Reducing business disruption from major infrastructure work

Businesses, in general, benefit from major infrastructure works through procurement opportunities, and improved amenity and public infrastructure like transport networks and revitalised local shopping strips.

However, major infrastructure work may affect your small business. It's important to plan ahead to reduce disruption and take advantage of possible opportunities.

Consider these suggestions on how you can plan before construction begins, during construction and at completion.

Guide for agencies and councils

Download the Business friendly guide for infrastructure works for project managers from Queensland Government agencies, local governments and their contractors.

Before construction begins

It is important for you to be aware of planned infrastructure works and how they may affect your business. This is also a time for you to plan for how your business can respond and reduce any potential impacts of infrastructure work.

Seek information on the planned infrastructure work

Information on the infrastructure project may be available on the website of the organisation building the infrastructure, from flyers or pamphlets, and by attending information sessions.

You may be interested in finding out about:

  • the purpose of the infrastructure work and the expected outcome
  • the construction stages and timeframes (start and completion dates)
  • the scale of infrastructure work and how it may impact business operations, for example, is noise pollution or dust expected
  • if access to businesses may be restricted and how this will be managed
  • how the health safety and wellbeing of your staff, suppliers and customers will be protected
  • if public transport and car parking facilities may be impacted.

Sign up for project updates to keep your business informed on project developments.

Have your say

Participate in community consultation at the planning stage. You can ask the project management team how local businesses will be supported during construction.

Work out the best person to contact if you have issues. The project management team may have provided contact details or there may be details on the project website. Larger projects may also have a dedicated community engagement officer or team.

Connect with the nominated contact person early (by email or phone) if you have concerns about the planned work. This may allow your concerns to be included in mitigation planning and Development Approvals, or to help the project management team consider practical ways to reduce business disruption while delivering the project.

Plan how to manage potential disruption

If you think your business will be affected, take steps before construction starts.

Work with other businesses that may be impacted

  • Talk with other businesses that may be affected during construction to explore solutions, and share information and updates.
  • Consider having a representative for local businesses to help coordinate with the project management team and share information.
  • Discuss ideas with other businesses about ways to reduce the impact of construction and consider if joint solutions, like shared promotions, would work.
  • Consider working with nearby businesses to develop a joint marketing campaign to keep customers visiting the area.
  • Join your local chamber of commerce or business association for additional support.

Think about promoting together with nearby businesses

  • Talk with other businesses—you could create a private social page to stay in touch, share ideas, and plan joint marketing campaigns.
  • You could share costs for a social media advertising campaign to target people in your area.
  • Consider emailing clients to keep them updated and to promote your specials and those of other local businesses.

Consider how to attract and keep customers

  • Check that your business website and social media profiles are up to date.
  • Think about what your customers will need to know during each stage of construction and how you'll keep them updated. For example, any changes for accessing your business and availability of parking.
  • Ask the project management team how they will be able to support your business and maintain customer access and foot traffic levels during the project.
  • Determine what signage may be needed to make customers aware that your business and nearby businesses are still open.
  • Adapt your marketing plan to attract customers during the project construction phase, for example, use social media with photos or short videos that show you are open for business.
  • Consider whether a customer loyalty program could maintain patronage during construction.
  • Explore how you can promote your business in a new and innovative way. For example, if your business is a café, will it be feasible to promote a special kids meal to encourage families with young children to dine in and observe construction action from inside the café.
  • Consider if your business could tap into construction workers as new customers.
  • Think about whether your business could diversify its offering, such as providing home delivery or online sales.

Prepare to adapt your business operations

  • Check if you need to organise alternative access to your business for staff and suppliers, and if any changes to delivery times are required.
  • Keep staff informed on what will happen at each construction stage.
  • Consider if your business will need to temporarily change its operating hours or days.
  • Explore if alternative work arrangements are an option for your business, for example, can staff work from home.
  • Check if your health and safety systems will need updating to keep workers and customers safe, like changes to business access and evacuation plans.
  • Assess your business finances and cash flow to ensure you are well positioned to manage any potential drops. Your accountant or business advisor may be able to offer advice on managing changes to revenue.
  • Talk to your landlord to make sure they are aware of the upcoming infrastructure work.
  • Check your lease to see if you can renegotiate rent during construction to reduce potential loss of trade impacts.
  • If the construction period will be lengthy, review the terms of your leasing agreement and investigate options for relocating the business.
  • Revise your business continuity plan to consider any issues that may affect access to your premises or ability to trade, for example, construction may require short-term power or water outages, or road closures.
  • Check if your business insurance covers business interruptions or loss of profits.

