'-_
`
`Presented to the Seminar on Cadastral Reform at the Korea Cadastral Survey
`Corporation, Seoul, Korea on 1 July 1994
`
`THE AUSTRALIAN CADASTRAL SYSTEM
`
`by
`
`Ian Williamson
`Professor of Surveying and Land Information
`Department of Geomatics
`The University of Melbourne
`
`
`
`Chairperson
`Commission 7 - Cadastre and Land Management
`
`International Federation of Surveyors
`
`'2 S (3
`
`+61 3 9344 4431
`Telephone
`+61 3 9347 4128
`Fax
`EMAIL ian__williamson@mac.unimelb.edu.au
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`The objective of this paper is to describe the Australian Cadastral System with an
`emphasis on cadastral surveying and mapping and the role of the professional land
`surveyor.
`
`First an overview of the Australian land market is presented, followed by a discussion of
`the difference between European cadastres and cadastral systems developed under
`English Common Law. Next the historical development and current status of both the
`Torrens System of title registration and the cadastral surveying system is given. The trend
`for Australian cadastral systems to move from cadastral surveying of individual parcels to
`an integrated cadastral mapping system is highlighted together with the development of
`the associated digital cadastral databases.
`
`The paper describes the professional qualifications required of a land surveyor as well as
`the institutions supporting the survey system. The relationship of the cadastral system to
`the development of state-wide land information systems is discussed. The paper
`concludes by highlighting future trends in the Australian cadastral system.
`
`INTRODUCTION
`
`The free land market in Australia is fundamental to economic development and the
`creation of wealth, and supports environmental management, sustainable development
`and a relatively high standard of living. The Australian cadastral system in turn is
`essential infrastructure in support of this land market.
`
`The Australian cadastral system derives many of its principles and concepts from English
`Common Law. It has manied the system of land transfer under English Common Law
`with the needs of a vast developing country. As a result a land registration system, a
`cadastral surveying system and a land surveying profession have developed which to a
`large degree are unique to Australia.
`
`~
`
`A major difference between the Australian cadastral system and its European counterparts
`is that the Australian system is derived from individual surveys of individual parcels for
`individual owners in support of the legal land transfer system. It is not derived from a
`complete cadastral record of all land parcels as shown on a cadastral map having its
`genesis in a land taxation system, which is the case with most European systems.
`
`1
`
`ALJST 94/1
`
`EPage1 of 20
`
`CCSRELOGIC EXHIBIT 1009C
`
`

`
`While the Australian cadastral system is a very secure land transfer system, it should not
`be seen as an ideal system of automatic relevance to other countries, however a study of
`the Australian system is very informative for any country undertaking cadastral reform.
`In many respects it is an expensive system designed specifically to support the land
`‘C market and the individual land owner. It was not designed as part of a wider land
`" administration system albeit it has increasingly developed such a role. Australia can
`afford this relatively expensive system whereas many other countries in the world cannot
`afford such a luxury and have to look at more cost effective approaches to providing the
`infrastructure on which to base an efficient and effective land market which in turn serves
`broader land policies.
`
`HISTORY
`
`At the time of settlement by the English colonists in 1788, Australia was considered a
`vast unsettled and unexplored continent. The country was however fully settled by the
`indigenous aboriginal peoples who had divided the country into many regions each under
`the jurisdiction of a clan group. It was not until 1993 that the Australia Federal
`Government first acknowledged the historical right of the indigenous peoples to land
`ownership, even though the Federal Government did provide for unalienated Crown land
`to be made available for the indigenous aboriginal owners in the Northern Territory in
`1976. However, the development of the Australian cadastral system has not been
`influenced by the land ownership systems or patterns of the indigenous peoples (also see
`Ogleby, 1993 and Prescott, 1994).
`
`At the time of settlement by the English, the second most important person in the colony
`was the Surveyor General. He was responsible for alienating and managing all land in
`the colony. However, due to the difficulties in undertaking surveys in this vast harsh
`country and the rapid settlement that resulted, especially after the gold rushes of the late
`19th Century, settlement often preceded survey, even though the actual alienation of land
`was always based on a survey.
