by David Convery, Managing Editor, Great Southern Press.
Seemingly overnight, the COVID-19 pandemic changed the way Australia, and the rest of the world, operated. Borders were closed, schools were shut down, public events postponed or cancelled and rules were put in place to make sure people stayed away from each other.
Many workers from every industry were sent away from offices to do their jobs at home, some were sent on early holidays, and the unlucky ones – of which there were unfortunately many –were left unemployed. The underground construction industry has been somewhat fortunate, as in many instances the work done within the sector is vital to maintaining a good standard of everyday life.
For many trenchless companies, the challenge has been to work around all the issues COVID-19 presents, while maintaining the high quality of work necessary to keep underground infrastructure functioning.
Events on the backburner
With a ban on public gatherings enforced around Australia, several major trenchless-related events have been forced to be postponed or cancelled.
Strength in unity
In early April 2020, construction unions united to form appropriate safety measures and guidelines amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
A group of 11 unions sent a message to the building and construction industry to treat COVID-19 with the utmost importance by adhering to all recommended safety produces.
The group comprised the Air Conditioning & Mechanical Contractors’ Association (AMCA), Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU), Civil Contractors Federation (CCF), Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), Electrical Trades Union (ETU), Master Builders Victoria (MBV), Master Plumbers, National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA), Plumbing and Pipe Trades Employees Union (PPTEU), Property Council Victoria and the Urban Development Institute of Australia [Victoria] (UDIA).
The group stressed the need to follow guidelines including stipulating strict hygiene practices, social distancing and separation of workers on meal breaks as well as other measures to ensure sites can be remain safe and open. The unions say the guidelines have been developed in line with government recommendations and should be adhered dutifully by all employers and employees.
As essential services, the group says it is critical all stakeholders of the building and construction industry work responsibility to ensure the protection of employers, workers and the broader community.
Government support
With the COVID-19 pandemic causing chaotic economic conditions, Australian importers have been encouraged to consider the ATO’s GST deferral scheme. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) offers a scheme for domestic importers whereby instead of paying GST on taxable imports upfront, they can defer payment until the first activity statement is lodged after the goods are imported.
To participate in the scheme, an importer must:
- have an ABN
- be registered for GST
- lodge activity statements monthly and online
- make activity statements payments electronically
- comply with customs regulations.
Applications for the scheme can be completed online.
Additionally, to further ensure construction continued as necessary, New South Wales government announced an extension of its work hours during the pandemic. The government announced that from 2 April, weekday construction hours would apply in NSW to both weekends and public holidays.
With the construction and development sector constituting approximately 10 per cent of the New South Wales economy and one in four people in NSW drawing their income from the industry, NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes says it was important to keep the work going.
“[The NSW Government] is doing everything [they] can to keep as many people as possible in their jobs as well as keeping people safe and healthy in line with medical advice,” he says.
“The [construction and development sectors] will be vital in keeping people in jobs and keeping investment flowing into our state over the coming weeks and months. To help keep the industry moving, we’ve granted flexibility in construction hours to allow work to continue on construction sites whilst abiding with social distancing rules and without significant losses to productivity or jobs.”
Remaining onsite
While much of the world sits in limbo, many trenchless companies are continuing to work through the pandemic – including at major underground construction projects. In Western Australia, work on Perth’s METRONET continues, which will see the construction of two twin bored tunnels linking three new rail stations to the existing network.
In the first half of May, the tunnel boring machine (TBM) completed its work, having spent more than 900 days underground tunnelling a total of 16 km across two tunnels. In Melbourne, construction on the Metro Tunnel Project continues as planned with a TBM having begun tunnelling in May while another TBM was approaching completion of another boring operation for the project.
Also in Victoria, Melbourne Water is continually able to deliver sewer upgrades as promised, including finishing a 7.2 km Maribyrnong River Main Sewer upgrade in April.
Despite stage four restrictions enforced in New Zealand, McConnell Dowell continues its boring work on the Snells Algies wastewater pipeline and outfall project, having its TBM recommence its drive at the end of April.
Operators on all these projects have indicated staff are both adhering to the latest relevant health measures and able to complete their work as necessary. With the shadow of COVID-19 likely to hang over the world for the foreseeable future, companies continue to engineer solutions to ensure work can continue on these essential projects.
This article was featured in the June 2020 edition of Trenchless Australasia. To view the magazine on your PC, Mac, tablet or mobile device, click here.
If you have news you would like featured in Trenchless Australasia contact Journalist Sophie Venz at svenz@gs-press.com.au