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The reduction of coronavirus restrictions is expected to be a massive boost for the construction and construction industries, allowing tens of thousands of traditions to return to work.
A move to alert level three, potentially slated for next Wednesday, will allow them to return to work if strict health and safety and physical distance rules are followed.
This included plumbers, electricians and builders as long as they kept two meters from occupants in houses, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Thursday, while workers are ordered to stay a meter away and record who is working together.
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The degradation of coronavirus restrictions could be a big boost for builders, plumbers, and electricians.
Big projects will also be able to start again, which means the end for the sight of empty construction sites across the country.
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Grant Florence, executive director of the New Zealand Certified Builders trade association, said the easing of the restrictions would allow small and medium-sized businesses to contribute to the country’s economic recovery.
“We are an industry that is potentially undercapitalized and highly dependent on cash flow, so the ability to return to work is huge for the industry.”
“It will somehow help those companies that might have run into trouble in the future if it had spread.”
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Gardiner Construction owner Brett Gardiner says his builders will be “pumped” to get back to work and do it in a way that keeps others and themselves safe.
While the uncertainty remains when the alert level will drop and exactly what it implies, its promised more flexible restrictions provide greater certainty for those on the front line.
Christchurch Plumb Right plumbing company has only been able to perform critical emergency work during the shutdown.
Owner Hamish McPherson said there had been jobs where he had fixed the immediate problem and found others that needed to be returned.
“The announcement means that we will be able to do the work that people want to do, rather than what is absolutely necessary.”
McPherson, whose staff at three companies has benefited from the wage subsidy, said he was unsure whether the measure would give people confidence to start the renovations or if they would keep the money in their pockets.
“I am sure that if we can do what people want us to do, it will be fine, even if we have only reduced turnover and profits. I think we will keep going.
Christchurch builder Brett Gardiner, owner of home renovation and construction company Gardiner Construction, said he wanted more clarity on what exactly the tier three restrictions mean.
Gardiner, who lost several contracts due to the pandemic, said his company had already taken additional measures, such as recording staff movements to keep its clients and six workers safe. He believed that common sense would be the best way to stop the spread of the coronavirus while doing business.
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Level three restrictions are likely to allow work to restart on major construction projects, such as the Christchurch Convention Center.
Major construction projects will also be underway again. Christchurch City Council confirmed that its projects and maintenance would likely resume under the level three alert.
Work at the city’s new Te Pae convention center and subway sports facilities remains uncertain, and the Ōtākaro regeneration agency said it was too early to say when the work will continue.
But those behind the multi-million dollar reconstruction of Christ Church Cathedral are confident that the work can progress.
Project manager Keith Paterson said the ability to work up to a meter with the appropriate controls in place was a significant benefit.
“Because we are outside and we will have a small number of men doing specific work, physical separation should be possible.”
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The team behind the rebuilding of Christ Church Cathedral is confident that the work will be able to proceed under level three restrictions.
Paterson hoped that stabilization work that will cost $ 11.8 million over the next two years can begin once the appropriate plans are implemented.
But a change to level two constraints would make the project run smoothly.
“I am confident that the work we have prepared to complete can be executed efficiently,” he said.
“But if level three goes on much longer than that, productivity will be affected. The sooner we get to level two, the better.”