`
`For about the first seventy years of Australian settlement, all land transfers were done
`using the English system of Deeds Registration where ownership of land was proved by
`a chain of deeds which evidence the transfer of interests in land from one person to the
`next. In this system the interest in land only transfers if the transferor has the right and
`ability to convey the interest. A single defect in the chain of deeds can nullify the "title".
`The only real advantage to registration under this system is that it confers priority in any
`counter claim to "title". It was not until the mid 1850s in South Australia that Robert
`Torrens introduced his now famous system to simplify land transfer which had become
`expensive, complicated and inefficient. However, the introduction of his system was not
`without great opposition from the conservative legal profession which had a vested
`interest in maintaining the status quo which was complex, slow and expensive. Of
`interest, the introduction of Torrens’ system of land registration was of such political
`importance that it resulted in Robert Torrens becoming Premier of South Australia and
`being Knighted.
`
`Alienation of land continued unabated through the 19th Century and well into the 20th
`Century with the result that dual land title and land survey systems grew up in all the
`Australian states. On the one hand there were the systems which controlled the
`management and alienation of Crown lands, usually under the responsibility of the State
`Surveyor General. In parallel with this were the systems to manage the land ownership
`records concerned with private alienated lands, which was typically the responsibility of
`the Registrars within the State Land Titles Offices. Each of these systems managed land
`records and had its own survey system and regulations, one relating to Crown lands and
`the other relating to alienated private lands.
`
`9 Page 2 of 20
`
`S
`
`la)
`
`

`
`Prior to the Second World War and particularly afterwards, alienation of lands reduced
`significantly while at the same time the activity of the Land Titles Offices increased with
`the subdivision of already alienated private lands and the consequent growth of the land
`market. The result has seen a reduction in the influence of Surveyors General around
`Australia with the increasing influence of the Registrars of Title.
`
`Today Australia is a country which has moved its focus away from alienation and
`subdivision of Crown land, to the development and subdivision of private lands and the
`management of the Crown estate where the emphasis is on sustainable development and
`environmental management.
`
`There has always been friendly competition between the Surveyor General and the
`Registrar of Title in the Australian states. However, the trend is for their respective
`organisations to be brought closer together in the one government department, more in
`line with other systems around the world. In most States today,
`the separate title and
`survey systems for Crown and private lands have been combined into one cadastral
`survey system with the objective of having a complete cadastral record of all land parcels
`in a State in one system.
`
`An important aspect to note about the Australian Land Titles Offices which makes them
`virtually unique around the world is that they are centralised. These offices are very large
`and complex organisations storing vast amounts of paper records. For example the Land
`Titles Office in the State of Victoria has about 2.1 million live land titles (noting there are
`less land titles than land parcels), 0.43 million plans of survey (including plans of field
`notes) and 14 million live supporting documents. As a result there has been a greater need
`to streamline records storage and computerise the title systems in Australia than in most
`overseas countries which operate decentralised land registry systems. For example in
`most countries it is not unusual to have between 50 and 1000 regional or local Land Titles
`Offices.
`
`THE AUSTRALIAN LAND MARKET
`
`Australia is a large continent with a population of approximately 18 million and with
`about 10 million legal land parcels.
`it is one of the most urbanised countries in the world
`with most of the population living on the south-eastem seaboard of Australia within 100
`kilometres of the sea. For example nearly half the population live in the urban sprawl
`surrounding the two cities of Sydney and Melbourne.
`
`Australia became a Federation of States in 1901 with all legal matters relating to land
`remaining a State responsibility. Even though there is considerable commonality between
`the States, each State still has significant individual idiosyncrasies and complexities in its
`land law and cadastral system. Land laws and the laws concerning land transfer and
`mortgages are the total responsibility of the each State.
