Sutherland Shire · AS 3660.1
Termite barriers fitted before the pour on Como rebuilds sloping toward the Georges River, on the streets that backed onto bushland during the 1994 Como West bushfires.
Quick answer
A Como rebuild does need its own termite management system, yes, sign-off from Sutherland Shire depends on it. Sitting between the Georges and Woronora rivers puts the suburb in termite country, so the work has to follow AS 3660.1: collars in, perimeter closed, all before the slab goes down. Once that is finished we put together the meter box notice and installer's paperwork the shire will want to see.
Termite barriers in Como
Como sits on the southern bank of the Georges River in postcode 2226, about 20.2 km south-west of the Sydney CBD, with the Woronora River forming its western edge, within the Sutherland Shire. The suburb is known for its railway bridge, the original single-track bridge from the 1880s now carries walkers and cyclists, while trains use a newer concrete bridge beside it, and Como station, the Como Hotel and the Como Pleasure Grounds by the river are local landmarks. Most homes are separate houses, and new building work is mostly a rebuild on one of these established, often sloping blocks, since there is little vacant land left. Whatever the scale, Sutherland Shire will not sign off without a compliant termite system in the ground first.
Como West was badly hit by bushfires in 1994, a reminder of how close the bush sits to many of these blocks. For a termite barrier, the combination of river foreshore and bushland means the risk comes from two directions at once. Blocks running down toward the water hold moisture in the soil, which suits subterranean termites, while blocks backing onto bushland face termites, along with spiders and possums, foraging in from established scrub. Because Como's streets are often sloping, the sub-floor, the piers and any retaining wall matter just as much as the visible slab edge when we plan out a barrier here.
Reviewed by Ismail, founder · Sutherland Shire coverage · Updated September 2026 · More Sutherland Shire suburbs
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Local conditions
Three features of Como's setting between the river and the bush shape how a barrier is planned.
Many Como blocks run down toward the Georges or Woronora rivers, and that lower ground holds moisture in the soil for longer than a block on flat, elevated land. Piers, suspended floors and slab edges on these blocks all need careful protection.
Como West's history with bushfire is a reminder of how close established bushland sits to many blocks here. That same bush supports termite colonies that forage toward the nearest structure, so a full perimeter is usually the right call on the bush-facing side.
Como station and the rail line run close to houses on several streets, and the older housing stock nearby often has established gardens that can already be sheltering termite activity. A rebuild next to that kind of block needs the barrier checked against what is already there.
What we install here
Como work is mostly rebuilds on established, often sloping blocks between the river and the surrounding bushland. Where a block drops toward the water we generally end up detailing piers and a suspended floor rather than a simple slab, and the higher, flatter sections closer to the shops still take a standard waffle pod. Booking follows the builder's own program, plumber's rough-in first, then our visit, then the pour, and sloping sites get extra time allowed for sub-floor access. One fixed written quote covers the whole job.
Local knowledge
Henry Lawson Reserve, close to the centre of the suburb, keeps its trees and leaf litter shelter for ants, spiders and rodents near nearby homes, and Como station, a rail corridor running close to several streets, is a route rats commonly use. Ninth Avenue Reserve, further out, is part of the wider bushland where termites and funnel-web spiders live and forage toward nearby blocks, so properties closer to that reserve generally get a more thorough perimeter than streets nearer the station.
Sutherland Shire is the certifying body for Como, and it holds off on the Occupation Certificate until two items land on file: a notice inside the meter box naming what termite system protects the house, and a certificate from the installer spelling out the products, the areas covered and the licence they worked under. Where a block sits on a slope with piers or a suspended floor, that detail goes on the paperwork too, matched against the engineering drawings.
Como at a glance
| Suburb | Como, NSW 2226 |
|---|---|
| District | Sutherland Shire |
| Distance from Sydney CBD | 20.2 km south-west |
| Certifying council | Across Sutherland Shire |
| Standard applied | AS 3660.1 termite management systems |
| Installed | Before the slab pour, then staged through the build |
| Documents supplied | Installation certificate and durable notice |
| Typical builds covered | New homes, knockdown rebuilds, granny flats, duplexes, townhouses |
Systems we install
Every photo below is from one of our own Sydney jobs. We look at your slab design, site and budget, then recommend a system or a combination.
01A termite-resistant sheet laid over the whole prepared footprint before concreting, so termites can't come up through the slab anywhere.
02A sealed collar on every pipe, conduit and service that passes through the slab. These gaps are the most common hidden way in.
03Protection at the slab edge and into the wall cavity, which stops termites building hidden tunnels up the outside of the slab.
04An APVMA-registered termiticide zone in the soil, with an optional pipe network under paving so it can be recharged later without digging.
05Barriers for bearers, piers and raised timber floors on sloping or elevated blocks, where there's no slab to protect.
06Detailing for sandstone cuts, block retaining walls, step-downs and cut-and-fill sites, which are common across Sydney.
Why during construction
A retrofit can only treat around a finished house. A pre-construction system protects the parts nobody will ever be able to reach again.
