Easing of Victoria’s restrictions.
On Sunday, the Premier announced an easing of Victoria’s COVID-19 restrictions, including some changes to real estate settings in Metro Melbourne.
The key points for our industry operating in Melbourne are:
- Travel distance expanded from 5km to 25 kilometres; you can travel further than 25km for work, and all on-site workers must still have a worker permit.
- Work-from-home directions, where possible, will remain for the foreseeable future.
- Real estate auctions are permitted outdoors, limited to 10 members of the public, plus the minimum number of people required to conduct the auction.
- Real estate: private property, commercial and display home pre-arranged inspections with 1 agent and 1 prospective purchaser or tenant can occur.
- Outdoor work at occupied premises is now permitted for solely outdoor work with up to 5 people (with an additional supervisor) where physical distancing can be maintained at all times, for businesses with an ABN.
- Regional Victorian property owners can travel from metro Melbourne to regional VIC for fire or flood preparedness; council issued permits will be required.
- There was no change to the percent of baseline workforce permitted on-site. Similarly, there was no change for movement between worksites. Changes on these two points will come into effect when we enter the Third Step, due by 11.59pm 1 November 2020, but could potentially happen sooner – UDIA Victoria has worked with Government this week and will be monitoring announcements closely over the weekend to bring you information as soon as it becomes available.
- UDIA Victoria is seeking clarification with regards to whether display homes, land sales offices and sales suites can open to more than 1 appointment at any one time, with COVIDSafe measures in place.
Advocacy win: New greenfield electricity connection standards to support new investment.
The Essential Services Commission (ESC) has released its timely connections decision, increasing requirements for distributors connecting power to greenfield residential developments under changes aimed at improving efficiency and timeliness.
Under the commission’s decision, distributors will be required to:
- establish a customer service standard setting out what a distribution business expects to deliver over the next two years in relation to negotiated connections;
- establish a consultative committee with relevant stakeholders that meets quarterly to resolve issues with delays; and
- report publicly every six months against a performance reporting framework.
HomeBuilder survey: Help us get it extended.
SIMON BASHEER
UDIA National President
Developers and builders, please spend 5 minutes now to complete this important survey for UDIA National, bolstering our case to extend the HomeBuilder scheme.
The survey is completely confidential and will close at 5pm today, 23 October 2020. Take the 5-minute survey now.
Updated COVID-19 Industry Guidelines.
An updated Version 8 of the COVID-19 Guidelines for Victoria’s Building and Construction Industry have been released together with an Explanatory Note and summary of the key obligations for each worksite setting.
These updated Guidelines are effective immediately and anticipated to remain in place for some time.
Some of the key changes to the Guidelines include updates to the requirements for testing, cleaning and disinfecting procedures, COVID Marshal guidance and references and links to government information for our sector.
- Click here to download Version 8 of the COVID-19 Guidelines for Victoria’s Building and Construction Industry.
- Click here to download the Explanatory Note.
- Click here to download a summary of the key obligations for each building, development and construction worksite setting
Multilingual COVIDSafe industry resources.
We’ve developed multilingual communication materials to keep EVERYONE in our industry engaged and safe. Download them, share them and spread the word to keep our industry open.
This week our industry message provides reassurance that the industry and Government will support individuals taking time to get tested.
This COVIDSafe industry message is available in 16 languages to help keep everyone in our industry engaged and safe.
Help us spread the word and keep worksites safe and open; multilingual posters, social media tiles and messages can be downloaded here
Lord Mayor candidates’ message to industry.
We asked each of the candidates running for Lord Mayor of Melbourne to give our industry an overview of their plan to bring our city back to life.
Watch the video messages from Sally Capp, Arron Wood and Dr Jackie Watts, plus find links to learn more about each of the other candidates.
Voters must have posted or hand-delivered their completed ballot material by 6pm TONIGHT.
Draft urban stormwater management guidance: Have your say.
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria is consulting on the EPA guidance for urban stormwater management.
This draft guide for consultation is intended to help improve the management of urban stormwater in Victoria by recognising current science and the risk of harm from urban stormwater flows.
You can now read the draft guide and provide your comments by Wednesday 16 December 2020.
COVID-19 SERIES PART 3 WITH COLIN KEANE, RESEARCH4.
Join our next Greenfield Market update to learn what’s happening between production and sales, including an assessment as to the likely impact of further restriction on sales activity.
Register now.
A new approach to delivering affordable housing in Victoria.
UDIA Victoria has presented to the Affordable Housing Industry Advisory Group (AHIAG), exploring a new, innovative approach to the delivery of affordable housing across Victoria, including:
- A low, flat rate, broad-based Affordable Housing Contribution transitioned over a period not less than 5 years, to replace all other affordable housing provisions;
- Affordable housing delivery targets, supported by an Affordable Housing Delivery Toolkit of funding and incentive measures that can be applied to fund the gap between the cost of delivering and the Affordable Housing Contribution; and
- A comprehensive capacity building program targeting all stakeholders to create common shared understanding of interests of the various parties.
Inaugural report on renting in Victoria.
With almost 620,000 Victorian households living in rentals, a new report gives valuable insight into the market in Victoria – showing who is renting, where they’re renting, and what kinds of issues they’re facing.