`
`Over 50% of Australia's wealth is in real property with about 70% of Australian families
`owning their own free standing house or apartment. This is one of the highest
`percentages of any country world-wide. Most of the population live in free standing
`houses having a land area of about 500 to 1,000 square metres. On average, Australians
`sell their homes and buy or build new ones about every ten years. The price of an
`average Australian home (eg. a home of about 150 square metres constructed with brick
`walls and a tiled roofs, having three bedrooms and being located on a 700 square metre
`block of land) would be between US$80,000 to US$200,000 depending on location.
`The average salary of a well qualified employed tradesman or professional person with
`ten years experience is about US$25—35,000 pa. Over 50% of married women are in full-
`time employment. At the same time there is an increasing percentage of the population
`which lives in individually owned strata title apartments which are typically in three
`storey walk-up buildings, having between 10 and 30 apartments in each building.
`
`TPage 3 of 20
`
`

`
`On average it takes about four to eight weeks to transfer Real Property in Australia with
`legal fees being about US$300 to US$500 per land transfer (although much faster
`transfers are possible, especially if the purchaser is not seeking bank finance to assist in
`the purchase. In such cases a transfer could be completed in less than a week.).
`However, government taxes of up to 5% of the purchase price must also be paid. About
`30% to 50% of properties transferred in Australia also require a cadastral survey
`(approximately US$250) each time a property is transferred even though the property is
`in a recently surveyed subdivision. This is to ensure the house is built on the parcel of
`land described in the land transfer and that the building does not contravene any local
`government ordinances.
`
`The land market operates almost totally within the private sector with the only exceptions
`being the operation of the Land Titles Office and the oversight of cadastral surveys by a
`Board of Surveyors in each State. State governments do however still alienate several
`thousand remnant parcels each year across Australia.
`
`Most real property is purchased by borrowing money from a bank (up to about 80% to
`90% of the purchase price can be borrowed) in exchange for a mortgage. Interest rates
`are currently about 10% per annum with loans repayable usually over a maximum period
`of 25 years.
`
`The major players in the land market are land developers, land surveyors, solicitors, real
`estate agents and banks.
`
`LAND REGISTRATION
`
`In the three States which were first settled, namely New South Wales, Victoria and
`Tasmania, there are still land parcels held under the old Deeds Registration system
`although these numbers are reducing (about 3% of freehold land in the State of Victoria).
`This is a system where upon each transfer a Deed is prepared transferring the land from
`one person to another. The title constitutes the unbroken chain of deeds. In most States
`today, when an owner wishes to transfer property held under the Deeds Registration
`system, it is automatically brought under the Torrens System of Title Registration.
`
`The Torrens System is a system of title registration where the State Government
`guarantees that the person shown on the Certificate of Title displayed in a public register
`is the registered proprietor. The folio of the register is conclusive evidence that the person
`named in the folio as the proprietor of an interest in the land is the legal owner of that
`interest. Interests in land can only be created, varied or changed by registration. If there is
`an error on the Certificate of Title, the government will compensate the registered
`proprietor for any loss incurred by the error. There are three fundamental principles to
`the Torrens System; namely the Mirror Principle, Curtain Principle and Insurance
`Principle. The Mirror Principle states that whatever is shown or reflected on the
`Certificate of Title is guaranteed by the State to be correct. The Curtain Principle means
`that once a Certificate of Title under the Torrens System is issued all other interests which
`may have related to the land previously are negated. It is not possible to "look behind the
`title to previous interests". The Insurance Principle means that the information on the
`Certificate of Title is guaranteed by the State. The Torrens System as conceived had four
`qualities being speed, simplicity, cheapness and suitability to the needs of the
`community. However in reality due to the complexities of Common law and the cadastral
`survey system, it is relatively expensive, in some cases slow and in some cases very
`complex, but this varies depending on thejurisdiction.
