Is it usual for the concretor to undertake measures to help curing? I undertsand there are several approaches (ie water ponding on surface, black plastic, etc). My concretor is saying that he never uses any of these appraoches, and that it is not usual market practice...? He said that it is usually left to dry of its own accord without any curing protection.

Does anyone have a view on what I should expect from a quality job?

Located in Melbourne, pouring next month (cool autumn weather).

Thanks Nick

cooler weather is a great time to pour a slab and if it rains a couple of days after the slab is laid all the better. So long as the guys laying the slab know what they are doing and the engineering is all good there isnt anything you need to do to it this time of year. Best if its left alone for a week or more before framing starts but some builders are on it in 48 hours.

You would be very unlikely to find any domestic concretor who took any curing precautions as standard.

In autumn its generally not too bad for concrete curing but a daily hose down and/or plastic covering will help

AS2870 Residential slabs and footings states that "concrete shall be transpored, placed, compacted and cured in accordance with good building practice" (Cl. 6.4.7). The exception is known salt-damp prone areas, where the Standard requires that concrete be vibrated and cured for at least three days.

The Commentary to that Standard explains further that "For durability AS3600, Concrete Structures Code, requires 3 days initial moist curing. The Committee for slabs and footings carefully considered curing and decided that the only durability condition that would definitely require curing was moisture penetration from the edge of the slab. This seems to be a problem mainly encountered in Adelaide where some of the soils are high in salt. Under such circumstances curing is required by Clause 6.4.8. Otherwise normal building practice is expected."

Simple answer - it is beneficial but there is no onus on the builder to do it. Cool autumn weather is helpful. On my own site I'd be trying to keep the surface damp or laying plastic over the slab, but there is no need to do so - and hence domestic concretors (who are trying to compete and earn a living) will be very unlikely to do so.