Termite management

What is termite management?

Termite management involves reducing the chances that major damage is caused to your house by termite or white ant infestations. Termites cause more damage to Australian houses than fire, floods and storms combined - damage that is not covered by household insurance.

Termites avoid light and rarely come out into the open.  Often they're found within timbers where they leave a wafer-thin layer to protect themselves from the outside environment, and sometimes conceal themselves within mud-like tubes or galleries.

What legislation exists for termite control?

The Building Regulations require all new houses, including extensions, built within areas designated by municipal councils as likely to be subject to termite infestation, to have some form of management against termite attack.

This means that the construction of all new buildings and additions are required to be protected against termite infestation in accordance with the Australian Standard AS3660.1 - 2000 Termite management - Part 1:New Building work. Exception of treatment under the regulations only applies to detached Class 10 buildings such as a shed, garage, carport etc.

What are councils obliged to do?

Councils may declare areas within their municipality that are likely to be subject to infestation by termites. You should consult your local council to determine whether the area in which you are planning to build, has been declared subject to termite infestation. A list of declared councils - as at 12 January 2005 - can be viewed here.