`
`Page 4 of 20
`
`5
`
`

`
`FIGURE 1
`
`TORRENS CERTIFICATE OF TITLE
`(courtesy of the Victorian Titles Office)
`
`0 R I G I N A L
`NOT TO BE nucm mom me omce
`or mtss
`
`
`@21:tifi::e1t2 of @itI2
`
`REGISTER BOOK
`
`voL.98 2 7
`
`FOLG4 2
`
`UNDER THE "TlU\N5F£ll OF LAND ACT"
`
`the
`Is
`Ken
`222 High Street
`of
`i-‘EST PRE-MIXED CDHCRETE PTT. LTD.
`ii0ilTil
`to the encumbrances notified
`proprietor of
`an estate in fee simple subject
`hereunder
`in all
`that
`land
`in the Township of Skye
`Parish of Lyndhurst
`being Lot
`53
`on Plan of Subdivision Ho. 2113683 which land is shown
`enclosed by continuous
`lines on the map hereon and
`identified by that
`lot
`number -
`
`issued under Regulation 10 -
`
`'fl,5;Qf¢1/
`
`Assistant Registrar of Titles
`
`as TO THE WHOLE or THE LAND
`THE C0VENAgT1CgNTAINED IN
`TRANSFER N 7 9 9U
`REGISTERED 6'. 30/1 1/88
`
`Vol. oats Fol. 443
`17/a/an
`
`ENCUMBRANCES
`
`nance
`
`MORTGAGE N359l35E E,
`Esanda
`c°,p°,,t.°n L,m,tcd_
`Registered 22/3/D8-
`the
`As
`to
`any part
`of
`or
`land marked E-1
`E-2
`E-3
`on the map that lies
`within
`the
`above-
`mentioned iot-
`any)
`{if
`THE
`EASEHENTS
`the same by
`EXISEIHQ over
`virtue of Section 90 of
`the Transfer of Land Act-
`
`Derived From
`1-*flpuy“?t7“&Wn"WT“Wb%F
`
`do
`
`MARCELLA
`
`i1a'o2':r
`
`2‘""18"—
`
`ME/iSUI'iEMENT5 ARE IN METRES
`
`Page 5 of 20
`
`

`
`There are three components in a Torrens Certificate of Title (Figure 1), namely the Parcel
`Section which identifies the parcel, gives it a unique identifier and describes the Metes
`and Bounds (usually graphically by reference to the plan of survey),
`the Proprietorship
`Section which identifies the owner, and the Encumbrances Section which identifies any
`other interests in the parcel such as a mortgage, an easement or a restriction as to user.
`The registered proprietor holds a duplicate Certificate of Title to the one held by the Land
`Titles Office.
`
`Within each State, there are one or more State Acts of Parliament which support the
`cadastral system. It is important to note however that the system which Torrens
`introduced is quite different from today's "Torrens System". On many occasions since a
`Torrens type system was introduced into each State during the last century, there have
`been changes to the legislation to update and improve the legislation in each State.
`
`5 Usually the legislation defining the Torrens System is called a Real Property Act or Land
`‘ Transfer Act with this legislation relating to individual land parcels subdivided in the
`normal broad acre subdivision manner. However, over about the last thirty years or so
`all States of Australia have introduced Strata Title legislation to allow Real Property to be
`subdivided vertically as well as horizontally thereby permitting individual ownership of
`apartments. This initiative has given an enormous impetus to the development of medium
`to high density housing in Australia.
`
`In addition to the primary legislation concerned with transferring interests in Real
`Property, there is a range of other legislation providing legal infrastructure to the land
`market. This includes legislation supporting the mortgaging of land as well as
`environmental, planning and local government legislation supporting the occupation and
`development of land.
`
`As mentioned previously it is important to note that Australia is almost unique in having
`its land registration system centralised in one office in the Capital City in each State. This
`imposes enormous pressures on the system due to the maintenance of very large records,
`however it has initiated a major thrust towards computerisation.