A barrier put in during the build costs a fraction of a post-construction system, and far less than repairing termite damage.
New houses (Class 1) and outbuildings (Class 10) with termite-susceptible framing need a compliant termite management system.
Pipe penetrations and slab joints can only be fully protected while they're still open, before the concrete goes in.
An under-slab system covers ground that no treatment from outside the finished house can ever reach.
Your certifier needs the certificate and durable notice before issuing the Occupation Certificate. We supply both together.
Documented, compliant protection gives buyers, building inspectors and lenders confidence when the home is sold.
Installation stages
A termite barrier isn't a single visit. Each part goes in when the site is ready for it, and we fit around your plumber, concreter and bricklayer.
Send your plans and slab details. We recommend a system and give you one fixed price that covers every stage.
Collars go on every service once the plumber has set out, then the membrane or soil treatment is installed across the prepared site.
Perimeter and cavity protection is fitted as the brickwork or cladding goes up, so there's no unprotected gap at the slab edge.
Where it's specified, the chemical perimeter or reticulation system is completed around the building before paths and gardens go in.
A durable notice goes in the meter box, and the installation certificate goes to your builder and certifier.
The owner gets simple care instructions and an inspection schedule so the system keeps doing its job for years.
Compare systems
Both can meet AS 3660.1. The best choice depends on your slab type, what surrounds the house and how much ongoing upkeep the owner wants.
Physical protection
Entry-point protection
Soil protection
Top-up protection
Most of the Sydney builds we work on use a combination: physical collars on every penetration plus a physical or chemical perimeter.
For builders & developers
Builders, developers and owner-builders get a fixed quote from plans, a technician who turns up when the site is ready, and paperwork that never holds up sign-off.
Consistent pricing across lots, one point of contact and a full document set for every dwelling.
Missing durable notices and unclear install records are a common reason Occupation Certificates get held up. We hand everything over together so your certifier has it all in one go.
Paperwork
A complete document set for the builder, the certifier and every future owner of the property.
A permanent notice in the meter box showing the system, install date, installer, any chemical's life expectancy and inspection advice.
For: certifier, owner, future owners
Written confirmation of the system and products used, the areas protected and our licence details.
For: builder, certifier, owner
Details of the physical system or termiticide installed, including safety data sheets for any chemicals.
For: builder, owner
How to keep the system working, plus the recommended inspection frequency under AS 3660.2.
For: homeowner
From real jobs
Photos from our own Sydney sites, not stock images. Tap any photo to see it larger.
Membrane barrier across a large residential slab
Barrier work on a Sydney Harbour site
Installation through sandstone excavation
Perimeter barrier and sleeves on a new slab
Waffle pod formwork with collared penetrations
Membrane detailed against a retaining wall
Membrane sealed around a column
Protected slab edge with collar in place
Collared penetrations before the pour
Perimeter barrier on a completed slab edge
Pipe penetrations sealed into the membrane
Collars fixed through mesh before concreting
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Pricing
Every build is different, so we don't guess. We price from your plans and give you one fixed written quote. Quoting is free.
After handover
A barrier only works while it stays intact and visible. Pass these on to the owner.
Free fixed quote
Tell us about your build and get a clear, fixed price, fast. We usually reply within 30 minutes during business hours.
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Como questions
Still unsure? Call and talk it through with a licensed technician.
+61 450 515 215Blocks running down toward the Georges or Woronora rivers tend to hold more moisture in the ground than higher, flatter sections of the suburb, and that dampness suits subterranean termites working toward a structure. We generally recommend a physical barrier at the slab edge and around any piers on these blocks, rather than relying on soil treatment in consistently damp ground.
The fire itself does not change today's termite risk, but Como West's history is a reminder of how close established bushland sits to many blocks in this part of the suburb. That bush supports termite colonies that forage toward the nearest structure, so blocks on the bush-facing side of Como typically need a more thorough perimeter than blocks further from the reserve.
Yes. Where the block falls toward the river and the house sits up on piers, the bearers, piers and floor timbers become the main thing we are protecting, not a slab edge, because there often isn't one. The system is still built to AS 3660.1, and Sutherland Shire still gets the same paperwork, just describing pier and bearer protection instead of a perimeter run.
In most cases, yes. The National Construction Code requires a termite management system for new houses and outbuildings in termite-prone areas where the primary building elements can be damaged by termites. Sydney is termite-prone, so the system is installed to AS 3660.1 and your certifier asks for the installation certificate and durable notice before the Occupation Certificate is issued.
It depends on slab area, perimeter length, the number of pipe penetrations, the system chosen, site complexity and how many visits the build needs. Send us the plans and we return one fixed written quote covering every stage. Quoting is free.
Nearby
Same crew, same staging and the same certifier-ready paperwork, right across the Sutherland Shire.
Service areas
From the Eastern Suburbs and Inner West to the Hills, the Shire and the western growth corridors. Every suburb has its own page with the local ground conditions, the council that certifies the work and the questions builders there ask us.
Slab pour coming up?
Send us your plans today for a fixed quote, or call and talk to a licensed technician about your site.
