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With Victoria hitting its 70 per cent first jab milestone this Friday, 17 September, real estate will be one of the first industries to re-open – albeit in a limited way.
The Victorian Premier, Dan Andrews, has released a statement acknowledging Victoria’s achievement of the vaccine target.
Thanking the “incredible efforts of our community”, he said it would make Victoria the second state in Australia to see 70 per cent of its eligible population receive its first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
“With this milestone, new freedoms can take effect.”
From 11:59 Friday, 17 September, locked-down areas of metropolitan Melbourne and Ballarat will be able to resume real estate inspections by appointment only, thanks to changes recommended by Victoria’s chief health officer.
“To ensure they’re COVIDsafe, only people from the same household can attend the inspection appointment and the real estate agent must stay outdoors during the inspection,” was the advice given.
The REIV has previously rebuked the government's plan to lessen restrictions on the sector at the 70 per cent mark.
Alongside the easing of real estate restrictions, outdoor social interaction is back on the cards, with picnics possible for double-vaccinated adults. Exercise restrictions will also be eased – now allowed for four hours each day.
Locked-down residents will also be granted a further reprieve with respect to the distance they can travel to shop, exercise, and conduct outdoor social interaction – which will up their radius from 5 kilometres to 10 kilometres.
Mr Andrews acknowledged that the loosened restrictions are “modest changes”, but said “today is a positive day and [a] sign of things to come for Victorians once we get our double dose vaccination rates up”.
“It’s also a signal: if you are vaccinated, you can get back to doing the things you love, sooner. If you aren’t vaccinated, then the safety of everyone else has to come first,” the Premier continued.
Not all industries are as lucky – new restrictions have been imposed on the state’s construction sector, in response to increasing concerns around COVID-19 transmission and exposure on construction sites, “with evidence that it is emerging as a ‘vector’ of the virus into regional areas”.
The Premier reported that construction workers state-wide will need to show evidence to their employer that they have had a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by 11:59pm Thursday, 23 September, in order to continue working.
Limited medical exemptions and proof-of-booking exceptions will apply, in line with previous requirements for residential aged care workers.
With cases seeding from Melbourne into regional Victoria, construction workers will also be prevented from crossing the metropolitan-regional boundary for work, among other restrictions on tea rooms, eating and drinking indoors.
Moving forward, worker shift bubbles must be in practice and all sites will require a COVIDSafe Marshal on site.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Grace Ormsby
Grace is a journalist across Momentum property and investment brands. Grace joined Momentum Media in 2018, bringing with her a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) from the University of Newcastle. She’s passionate about delivering easy to digest information and content relevant to her key audiences and stakeholders.
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