Checklist—what to consider before construction begins

Consider this summary of actions as a starting point if your business may be impacted by infrastructure works.

During construction

Now that construction has started, put your pre-construction plans into action, including promoting and adapting your business. Stay flexible to handle any unexpected changes.

Stay informed and keep your stakeholders updated

  • Keep in touch with the project management team about progress, timeline changes, and any new challenges.
  • Keep your customers informed about any changes, like new operating hours or alternative access arrangements. Share updates on your website and social media.
  • Keep staff informed, as they may be impacted by changes to public transport, parking or business access.
  • Ensure suppliers are aware of any changes to access and delivery routes.
  • Check that any signage provided by the project management team or contractors meets the needs of your business and your customers.

Enhance your online presence

  • Keep customers informed.
  • Optimise your Google Business Profile.
  • Post any temporary changes to business hours.
  • Create a positive construction experience story by taking photos of the progress and creating posts—sharing updates increases customer engagement with your business and promotes that your business is open during these works.

Promote your business

  • Launch your marketing campaign to attract both existing and new customers. You might also promote with other local businesses.
  • Ensure your online presence is useful, for example, revitalise your website, be active on social media, make sure your business details on online directories are up to date.
  • Engage with your local community to encourage their support and expand your customer base.
  • Offer deals or promotions during the construction period and take advantage of new customer opportunities. For example, food businesses could offer 'tradie lunch' deals or open earlier or later than normal to service the construction workers in the area.
  • Promote the future benefits of the upgrades and encourage customers to come back and see the changes.

Remember construction workers need products and services too

Create a friendly relationship with construction workers. Food businesses could open early for 'tradie' breakfasts or coffee. Promote your services to the construction workforce, whether they be flowers or gifts for special occasions, haircuts, car services, or dinner take away deals.  Engage with the construction project liaison officer to pass on promotions to the construction workforce.

Be adaptive

  • Consider if your business requires additional cleaning during the construction works.
  • Check your stock and daily sales to see if you need to adjust inventory, particularly if you sell fresh or perishable items.
  • Keep business records to monitor how your business is performing.
  • Consider changes to trading hours and staff rosters based on changes in customer traffic.
  • Regularly monitor safety controls to ensure they are adequate.
  • If you are concerned about how construction disruptions are affecting your business, first contact the project management team or the nominated contact.

Checklist—what to do during construction

Consider this summary of actions as a starting point if your business is currently impacted by infrastructure works.

At completion of construction

Use this time to let customers know that construction is complete and encourage customers that may have stayed away to come back.

Keep others informed and reward customer loyalty

  • Communicate with your customers and suppliers to let them know the construction work is complete. Thank them for their support and advise of any changes they may need to know.
  • Promote any new benefits of the upgrades to attract customers to your business, for example, improved access, extended footpath dining, improved street landscaping.
  • Consider holding an end of construction celebratory event, either individually or in conjunction with other nearby businesses, to signal the works are over and encourage existing and new customers to visit your business.

Review your business plan

  • Consider if any changes to business operations, temporary promotions, or new options (such as online sales) made during construction should become permanent in your business.
  • Assess if your target customers may have changed following the construction period.
  • Update your business continuity plan with any lessons learnt from the impact of the construction work.

Use what you've learnt

Did you face any situations that weren't covered in your business continuity plan, like a power outage? Update your plan with these new insights so you're prepared if this occurs again.

Checklist—what to consider when construction is complete

Consider this summary of actions as a starting point when infrastructure work is completed.

Summary checklist

Use this checklist for suggestions on how you can plan before construction begins, during construction and at completion.

Download the checklist on reducing business disruption from major infrastructure work.

Support for small businesses

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  • Last reviewed: 30 Sep 2024
  • Last updated: 30 Sep 2024