UDIA calls for removal of restrictions on construction hours beyond March deadline
Today’s announcement by Treasurer Matt Kean and Minister for Planning and Homes, Anthony Roberts follows on from the decision made in June last year to enable construction work to proceed on Saturdays from 7am to 5pm, except for the carrying out of rock breaking, rock hammering, sheet piling, pile driving or similar activities.
Construction Work is temporarily permitted to occur on weekends, due to the commencement of a new COVID-19 Construction Works Order which takes effect today, 11 February 2022.
The Environmental Planning and Assessment (COVID-19 Development – Construction Work Days) Order 2022 allows certain construction work to occur on Saturday and Sunday without the need for any approval.
The Order permits construction and demolition work to be carried out on Saturdays from 8am to 5pm, with restrictions on noisy works that have not been approved under a development consent. These restrictions are in place to reduce noise impacts on nearby residents.
Building work will also be permitted on Sundays from 9am to 5pm. Construction work undertaken on Sunday cannot include noisy demolition work, exceed a certain noise and vibration threshold, include the use of power tools or playing music from radios or other electronic devices by workers or other people on site.
The new Order will facilitate construction over a broader timeframe in recognition of COVID-19 safety requirements to create safe work environments and minimise project delays.
The new Order is temporary and will end on 31 March 2022.
“Today’s announcement serves to remind the industry of the deadline of 31 March. While UDIA welcomes the Ministers’ acknowledgement of the importance of supporting the construction industry and the 340,000 jobs it supports, we call on the government to remove the restrictions beyond the March period. Our industry has been hit hard from the impacts of COVID and is still playing catch up. We need support to make up the ground lost over the past two years and deliver the homes we so desperately need and improve housing affordability.” said Steve Mann, CEO, UDIA NSW.
For more information please contact Deanna Lane, Media & Communications Manager UDIA NSW
on 0416 295 898 or dlane@udiansw.com.au
ENDS