Townhouse Covid Safe Plan

Tiredman on 17/03/2021 - 11:14

Hi guys, got an email from our body corporate manager asking us to prepare a covid safe plan for our small lot of 3 units of townhouses in Victoria. Anyone doing the same?

We will need to sign in guests, have hand sanitizer stations, site inspections, sign in all contractors to make sure all complies or else we will be up for a big fine. Is this over the top or just me? $450 to fully complied with the law if a professional does it for us.

These are the requirements for the plan.

Checks response notes

1 Are hand sanitising station in place Yes
2 Does work order note COVID conditions of engagement
3 Is a contractor registration in place & includes COVID work safe practices
4 Has cleaning regime been upgraded or assessed as adequate
5 Has property erected signs addressing distancing, hygiene, residents, visitors and contractors etc as per government DHHS guidelines(see links)?
6 Is there floor or similar markings in common areas including lifts alerting distancing required
7 All seating removed or taped off Yes
8 Perspex screens erected as required? Yes
9 Is there a process in place to restrict & control work and deliveries
10 Has the property a plan to work with DHSS( in CSP)
11 Is there a contactless attendance registration for contractors, deliveries and visitors?
12 Has all health guidelines been distributed to all staff and contractors?
13 Has the property consulted(asked) staff and contractors for their feed back re hazard identification, subsequent controls or perceived shortfalls?
14 Has a COVID response officer been assigned?
15 Has the property advised their Air Conditioning/air controls contractor to fully maintain fresh air flows by fan, duct and grill cleans?
16 Has the Appendix 2 Staff Covid 19 health questionnaire been adopted as entry protocol by the on site building manager?
17 Has a copy of Mutli-dwelling properties with Shared Facilities (dated 18 July 2020) been issued to on site management team And staff has signed as read, understood and implemented?

Thanks.

Home & Garden COVID-19

Comments

  • AndyC1 on 17/03/2021 - 11:34
    +7

    I would ring up the Vic government covid line and ask if this is required as it sounds like a total overkill and if it was required should already have been done. I'm in NSW in a block of 50 units and there is NO covid plan and none of the items on the list are required.

  • Hithere on 17/03/2021 - 11:36
    +8

    Shouldn't this have all been worked out a year ago when Covid was at its worst?

  • GG57 on 17/03/2021 - 11:38
    +2

    I'm in Vic; same notification from our body corp management.
    Our unit is in a block of 6, with no common property (to the extent that residents don't share any spaces). But we have been told we need to cater for tradies, visitors, etc.
    Seems overkill to me; for us, it should be the same as a standalone house.

  • jonagrah on 17/03/2021 - 11:42
    +3

    Nanny state.

  • onetwothreefour on 17/03/2021 - 11:52
    +2

    Bit late for this isn't it?

    • Nugs on 17/03/2021 - 12:09
      +3

      3rd wave
      as a past surfer, 3rd wave was the biggest
      .

    • dizzle on 17/03/2021 - 12:44

      Definately, that's something body corporates should have had up 12 months ago.

      However for townhouses there really shouldn't be much that needs to be done:

      • Warning signs in congregation areas (pools, lifts, laundry rooms) could just be A4 Laminated.
      • Increased cleaning of communal areas,
      • No need for floor signs, perspex shields, removed seating,
      • I can't think of too many places where sanitising stations are required (it's not a shop getting 500 people through a day)
      • While I might expect contractors to sign in, I certainly wouldn't expect visitors or deliveries (thinking Uber eats/coles delivery).
  • bobbified on 17/03/2021 - 12:12
    +10

    our body corporate manager asking us to prepare a covid safe plan

    Isn't this what you (and the owners of the other two townhouses) pay your body corporate manager for?

    • Tiredman on 17/03/2021 - 16:38
      +1

      Apparently they are not qualified to do it and they are one of the biggest in the state. They can get someone to do it though ($450). They mentioned body corporate are classified as a business. Anyway, i will check with the VIC gov hotline. Just thought i run it by here first before waiting 30mins in line.

      And yeah, there's only 8 people living on the lot now.

  • seraphim2017 on 17/03/2021 - 12:48
    +5

    Not a Victorian, but as bobbified said, isn't' this what you pay your body corporate for?

    Bounce it back and tell them you're not a commercial enterprise, that's what they're for, see what they say?

    Seems overkill, I don't think NSW residentials have this issue?

  • whooah1979 on 17/03/2021 - 12:48

    You could reply to them and say that you conscientiously object to surrendering your liberties. They can take you to the xCAT if they think that you're being unreasonable.

  • whooah1979 on 17/03/2021 - 12:52
    +5

    $450 to fully complied with the law if a professional does it for us.

    This sounds like some kind of kickback scheme.

  • [Deactivated] on 17/03/2021 - 13:54

    It's probably been updated to ensure the stairs aren't too slippery.

  • orangetrain on 17/03/2021 - 14:44
    +3

    Ask them to prove that it's required. If they're stuffing you around, sounds like its time to shop around for a new body corporate that's not trying to scam you.

    I dont see why you need to do this or pay $450.

  • avoidfullprice on 17/03/2021 - 15:59
    +2

    Don't own Vic strata property here.

    Let's trace the source of the requirement - https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-sector-guidan…

    The COVIDSafe Plan applies to common areas including access points, lifts, foyers and hallways, as well as shared facilities such as gyms, pools, dining and entertainment areas.

    So wind back and no need to have QR code or hand sanitizer at front of your door.

    Probably reduce the COVIDSafe plan to: car park, drive way and when contract work happens. you put the onus of the contract work back onto the strata manager, and say any building work, they must email owners corp member a copy of their covid safe plan (assume no notice board). Then for car park and drive way, get owners to agree that visitors (incl. delivery people) are to travel directly from car to owners property and vice versa. No interaction with another household on the strata. This reduce the COVIDsafe responsibility to the household. From that, not stratas problem.

    If every strata needs a covid marshall, then there is going to be a lot of job creation

  • Tiredman on 17/03/2021 - 16:34

    Thanks guys. Pretty much agree with what everyone is saying. FFS. I'll figure out how to do it ourselves with the neighbors. I doubt we will be spot checked anyway. Not for 3 units anyway. Massive waste of public resources if they go around fining people for this.

    • gumbo45c on 18/03/2021 - 08:20

      I think this is a money grab by strata, don't worry about it. You are in a group of 3 town houses and likely do not have any of the areas that apply in the legislation.

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