TOOLS DOWN
Building sites brace for pain as city construction workers locked out
RESIDENTIAL and commercial construction projects across the region are likely to face delays after the state government told the industry it must be vaccinated to keep working.
Construction workers will have until September 23 to have a first-dose Covid vaccine and will be banned from crossing the regional-metropolitan border from Saturday. In the past six weeks, at least seven people from the Geelong region have contracted Covid through contact at Melbourne construction sites or as household contacts of Geelong tradies working in Melbourne.
But Master Builders Victoria president Mark Little said the ban raised “more questions” than answers.
He said it was likely local commercial building sites, such as Geelong council’s new headquarters on Mercer St and the Holiday Inn site on Ryrie St, would be paused as workers lined up for jabs.
RESIDENTIAL and commercial construction projects across the region are likely to be paused after the state government told the industry it must be vaccinated to keep working.
Construction workers will have until September 23 to have a first dose of Covid vaccine and will be banned from crossing the regional-metropolitan border from Saturday.
Daniel Andrews said the rules responded to rising Covid cases on construction sites in
Melbourne, which at times had spread to the regions.
“In order to strike that balance and have maximum protection – but at the same time keep that industry going, and all those jobs and livelihoods, trying to protect them as best we can – first dose by next Thursday is mandatory,” the Premier said.
“That is required. No debates entered into. If you’ve got health reasons, fair enough, but people need to go and get vaccinated.”
In the past six weeks, at least seven people from the Geelong region have contracted Covid through contact at Melbourne construction sites or as household contacts of Geelong tradies working in Melbourne.
One construction site in Melbourne now has more than 100 Covid cases linked to it.
Geelong builders said they were unsure how the movement of construction workers across the metro-regional divide would be policed, but Mr Andrews said it was up to employers.
Master Builders Victoria (MBV) president Mark Little said the ban raised “more questions” than answers.
He said it was likely commercial building sites in Geelong, such as the council headquarters on Mercer St and the Holiday Inn site on Ryrie St, would be paused as workers lined up for jabs.
Construction workers will be given priority access to jabs as part of a blitz at the former Ford factory in Norlane from 8.30am-3.30pm daily. Appointments must be booked.
According to industry research by MBV, 13 per cent of the Victorian construction workforce doesn’t want to be vaccinated. Mr Andrews said there would be support for anyone adversely affected by the construction changes, and authorities would work with industry on what changes meant for deliveries to construction sites.
Work exemptions will be given to those who can show proof of vaccination booking.
Enso Homes Director Lee Selkrig said more information was needed on the movement ban that would cause him to pause work at some of his 28 building sites.
“I’m hoping the industry accepts this decision, as hard as it is to take. It’s out time to do the heavy lifting,” he said. “If we flaunt the rules or defy government directions we will no doubt bear the brunt of further restrictions.”
Construction site tearooms will be closed, and eating or drinking inside banned.
MBV chief executive Rebecca Casson said the body supported the jab mandate.
“As several Covid-19 cases have emerged from the building and construction sector in recent weeks, it has become evident that mandatory vaccination of the state’s building and construction workers is the only way to move our industry forward,” she said.