17 Apr 2020
The Government has released guidance on economic activity permitted under level 3, including detailed protocols for construction and residential work.
The emphasis at level 3 moves from 'essential' economic activity to 'safe' economic activity, but the focus on eliminating the virus remains.
Last night the Government released two sets of protocols – one for the residential sector, and another for the civil and vertical sectors.
The protocols include guidance for businesses on creating a Covid-19 control plan including physical distancing, hygiene practices, site entry and exit, cleaning, deliveries, and visitor protocols.
These protocols have been developed as part of the Construction Sector Accord’s Covid-19 Response Plan. They were developed by Construction Health and Safety New Zealand (CHASNZ) in collaboration with government agencies, WorkSafe, Construction Sector Accord member groups and client organisations.
We've put out a media release supporting the protocols and emphasising the role the sector can play in recovery.
What are we advocating for?
Our advocacy approach is about using our voice, and the collective expertise of our membership, to support both the Government’s Covid-19 response and its response to economic disruption to stimulate the economy.
Our advocacy is based on what we’re hearing from you. Here are some examples of what we’ve heard and brought into our conversations over the past week with the Government (both local and national) and other stakeholders:
- We need central Government’s support for Local Government to limit and/or lift current contract suspensions
- Work is needed to streamline consenting processes and support the residential, vertical and horizontal construction sectors to stimulate economic recovery
- Clear health and safety guidance for Covid-19 is needed and engineers have the expertise and experience to contribute to this
- NZTA’s advanced entitlement payments are appropriate and fair – advanced entitlement payments need to be rolled out further
- The triaging of shovel-ready projects to stimulate economic growth needs to be aligned with New Zealanders’ values and position us to face future challenges
Construction Sector Accord steps up
Our Chief Executive, Susan Freeman-Greene, sits on the Construction Sector Accord Covid-19 Response Steering Group. This is one of our major channels to officials, Ministers and other industry groups.
The Construction Sector Accord, supported by the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment, has a large work programme focused on supporting the industry and kick-starting the economy through infrastructure investment post-Covid-19 lockdown scenarios.
The Accord’s keen to hear from people within the industry about their suggestions for actions to support the sector.
If you have information you’d like to feed into the Accord’s discussions through us, please send these through to our Policy and Projects Lead, Jodi Caughley
What should the future look like?
While the current Covid-19 situation is filled a lot of challenge and hardship, it also provides us with an opportunity to look at the future in a new way. You might have heard discussion about reintroducing a ‘Ministry of Works’.
You may also have heard discussion about breaking down constraints across the various layers of Government to support better procurement and management of public works. There is also discussion about where we, as a nation, should be investing in infrastructure to give us (and our children) the future we hope for.
We are keen to hear your views on what you think the future should look like (from an engineering perspective). Please send comments through to Jodi Caughley.
Shovel-ready projects update
A lot of work has gone into providing information on shovel-ready projects to the Crown Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and the Infrastructure Industry Reference Group. A significant number of projects have been received by CIP and they are now working to provide advice to Government on these.
