The decision by the Victorian Government to shutdown all building sites in Melbourne and certain municipalities for the next two weeks is both disappointing and challenging for the residential building industry says the HIA.

The Victorian Government has announced that from 11:59pm Monday 20 September it will shut down all building sites in metropolitan Melbourne and the municipalities currently in lockdown being Geelong, Mitchell, Surf Coast and Ballarat.

"This announcement will not only affect businesses and workers in the industry but will have a significant impact on the many families whose projects will now be stalled during this shut down," said HIA Victorian Executive Director, Fiona Nield.

“The Government has said this action has been taken in response to what it has described as widespread non-compliance in the industry.

“The closure presents enormous difficulties for at least 30,000 small scale residential building projects currently under construction, each of which will now need to be made safe and secure during the shut down period.

"The home building sector’s track record for keeping COVIDSafe on site has been excellent up to this point.  Domestic home building sites have been operating with heavy restrictions on worker numbers and the movement of workers between sites.

“Whilst this announcement is disappointing, and the next few days will be challenging to make sites secure, the industry will work to meet the Government's requirements to enable work to recommence as soon as possible.

“The industry is keen to continue working with the Government to engage and ensure this shutdown is as brief as possible."

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