Gold Coast builders seek solution to Queensland border woes as contracts are at risk
A Gold Coast builder says he is being forced to consider drastic measures to save jobs as strict border restrictions cause havoc for their business.
Gold Coast
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A GOLD COAST builder is facing the prospect of packing up his life to move south to NSW as ongoing border closures threaten to shut his business for good.
Scott Bishton, owner of Miami-based construction company Bishton Group, is one of the many local building businesses struggling to reach work in Northern NSW located outside of the bubble.
So in order to access his building sites, he plans to move his family south, while waiting for the pandemic to pass.
His drastic choice comes as others in the sector warn of a major economic hit to the Gold Coast, which sources a large portion of work from the Northern Rivers region.
Those in the construction industry are considered essential workers if they need to undertake work in Queensland, but builders who need to cross the border to NSW for work will need to quarantine before returning home.
Mr Bishton said his company had signed a contract for a job worth around a million dollars outside of Ballina, just three days before the border closure was announced last month.
“We have been working on projects down to Ballina and Byron region as part of our target region, so this closure cuts us off from that completely,” Mr Bishton said.
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“Previously we got exemptions which allowed us to go to work and back again, but this time it isn’t the case.
“Now I wake up every morning to check the case numbers in NSW to see if they will open the border again.”
Mr Bishton said he would have to move his some of his staff and his wife by October if there aren’t changes.
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“We are a fairly small organisation with eight employees and subcontractors, so we need people there on the ground.
“This job and another in the area are our big jobs for the next six to twelve months so it is non-negotiable.”
The industry peak body Master Builders who previously highlighted cases similar to Mr Bishton had called for an extension of the border bubble to Ballina and as far west as Casino or a construction exemption border pass.
Despite the ongoing debate, Master Builders Deputy CEO Paul Bidwell last week commended the State Government’s commitment to spend $13.9 billion on infrastructure in the 2020/21 financial year given the dire circumstances facing the commercial sector.
EARLIER THIS MONTH:
GOLD COAST builders say they are still unable to get to their worksites south of the border bubble but those from NSW have been given the all clear to get to Brisbane as tough COVID-19 rules bite.
The Master Builders Association last week raised concerns about the delays hard border closures will cause for the industry, particularly those on the Gold Coast who need to travel from Queensland to jobs worth millions dollars in NSW and as far south as Lismore.
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The group also said there was confusion over construction workers from NSW getting into Queensland but admit that situation has since been resolved.
“Over the weekend we saw some movements in the right direction,” Gold Coast regional manager John Duncalfe said.
“The health orders made it clear construction workers could be considered essential so that is good news. However the change doesn’t address the broader issue that is builder and subcontractors who need to travel into NSW for work won’t be able to get back home without quarantining.
“We are aware of plenty of people have woken up to the fact they may lose their contracts over the border now.
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“We have a guy who had a job at Byron Bay, only just signed the contract and now can’t get down there and back.
“Builders are at a point where they’re looking to live in their caravans at the work sites in NSW just to ride it out.
“People can’t afford to be losing work at the moment.”
Chief Superintendent Mark Wheeler said the rules were available online.
“Everyone needs to go online and make those inquiries online and make an application, where they’ve got queries they should contact Queensland Health and there’s a number on the application website,” he said.
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