civil works undertaken on open air, large greenfield sites that are associated with and preparatory to construction of multiple individual residential dwellings on that site (including site remediation and site preparation works, construction of utilities and construction of roads, bridges, stormwater/flood management works and trunk infrastructure).
Once subdivision occurs, the construction of that dwelling on that part of the site is regarded as a small scale construction site.
For large scale residential development (e.g. retirement village) with a single entity responsible for construction, once the construction of dwellings have commenced, it will be considered large scale construction, this includes an industrial or commercial development.
No more than 20 workers per hectare.
A large-scale construction site is one that:
Worksites must not exceed a daily maximum of workers on site calculated as the greater of:
All workers count towards the applicable daily worker limit including the COVID Marshal who is responsible for overseeing COVIDSafe functions in the workplace.
To calculate the 25 percent determine your baseline workforce.
Your baseline workforce is the average daily number of personnel on site across the project lifecycle, based on the project’s written resourcing plan as of 15 August 2021.
The resourcing plan and calculation are subject to audit.
Project lifecycle commences from the date of onsite mobilisation and ends at handover.
The current restrictions apply to employees, employer and workers, including site supervisors and inspectors.
An employee is employed by an employer and includes a person who is self-employed.
An employer means a person who owns, operated or controls a construction site and includes a person who is self-employed or a sole trader.
Workers are people working on a site including, but not limited to, owners, managers, employees, contractors, workers on labour hire and security.
Yes. All Workers are:
Yes. The suppliers should only remain on site for as long as is reasonably necessary to deliver the products and materials.
Delivery workers must also comply with the vaccination requirements.
No. Drivers and suppliers who deliver to site for a short period of time then leave are not included in the 5 worker rule.
No, if they are not coming on the construction site, they will not be counted towards the maximum of 5 workers onsite. It is important that they minimise any contact with workers onsite.
Yes. Trade waste from construction projects will be classified as waste from commercial contractors. This will enable access to waste transfer stations.
Under the current restrictions the intent is to reduce movement wherever possible. Trips to access waste transfer stations should only be done when necessary. Workers should keep a log of any places visited including date, time and place of attendance.
While the recent shutdown of construction sites affected metropolitan Melbourne and some regional areas, the rules from 5 October 2021 for construction sites across Victoria are the same for both metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Further information for businesses regarding the current restrictions and how they apply to construction work is available on the Victorian Government’s construction reopening plan and is outlined in the following HIA information sheets:
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has tabled its submission calling on the Federal Government to act swiftly on the Productivity Commission’s Five Pillars reforms to lift productivity and unlock new housing supply.
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has appeared today at the Senate Inquiry into Climate Risk Assessment to advocate that the Federal government should drive a national, coordinated plan to make Australia’s homes stronger and safer in the face of a changing climate.
Opening statement by Simon Croft, Chief Executive Industry & Policy
Eligible small businesses in NSW can apply to SafeWork NSW for a rebate of up to $1,000 on the purchase of safety items. This includes items to help control exposure to silica dust.
Can’t find what you need, check out other resources that might be closer to the mark.
Supporting building professionals with custom built services and products.