REVISED RESTRICTIONS COMMENCING 31 JULY 2021
The following changes to the current NSW Government health orders come into effect across the Greater Sydney area, including Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour from 31 July 2021. Some of these changes will impact you and the way your building functions.
Please find following information regarding the changes, including critical clarification in relation to common property maintenance.
Capital works, repairs and maintenance.
From 31 July 2021 the rules in relation to the conduct of capital works, repairs and maintenance for your scheme will change as follows:
Works are now able to resume in Greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains, Wollongong, Central Coast, and Shellharbour local government areas (except for the 8 excluded LGA’s being Blacktown, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool and Parramatta local government areas) subject to a number of conditions.
Conditions:
ü Any works must be contactless so as far as practicable with separation from residents. Strata Committee can consider alternate options to support contactless maintenance such as the use of lockboxes for building access, video conferencing with trades rather than in person etc.
NOTE: Some contact may be required for the purposes of ensuring appropriate trade induction and site safety – particularly for on-site building managers. It is important to note the aim and main focus of this requirement is to limit interaction and congestion in the common areas.
ü Works must be carried out under a documented COVID Safe plan that the contractor must complete and submit to the NSW Government via https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/covid-safe
- In an outdoor area, no more than five persons can undertake work at the same time;
ü In an indoor area, no more than two persons can undertake work at the same time;
- If work is occurring in an indoor area on the premises, and other persons (such as members of the household) are present at the premises, the other persons must stay in a separate indoor area of the premises from the persons undertaking the work at all times.
- Current advice for on-site building managers remains unchanged. That is they can continue to attend site and perform their roles. However, it is recommended they work in isolation and limit resident contact. Additional restrictions apply to those building managers who reside in the Fairfield, Parramatta, Campbelltown, Georges River, Canterbury-Bankstown, Blacktown, Cumberland and Liverpool Local Government Areas (LGAs)
Fire Services
We are advised the Fire Protection Association of Australia will shortly be providing clarification on essential and non-essential permitted works. We will share this advisory as soon as possible but at this time Fire Safety Practioners remain authorised works under the current health orders
Workers in Fairfield, Parramatta, Campbelltown, Georges River, Canterbury-Bankstown, Blacktown, Cumberland and Liverpool Local Government Areas (LGAs)
Any workers that live in the Fairfield, Parramatta, Campbelltown, Georges River, Canterbury-Bankstown, Blacktown, Cumberland and Liverpool LGAs must not leave their respective LGA to undertake work unless they are an authorised worker.
https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules/authorised-workers
Cleaning
Cleaning of common areas remains a permitted activity subject to the conditions listed under the above repair and maintenance provisions particularly for essential cleaning services (e.g. hard surfaces and high contact points). Strata Community Australia (SCA) and the NSW government have recommended that consideration is given to the scope and frequency of less essential services (e.g. vacuuming).
Recreational Facilities
The NSW government has provided advice to SCA that whilst not explicitly mandated in the current public health orders it is recommended that all recreational facilities be closed under the current restrictions in line with public facilities.
QR Codes
The NSW government has provided advice to SCA that whilst not explicitly mandated in the current public health orders it is recommended that schemes consider establishing a QR code at entry/exit points around the building for all visitors (e.g. food delivery drivers, tradespersons) to assist contact tracers in the event of a positive case within the building. Your strata manager is able to assist you with the production of a QR code for this purpose if desired.
Facemasks
The use of face masks for all residents whilst in any common area remains unchanged.
Enforcement of Public Health Order
The NSW government and SCA has reinforced that an Owners Corporation and its various stakeholders are not the governing authority in the enforcement of these Health Orders.
If any person has concerns about someone breaching lockdown restrictions or other aspects of the public health orders the matter should be directed to the appropriate authority being NSW Police Crime Stoppers P: 1800 333 000
Extension of strata and community lands COVID-19 emergency regulations
Emergency regulations permitting strata meetings to be held electronically without a prior specific meeting resolution enabling the meeting to be held on this basis have now been reinstated from 21 July 2021. This will assist in the continuation of the holding of meetings which we will continue to work closely with you on where needed and to ensure as little disruption to the smooth running of your scheme as possible.
Positive Cases in your building
Following recent events involving positive cases a number of Sydney apartment buildings we advise NSW Health will contact your community and strata manager directly provide instructions and guidance on the management of the outbreak. Observing the above protocols will greatly assist NSW Health in supporting residents in the event of a positive case in your scheme.
Tools and Resources
Our COVID 19 Toolkit remains available to all of our valued clients and provides an arrange for useful resources including community focused signage, best practice guidelines and other important updates.
Please refer also to the NSW Government’s website for further information and details of these current restrictions:
https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules/greater-sydney#critical-repairs-maintenance-and-cleaning
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