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Q: What is a Registered Surveyor?

A: A Registered Surveyor is someone who has been assessed as being competent to perform surveys by the Surveyors Board of Queensland. Apart from being Registered with the Board, surveyors are assessed to specialise in areas of surveying including land surveys, engineering surveys, mining surveys and hydro graphic surveys. Surveyors and Surveying companies wishing to consult with and perform surveys for the public are also required to obtain a Consulting endorsement. SURVEYPLAN is a Registered Surveyor with consulting,land survey and engineering surveyendorsements.
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 Q: What is a Licensed Surveyor?

A:The term Licensed Surveyor is no longer current in Queensland. The correct term, by legislation and through the Surveyors Board of Queensland, is a Registered Land Surveyor also known as a Cadastral Surveyor. It has the same definition as Licensed Surveyor but the term Registered was introduced to also recognise the other surveying specialities such as Engineering Surveyor and Hydro graphic Surveyor. Land Surveyors or Cadastral Surveyors are still the most common surveyor. SURVEYPLAN are Registered Land Surveyors  and Registered Engineering Surveyors.
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 Q: Why use a Registered Surveyor?

A: By using a Registered Surveyor you know they have been assessed by the Surveyors Board of Queensland as being competent in their area of expertise. Today to be deemed competent surveyors are required to complete a four year Bachelor of Surveying Degree (or similar) and further complete surveys/projects to demonstrate their competency (usually takes a minimum of two years) as well as have a professionalinterview with the Surveyors Board. Surveys performed by Registered Surveyors are carried out in a professional, competent manner meeting the appropriate legislation and guidelines.

Registered Surveyors are required to adhere to a Professional Code of Practice and are also required to demonstrate their competency each year through continual professional development. Registered Surveyors with a Consulting Endorsement canconsult with the public and theyhave been assessed in business practices and carry the appropriate professional insurances. SURVEYPLAN are Consulting Surveyors, and carry all the appropriate insurances (including professional indemnity and public liability) to perform engineering and land surveys.

To protect the Queensland Titling System and land cadastrel only a Registered Land Surveyor can carry out land surveyssuch as land subdivisions. Registered Land Surveyors are the only surveyors who can sign survey plans for lodgement in the Queensland Titles Registry.
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 Q: What type of survey do I need?

A: There are many types of surveys including land surveys (such as subdivisions, boundary identification, leases and easements),engineering surveys (such as contour and detail surveys) andconstructionsurveys (such as building set-out). SURVEYPLAN is qualified to perform all these types of surveys. Our list of services includes some brief definitions of different types of surveys. However, we do not expect you to know what type of survey you require - if you can let us know what you are trying to achieve and why you want the survey performed we will be happy to assist you with all your survey requirements.
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Q: How long will the survey take?

A: The time to complete the survey depends on the type of  survey, location of parcel where the survey is required, size of the parcel,  previous survey work in the area and type of vegetation on the parcel. For  example a boundary identification of a smallparcel of land in Gympie Town  can often beperformed in the field in one day and the entire survey  service including preparation, searches, plan drafting and quality assurance  may only take one week. Where as a rural subdivision in heavily vegetated  country may take several days or even weeks in the field and several days in  survey preparation, searches, plan drafting and quality assurance.
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Q: How much will the survey cost?

A: The cost of the survey depends on many factors like how long the survey will take. Cost depends on the type of survey, location of  survey, size of parcel, previous survey work performed in the area and type of  vegetation on the parcel. We are happy to provide  a free, no obligation quote for your survey requirements. We believe we  offer cost-effective surveying services and our survey costs are fully  itemised. Government searches, materials required for the survey, accommodation  and meals (if required) are charged at cost and therefore keeping your costs to  a minimum. If you would like a quote please email or phone us. Back To Top

 Q: How do I read my survey plan?

A: Your survey plan will have been prepared in accordance with the current surveying legislation and guidelines. The plan displays the purpose of the survey and the intended actions of the lot/s of land, such as a land subdivision. The plan is a legal document representing the field survey performed and administrative details associated with the parcel of land. The terminology and abbreviations used can make survey plans difficult to interpret.

The survey plan shows the boundaries of the lot/s and interests (such as easements) in the form of bearings and distances. An area will also be displayed for each lot or interest. The bold lines represent the subject lot/s being surveyed and the other lines show the extent of the survey and adjoining information. Adjoining information to your lot/s, including lot on plan descriptions and street names,is shown on the survey plan to clearly identify where the parcel lies in Queensland. Recognisable survey marks, usually survey pegs, have been placed at each new corner unless it was physically impractical to do so. These survey marks aredisplayed on the survey plan at each corner or by a statement noted on the plan. An example of such a statement is “Peg placed at all new corners”.

Original survey marks (i.e. recorded on a previous survey plan) are noted on the plan with the abbreviation “O”. For example OP is an original peg and OIP is an original iron pin. Permanent Marks and Reference Marks are placed by surveyors to facilitate future surveys and this information is used by surveyors. These marks are placed near the corner (not at the corner). Common reference marks are Iron Pins, Nails, Drill Holes, and in rural areas blazed trees.Existing fencing is known as occupation and is usually shown as a way of reference to the corner. An example is "Cen RFP 0.1N" means the centre of a round fence post is 0.1 North of the corner.
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 Q: Where do I lodge my survey plan?

A: You need to lodge your survey plan (and associated documents)into the Titles Registry in the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM), formally the Department of Natural Resources. There is a fee to lodge your plan. Documents can be lodged between 8:30am and 4:30pm on business days.
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Note
It is important to note that the original survey plan MUST NOT be bent, creased, marked, stapled or damaged (otherwise it may not be accepted by the Department). The plan may be loosely rolled. The survey plan must be lodged into the Department within 12 months of the signature date in the bottom left of the plan.