CONSTRUCTION STILL CARRIES BALL AND CHAIN UPON REOPENING
Reopening construction from August 11 this year was a day to be shouting from the rooftops but what ball and chain did the new rules carry.
It was a bleak time when NSW Government due to rising infections in the community made the decision to shut down all construction.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian shut down construction regardless of the economic implications and placed emphasis on trying to stop the spread of the virus.
“We want to make sure we have a no regrets policy,” Premier Berejiklian said. “We want to make sure we get out of this lockdown as soon as we can.”
Berejiklian made several references on how wanting to “quash” the outbreak, was her ultimate goal and there was “no perfection during a pandemic.”
The recent Master Builders NSW survey revealed that $30 billion worth of construction restarted with ball and chain requirements.
“I was elated but in reality what did this actually mean for Makka Constructions when the news carried restrictions in the LGA’s of concern,” said CEO Pierre Makhlouf.
“Even though I welcomed further easing of restrictions on August 22 it still meant that half of my work was at a standstill,” he said
Residential work came to a halt in the LGA’s of concern. This included the affected LGA’s of Blacktown, Campbelltown, Canterbury-‐ Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta and Penrith.
In all other areas of Greater Sydney there is a limit to two (2) workers on site for indoor works and five (5) for outside work. No contact between workers and occupants.
The rules take into account the 1 person per 4 square metre rule and 50% of the maximum daily workforce on the construction site.
The NSW Government deems a construction site a place of work that includes excavation to erect, demolish, extend or alter a building or structure, or at which civil works are being carried out.
All sites including ones in the affected LGA’s must develop, comply and keep a copy of the COVID-‐19 safety plan on the premises. This plan needs to be available for authorized offices or police as requested.
All masks must be worn at all times and can be removed for eating and drinking and certain specific requirements. Check out full details via this link: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules/construction-rules-and-restrictions
Makka Constructions continues to take consultations via scheduled online appointments and work is carried out on sites where the NSW Government permits.
To schedule a virtual appointment please do not hesitate to submit a form on our website by using the following link https://makkaconstructions.com.au/contact-us/ or
call us on 0404 61 0404
