Gold Coast tradies say Queensland Health’s Covid messaging is confusing, with many working during lockdown

Confusion around tradies working during lockdown has resulted in hundreds of workers inadvertently breaking the latest Covid-19 health directive. HERE’S WHO CAN WORK IN THE LOCKDOWN >>>

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CONFUSION around whether Gold Coast tradies can continue to work during lockdown has resulted in hundreds of workers inadvertently breaking the latest Covid health directive.

It’s also understood that frustrated residents stuck at home are putting pressure on tradespeople to continue with home renovations and build pools, yet under state government regulations it’s not allowed.

A local pool builder Josh said he’d been talking with different trades and there was a lot of them still working because “communication has been poor at best”.

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Confusion surrounds which tradies can and can’t work during Gold Coast’s lockdown. Photo Bev Lacey / The Chronicle

“Without direct instructions people won’t know what is expected of them,” he said.

“They need to announce this so everyone is aware of the current restrictions around domestic construction and can assist by doing the right thing.

“We obviously still want to work and will do while possible, if these restrictions impact that, there needs to be better communication around this.”

According to Queensland Health, commercial construction can continue at unoccupied premises but only essential and emergency construction can continue when the premises are occupied but interactions between workers and residents, staff or visitors to the workplace should be kept to a minimum.

As for domestic construction that happens at a home, residence or workplace, only essential construction can continue, with interactions between workers and residents, staff or visitors to the workplace should be kept to a minimum.

Face masks must be worn at all times by those in construction, unless exemptions apply.

Installing solar panels is not allowed during the Gold Coast’s lockdown.

WHAT IS ESSENTIAL CONSTRUCTION?

• a burst water service or a serious water service leak
• a blocked or broken toilet
• a serious roof leak
• a gas leak
• a dangerous electrical fault
• flooding or serious flood damage
• serious storm, fire or impact damage
• a failure or breakdown of the gas, electricity or water supply
• a failure or breakdown of an essential service or appliance on the property for hot water, cooking or heating
• a fault or damage that makes the property unsafe or insecure
• a fault or damage likely to injure a person, damage property or unduly inconvenience a tenant
• a serious fault in a staircase, lift or other common area of the property that unduly inconveniences a tenant in gaining access to, or using, the property.

All other repairs are routine repairs and should be delayed until after the lockdown has finished. If you are part way through a renovation, ensuring that the premises is safe, accessible, secure, and has functioning amenities such as kitchen, bathroom and laundry is considered essential.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1. Can I keep building a pool at a home where the family is at home and in lockdown – No, only essential construction can be done if people are at home.

2. I install solar panels, can I still carry out the jobs I’ve committed to? No, because it’s not considered an essential repair

3. The pool build is at a stage where leaving it may cause injury to a person or make the property unsafe, can I attend to make it safe – Yes, this is considered essential.

4. My client is demanding to know why I haven’t turned up to change out the ceiling fans and install new lights, can I work? No, this is not considered essential, tell them it’s not permitted under state government health directives.

5. I own a earthworks business and was meant to prep a site for a new driveway, can I work? No, this is not considered an essential repair.

6. A regular customer called because they have a blocked drain that is causing water to flood the house, can I attend to fix it? Yes because this is an essential service.

7. I’m in the middle of tiling the lounge of a new home, that no one lives in yet, can I work? Yes because the house is unoccupied.

8. My boss, who owns a carpet installation business, is pushing me to keep working installing carpet at homes where people are in lockdown, should I be working? No, because people at living at the residence.

9. I’m a carpenter and was meant to knock out some walls in a reno I’m completely for a family who are still living at home and putting pressure on me to get the job done. Tell them no, it’s not permitted under state government health directives.

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Originally published as Gold Coast tradies say Queensland Health’s Covid messaging is confusing, with many working during lockdown