`
`Another important aspect to note about the Australian Cadastral System is that the primary
`focus is on individual transfers of individual parcels between individual people in support
`of the land transfer system. These transfers historically have not been part of a broader
`cadastral system supporting land management, land tax, planning, as well as land
`ownership, as in Europe. This means that in order to develop a state-wide cadastral
`system in the Australian States, all the individual parcels have to be tied together to form a
`whole. This means that the overall system is developed from the "part to the whole" as
`2. distinct from the normal surveying practice of going from the "whole to the part",
`3 however this is indicative of the way the States were developed.
`
`Most States are still trying to compile a complete cadastral system where every land parcel
`in the State has a unique identifier and is recorded on a state-wide cadastral map. The
`unique identifier typically used in Australia is the parcel number shown on the plan of
`subdivision which created it. Also as mentioned previously, the Australian cadastral
`system certainly supports secure land ownership thereby supporting an effective land
`market. However, while the System has some excellent strengths, it also has some
`significant weaknesses such as its cost and complexity.
`
`The complexity of the System, coupled with centralised land registries, have been a major
`impetus for Australia to computerise land titles. As a result, all States have moved to
`introduce a system of computerised land titles where there is no longer a paper record but
`the title is held in digital form in a computer which is State guaranteed. This move to
`computerised titles is also facilitating the development of state-wide land information
`systems (Figures 2 and 3).
`
`“Sage 6 of 20
`
`

`
`FIGURE 2
`
`COMPUTER FOLIO OF A CERTIFICATE OF TITLE
`(courtesy of the Victorian Titles Office)
`
`
`
`VICTORIA
`
`Volume 10104 Fbiio 914
`
`Page
`41522396270A
`Eznduced 09/06/1993 06:37 pm
`
`1
`
`CERTIFICATE OF TITLE
`UNDER THE TRANSFER OF LAND ACT
`
`I certify that ihe registered proprietor is "the proprietor of the estate and interest in the land subject
`to the encumbrances. caveats and notices described.
`
`Wm
`
`REGISTRAR or TITLES
`
`1 on Plan of Subdivision 315I9OH.
`Lot
`PARENT TITLE Voiume 08216 Folio 516
`Created by instrument PS315190M 10/03/1993
`
`REGISTERED PROPRIETOR
`
`ESTATE FEE SIMPLE
`Tenants in common
`
`As to 1 of a total of 2 equal undivided shares
`SOLE PROPRIETOR
`
`RAYSON, MARK AUGUSTINE; UNIT l 176 PITT STREET ELTHAM
`As to 1 of a totai of 2 equai undivided shares
`SOLE PROPRIETOR
`
`SALMON, GILLIAN; UNIT 1 175 PITT STREET ELTHAM
`Registered S486S11T
`14/05/1993
`
`ENCUMBRANCES, CAVEATS AND NOTICES
`
`MORTGAGES AND CHARGES IN PRIORITY RANKING
`1
`54855120
`MORTGAGE
`ST GEORGE BANK LTD
`
`COVENANT (as to whole or part of the Iand)
`
`in instrument 1136570
`
`Any encumbrances created by Section 98 Transfer of Land Act 1958 or Section
`24 Subdivision Act 1988.
`
`Any other encumbrances shown or entered on the registered plan.
`
`SEE PS315l9OH FOR FURTHER DETAILS AND BOUNDARIES
`
`END OF CERTIFICATE
`
`Vpage 7 of 20
`
`

`
`FIGURE 3
`
`COMPUTER FOLIO OF A CERTIFICATE OF TITLE (Cont)
`(courtesy of the Victorian Titles Office)
`
`RECORD OF DEA.L'ENGS
`
`Land Titles 055C:
`
`Pig: 1
`
`Security No:
`Cuszomcr Code:
`
`133506287411
`134-Y
`
`Da.t: Lodged for
`rcgiscnuion
`
`Date mcordcd
`on rcgistcr
`
`10008
`
`Volume
`Printed
`20/01/1993
`
`Dealing Ntnnbcr
`
`01101/91
`
`05/04/92
`
`R621430P
`
`456
`Folio
`3:15 pm
`
`Dealing Type
`and Details
`
`Mortgzgc
`Stat: Ba.-Lk
`
`01/02/92
`
`10/U-4f92
`
`R921469G
`
`Morrgag:
`
`O1I'03/92
`
`20/0-1-[92
`
`R978798F
`
`01f03/92
`
`20/04/92
`
`R97880OT
`
`Discharge of
`Morzgag:
`"R621!-30?
