27 September 2021 / COVID-19

State Construction Restrictions Update

This update is intended to provide a summary of the current impacts of COVID-19 in Australia that are relevant to Hutchies and the wider construction industry. If you have any questions, get in touch with the Coronavirus Team.

In good news, over half of all Australians over the age of 16 are now double vaccinated.

Once states and territories reach 70% and 80% double vaccinated milestones, governments will begin to ease restrictions safely.

New South Wales

To date, Hutchies' NSW projects have had 12 positive cases on our sites. Unfortunately this has created disruption on projects, but our teams have done an excellent job working with NSW Health managing these cases and mitigating associated risk.

Construction reopened at 100% capacity today.

From today, all construction sites across NSW are allowed to have 1 person per 4m2 at the site. There is no longer a 50% cap on capacity at any site.

The removal of the cap does not change the current vaccination requirements for construction workers in LGAs of concern.

Anyone from an LGA of concern must continue to follow the vaccination and testing requirements in order to work on a Greater Sydney construction site. They must also continue to carry the required evidence and produce the evidence before they are permitted to enter site. This includes the Service NSW worker permit.

People who live outside of the current LGAs of concern are permitted to work on site regardless of their vaccination status.

LGA of Concern	LGA of Concern	LGA of Concern
Bayside	Canterbury-Bankstown	Liverpool
Blacktown	Cumberland	Parramatta
Burwood	Fairfield	Strathfield
Campbelltown	Georges River	Penrith (some suburbs)

New South Wales' roadmap

Today NSW announced further details around its roadmap, particularly in relation to when its population reaches 80% double dose.

This is anticipated to occur around two weeks after 70%, which is currently forecast for October 11.

Victoria

To date, Hutchies' Victorian projects have had 3 positive cases on our sites. Thanks to our Melbourne Teams for their swift actions in managing these cases.

Partial industry shut down for 2 weeks

Construction has been shut down in metropolitan Melbourne for two weeks as of 11.59pm, Monday 20 September. This includes all construction projects in metropolitan Melbourne, City of Ballarat, City of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast Shire and Mitchell Shire.

The only reason for anyone to attend a construction site in these areas is to respond to an emergency or perform urgent and essential work to protect health and safety – these are strict limited exemptions.

Industry-wide government vaccination mandate

The Victorian Government has announced that construction workers across Victoria will need to show evidence to their employer that they have had a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in order to work on a construction site.

This mandate came into effect as of 11.59pm on Thursday 23 September and will apply once construction activity resumes in metropolitan Melbourne.

Hutchies' Victorian Teams intend to manage this process via HammerTech. Contact Candece Frazzica-Kara for more information.

Victoria's roadmap

Victoria has released the first version of its vaccination milestone roadmap for when its adult population reaches 70% and 80% targets.

NSW Border Zone

Queensland has reinstated the border zone with NSW with some conditions.

The NSW Government has stated that when a COVID-19 case is detected in a regional NSW LGA, the area will be locked down for a period of 7 days or longer. Any NSW LGA that enters lockdown will be considered a restricted LGA in the border zone by Queensland.

Entry to Queensland after being in a restricted LGA in the border zone will only be allowed for very limited essential reasons, which does not include general construction activity.

Travel between Queensland and non-restricted LGAs for essential work (including construction) and other essential purposes is allowed.

If you do enter a non-restricted area of the border zone, you must not enter a restricted area or leave the border zone, or you will not be permitted back into Queensland.

Restricted LGAs	Non-restricted LGAs	Non-restricted LGAs
(Travel for Construction not allowed)	(Travel for construction allowed)	(Travel for construction allowed)
> Bourke > Byron Shire > City of Broken Hill > Tweed Shire > Unincorporated Far West > Walgett	> Ballina Shire > Brewarrina Shire > Clarence Valley > Glen Innes Severn > Gwydir Shire > Inverell	> Kyogle > Lismore City > Moree Plains Shire > Richmond Valley > Tenterfield Shire

To enter Queensland from the border zone you must:

Complete a Queensland entry pass (ensuring that your reason for travel is permitted)
Get tested if you develop any COVID-19 symptoms after arriving in Queensland
Monitor the list of interstate exposure venues daily (at least once every 24 hours) from the time you complete a declaration and for 14 days after arriving in Queensland
Comply with face mask requirements

When you receive your Queensland entry pass via email, you must read all instructions and be able to access it at all times (either in a printed version or on an electronic device).

Mandatory mask wearing continues

Mandatory mask wearing continues in the 11x LGAs of South East Queensland.

Masks must be worn at all times in indoor places when standing and outdoors when you cannot maintain social distancing of 1.5m from others
You can remove a mask while seated including at work, school and indoor venues
Masks must be worn on public transport and if you are in a taxi, rideshare or shuttle service
You must wear a mask in South East Queensland and Townsville sports stadiums unless sitting in your allocated seat

Vaccines are available

Australia now has access to three vaccines: AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Moderna. All three vaccines require two doses to have the best effect.

Moderna is being offered via pharmacies and is open to children 12+ and adults up to the age of 59. The Moderna vaccine is very similar to the Pfizer vaccine.

Pfizer is primarily being offered at state run hubs and GPs to people aged 12-59. Queensland has recently opened up Pfizer eligibility to people over 60.

AstraZeneca is being offered to people over 60 and is available at state run hubs, pharmacies and GPs.

One of the quickest ways to find your nearest vaccination appointment is using the National Vaccine Clinic Finder Tool, which asks a series of questions before taking you to a specific booking page. Note, state run hubs operate independently. Click the button below for state specific info.

Talk to your doctor if you have any questions about vaccination.

Hutchies' Coronavirus page on the Toolbox contains links to each state & territory's vaccination information. Click the button below for more info.

Coronavirus Information

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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 1July 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

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.