Following the announcement of Stage 4 restrictions applying from Sunday 2 August, the Premier of Victoria announced yesterday that there would be significant changes required to the business landscape here in Victoria, both in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.
What does this mean for your business?
Businesses in metropolitan Melbourne will be subject to Stage 4 restrictions to assist with combating the COVID-19 outbreak that has been experienced in the city. Broadly speaking, Stage 4 restrictions require business that are deemed “non-essential” to close their doors to the public with those that are able to remain open to do so at reduced capacity or with strict, and in some cases High Risk, COVID Safe Plans in place.
Essential Retail
Essential retail services such as supermarkets, pharmacies, restaurants/café’s/QSRs providing take-away services can remain open as they have during previous restriction levels provided, they have a COVID Safe Plan in place.
General Retail
Retailers not providing essential products or services must close to the general public however they can remain operating for click & collect and home delivery sales.
Construction
As announced by the Premier, the construction industry has been the life blood of the Victorian economy for many years and the entire industry has been put into a ‘pilot light phase’ rather than being completely closed. The effect of this is:
- Building sites for projects larger than 3-storeys can maintain up to 25% of their usual operating staff on site to continue work and must have a High Risk COVID Safe Plan.
- Building sites for projects smaller than 3-storeys can only maintain a maximum of 5 people on site to continue work.
- No new projects can commence.
- Essential projects such as the ongoing work to remove level crossings and other infrastructure projects will continue to be undertaken but with minimal staff on site
Manufacturing including food processing
The manufacturing industry has been subjected to a mixed set of restrictions with some being forced to close, others able to remain open as they have during the existing restrictions and others, particularly meatworks and food processing facilities being subject to 33% capacity and workforce reductions plus tailored High Risk COVID Safe Plans.
What support is available?
The Victorian Government have also announced extensions to existing grant programs they have in place with payments of $10,000 for business in metropolitan Melbourne and $5,000 for business in regional Victoria available. These payments are in addition to any JobKeeper payments the business might already be receiving.
For a detailed breakdown of the types of business required to close, please see the attached document that has been provided by the Victorian Government following the announcement.
If you are in any way unsure of how these announcements impact your business, we encourage you to reach out to the Victorian Government, or your Fordham Partner for a confidential discussion.
If you have any queries, or would like to discuss the above further, please contact your Fordham Partner.