`
`Transfc:
`Robc: Vinccnzo
`Albert VL1c:.".zo
`
`Maria. Vine.-.nzo
`
`01/03/92
`
`20/04/92
`
`R978SO0T
`
`Covcnm:
`
`10/'3/92
`
`30/05/92
`
`R999973L
`
`10/04/92
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`01/06/92
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`
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`Avco 11-.a."~.c'IaI
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`:age 8 of 20
`
`

`
`CADASTRAL SURVEYING
`
`Australia has a heritage of over two centuries of expertise in cadastral surveying of parcel
`boundaries in support of the land transfer system as part of an effective land market.
`However, it is important to note that the cadastral surveying which is undertaken in
`Australia is not part of the state-wide cadastral mapping process. Cadastral surveys of
`individual land parcels are carried out to a high mathematical precision and are only
`connected into neighbouring land parcels. These are termed "isolated" surveys. The
`surveys are usually not based on coordinate systems and in fact coordinates are not
`permitted to be shown on most cadastral survey plans in Australia; cadastral surveys in
`the Australian Capital Territory are an exception. In this regard Australia is one of the
`few countries world-wide which does not use a coordinated cadastral system which is an
`integral part of a cadastral mapping system. A number of States are introducing systems
`whereby a common azimuth is adopted for all cadastral surveys in designated regions.
`
`Boundaries are surveyed to a high accuracy in a local sense and corners are typically
`marked with wooden pegs with reference marks usually buried adjacent to corners. Each
`cadastral survey is also connected into one or more Permanent Survey Marks which tend
`to be concrete blocks or marks in concrete kerbs which are planned to be integrated in
`time into the State coordinate system. The normal measurement precision for urban
`cadastral surveys is 1 part in 4-10,000 (Figures 4 and S) with traverse closures of
`1:8,000.
`
`Even though Australian cadastral surveys are in one sense an anachronism, cadastral land
`surveyors use the latest technology including digital theodolites, Global Positioning
`System, "field-to-office" techniques and computerised drafting systems in undertaking
`cadastral surveys and preparing cadastral plans. Some State's permit cadastral plans to be
`submitted to the Land Titles Office in digital form thereby facilitating the updating of the
`State's Digital Cadastral Data Base.
`
`The practice of cadastral surveying in each State as undertaken by professional land
`surveyors is normally controlled by a Surveyors Act with associated regulations. These
`Acts specify the duties and responsibilities of registered cadastral land surveyors, the
`regulation of them in undertaking cadastral surveys, the role of Boards of Surveyors and
`the requirements to become a registered Surveyor.
`
`CADASTRAL MAPPING
`
`The last two decades have seen a move to establish complete cadastral maps in support of
`land management, land administration and local government administration in every State
`of Australia. This has necessitated projects to provide a unique parcel identifier for every
`land parcel . The typical techniques in establishing a cadastral map have been to fit all the
`isolated cadastral survey plans together on to a topographic base map using fence lines,
`road boundaries etc as control using a rubber sheeting approach. particularly in rural
`areas. In urban areas field control is often used with typical scales usually 122--‘L000 and
`in rural areas l:lO—50,000. The result is that cadastral maps in Australia represent
`boundaries to a graphical accuracy with the result that in urban areas the coordinates of
`those corners can be many metres out of position and in rural areas, hundreds of metres
`out of position. However in some of the State systems the accuracy of the scaled
`boundary coordinates is about il mm at map scale (i2.5 m at l:2,500). It is important
`to note however, that these maps are used primarily for identification of land parcels and
`land management. However increasingly they are also being used as a basis for recording
`utilities with the result that a greater accuracy is being demanded.
