The NSW Government has rewarded the construction sector for leading the push towards vaccination and has today announced the removal of site caps for all construction sites from next Monday (27 September).
Urban Taskforce today welcomed the NSW Government’s announcement and singled out the NSW Treasurer, Hon Dominic Perrottet, and the Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney, Hon Stuart Ayres, for their leadership role in securing the re-opening.
The 50% site capacity caps will be removed for all construction sites throughout NSW from next Monday, provided they can ensure the 1 person per 4 square metre rule can be achieved at each site.
The construction industry was thrown into turmoil on July 17 when the Premier made the shock announcement of the complete closedown of the construction industry. Workers and businesses were thrown into disarray.
From that day, the Urban Taskforce led the push for a safe re-opening of the sector.
Two weeks later, on July 31, there was a partial reopening followed by the application of the restrictions that still apply today on August 7th. These involved a cap of 50% on all construction sites. Workers from locked down areas could leave those areas for construction work, but only if they had at least one vaccination (with regular tests for the first 21 days).
The construction sector has worked closely with the government to promote the vaccination of its workforce and to ensure work sites are and remain safe at all times. By working with the construction sector, and offering an incentive to get vaccinated (the opportunity to work), the vaccination rate among young construction workers has rocketed upwards. Outside the health professions, our industry is now leading the way.
Today’s announcement is recognition of the diligence of the property development and construction sector. Employers working with the unions, their workforce and with Government and Health officials to secure the full re-opening of our sector.
With the successful promotion of vaccinations among the construction sector workforce, the 50% site cap was resulting in some vaccinated workers being turned away. Today’s announcement will see an end to this and the return to full construction activity on work sites.
This is great news for the hundreds of thousands of workers that comprise this industry – an industry that delivers 11% of all the economic activity in NSW. This is also good news for the NSW Treasurer because an active workforce generated income and tax revenue. Following the Health advice and getting vaccinated is the only way back to economic recovery.
