16 September 2020 / COVID-19

COVID-19 Update / SE QLD Contact Tracing

Media Announcements

Please note this is a public announcement – not an announcement from Hutchies.

The following announcements have been made by QLD Government:

  • There have been 4 consecutive days of zero new cases connected to the Wacol cluster in QLD. 
  • Restrictions will be eased as of 8.00am this Thursday, 17 September for the Darling Downs and Gold Coast LGAs. Under the changes, gatherings of up to 30 people, instead of 10, indoors and outdoors will now be allowed within the two areas.
  • The current contact tracing list now only contains 15 venues of concern and can be found listed here or in the table below. There have only been two recent additions. 
  • However, there is an active Public Health Alert for the suburbs of Goodna, Redbank and Redbank Plains:

    Anyone who has been to these suburbs in the last 14 days should monitor their health and if they develop any COVID-19 symptoms, even mild, get tested and isolate until they receive their test result.
  • The same applies to the following if you have visited any of these venues of concern at the time and date listed:
DatePlaceSuburbArrival timeDeparture time
2 September 2020Russell Island PharmacyRussell IslandMorningMorning
2 September 2020Orion Springfield Central Shopping CentreSpringfield Central 12.25pm 1.19pm
2 September 2020Orion Springfield Central shopping centre - Big WSpringfield Central 12.33pm 12.42pm
2 September 2020Orion Springfield Central shopping centre - City BeachSpringfield Central 12.42pm 12.59pm
2 September 2020Orion Springfield Central shopping centre - WoolworthsSpringfield Central 1.02pm 1.13pm
2 September 2020Orion Springfield Central shopping centre - Stacks Discount VarietySpringfield Central1.14pm 1.19pm
2 September 2020Orion Springfield Central shopping centre – Peter McMahon’s Swim FactorySpringfield Central4pm4.30pm
3 September 2020Super IGA SupermarketRussell Island12.00pm 2.00pm
4 September 2020Super IGA SupermarketRussell Island8.00am 8.30am
4 September 2020ColesKaralee9.30am 10.15am
4 September 2020Westfield Garden City - PandoraMount Gravatt11.20am 11.31am
4 September 2020Westfield Garden City - Taylormade MemorabiliaMount Gravatt11.45am11.59am
4 September 2020Ipswich Garden CentreRaceview12.30pm1.30pm
7 September 2020St Edmund's College IpswichMorningAfternoon
8 September 2020Hungry Jack's Town Square Redbank Plains Shopping CentreRedbank Plains8.00pm1.00am

Other Recent Activities

View all activities
30 October / Quality Alert
Prohibition on the Use of Engineered Stone

Engineered stone ban effective 1 July 2024

ALL engineered stone regardless of the silica content percentage will be banned

Alternative products must be considered and implemented on all projects.

The industry is shifting away from engineered stone due to the risks of respirable crystalline silica, which can cause silicosis and other silica-related diseases. Although the consultations are under way and there has been no official announcement by Federal or State Governments on the issue, the health and safety risks along with the uncertainty around this issue warrants a decision to ban all engineered products entering job sites nationally. The ban will take effect on 1 July 2024 and will extend to ALL engineered stone regardless of the silica content percentage. 

An update to this alert will be provided before the end of the year when the Federal and State Governments are expected to issue a formal decision on the ban. In the meantime, to mitigate the impact of potential delays and variations, the best approach is to inform the clients of the pending ban and to propose and seek approval for an alternative product. Similarly, ensure all future estimates have the stone specification qualified and priced accordingly.

Product alternatives going forward include:

Compact Laminates

  • Under 1% silica content
  • Extremely competitive pricing
  • Only comes in 12mm thickness
  • Heat resistance is an issue
  • Product not suitable for high end applications

Porcelain Surfaces

  • Under 10% silica content
  • Price dependant of product and supplier
  • Large variety of colours and thicknesses (4, 8, 12, 20 and 30mm)
  • Great resistance to staining, scratches, UV and heat
  • Good warranty terms

Acrylic Solid Surfaces

  • 0% silica content
  • More expensive alternative
  • Limited thickness availability
  • UV stable and heat resistant but direct heat exposure not advised
  • Minimising wastage through flexibility in sheet sizing
  • Seamless joints

Natural Stone*

  • Various silica content percentages
  • Variety of products at different price points available
  • Ongoing maintenance may be an issue
  • Unlikely to satisfy specific warranty requirements

*Although this alert does not directly impact natural stone, some types have high silica content so risk of using these on projects should be considered carefully.

For an up-to-date list of available products and their usability, click here.

More information

If you need additional support, please contact the Quality Team:

Phone 1300 HUTCHIES
Email QualityTeam@hutchinsonbuilders.com.au

View More
10 October / Update
Installation Details for Elephant's Foot & Wastech Bin Chutes

Make sure bin chute systems are installed correctly, following the tested systems and the manufacturers’ instructions.

Check the detailed drawings from Elephant’s Foot and Wastech for different wall types (plasterboard, shaft-liner, speed panel, concrete, Hebel, and masonry).

Any changes to the tested systems must be approved by your project certifier, signed off by the fire engineer in the fire engineering report (FER), and accepted by the relevant state / territory fire service.

View More