`
`“Page 9 of 20
`
`

`
`FIGURE 4
`
`"ISOLATED" CADASTRAL SURVEY PLAN
`(extract from the Victorian Survey Practise Handbook)
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`FIGURE 6
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`Page 12 of 20
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`The major trend over the last decade however, has been to convert these cadastral maps to
`digital form and thereby create digital cadastral databases. Most States of Australia are
`now well advanced in creating digital cadastral databases or have completed them. Figure
`6 shows the output from a typical digital cadastral database. This facilitates the use of
`geographic information systems in many government departments and in local
`government (Hesse and Williamson, 1990). A big issue however with regard to the
`digital cadastral databases in Australia concerns the problems associated with updating
`and upgrading these digital cadastral databases, particularly from the point of view of the
`utility organisations.
`
`QUALIFICATIONS AND REGISTRATION AS A SURVEYOR
`
`The typical qualification for a professional land surveyor is a 4-year university degree
`with the degree having a range of names including Bachelor of Science (Surveying),
`Bachelor of Surveying, Bachelor of Land Information, Bachelor of Geomatics or
`Bachelor of Geomatic Engineering. Within these degrees, the emphasis is on basic
`sciences, computer science, measurement science, land and geographic information
`systems, land management and professional studies. The land surveyor in Australia is
`quite different from many of his or her counterparts around the world in as much as they
`have a good mathematical and scientific education supporting the measurement and
`management of spatial data, yet they have good background in issues concerned with
`land management, environmental management, local government law and practice, and
`land development. There are nine universities giving such degrees in Australia. Current
`student numbers studying surveying at a university at an undergraduate level in Australia
`are about 1000 with about 200 undertaking graduate studies in surveying or related areas
`ranging from graduate diplomas to doctorates. About 20% of students studying
`surveying at an undergraduate level in Australia are women. At the technician or sub-
`professional level, 2-year surveying certificates or 3-year surveying diplomas are
`available.
`
`In order to practise as a cadastral land surveyor, an appropriate university degree is
`required in addition to the surveyor being registered by the Board. of Surveyors in the
`respective State. To become registered, a surveyor typically requires 12 to 24 months
`under a training agreement with another registered surveyor and in addition must pass
`some further professional examinations and practical exercises supervised by the Board
`of Surveyors. Once a person has been registered by a Board in any State of Australia or
`New Zealand, that person can apply for registration in any other State of Australia or
`New Zealand under a reciprocity agreement.
`
`Of interest only about 20% to 30% of graduate surveyors now become registered to
`undertake cadastral surveys with the rest working in other areas of surveying or in allied
`industries or professions. A graduate surveyor does not have to be registered to
`undertake any surveys other than cadastral surveys although registration as a surveyor is
`seen to be acknowledgment of a high professional standard.
`
`INSTITUTIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL ASPECTS
`
`Most cadastral, engineering and other surveys are undertaken in Australia by the private
`sector. This has changed dramatically over the last decade. About ten years ago nearly
`50% of surveys were undertaken by government surveyors. Today there is only a
`relatively small percentage of surveys undertaken by govemment. However, each State
`does have a surveying and mapping organisation which is generally headed by a
`Surveyor General. The secretariat of each State's Board of Surveyors is also usually
`found in this organisation. While the role of Surveyors General has reduced gradually
`over the last hundred years in Australia with some States having given away the term
`"Surveyor General", some State Surveyors General still retain significant authority within
`
`13
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`Page 13 of 20
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`their States since by statute they are ex-offlcio on all electoral redistribution commissions.
`This means that in these Australian States the Surveyor General cannot be dismissed, or
`the position be made redundant, without full endorsement of all political parties of both
`Houses of Parliament.
`
`At a national level, surveying and mapping is coordinated by the Inter-govemmental
`Committee on Surveying and Mapping (ICSM) and for cadastral surveys by the
`Reciprocating Surveyors Boards of Australia and New Zealand. Land and geographic
`information is coordinated by the Australia New Zealand Land Information Cou