Understanding Land Surveying and Why It's Important

If you have bought a property and you intend to develop or renovate it, you have to know more about land surveying. For a first time renovator or developer, the only time you might have seen a land surveyor is when a road is being constructed. They use special equipment to look at a wide range of issues you cannot see. A surveyor works on a variety of projects like planning and designing an existing or new infrastructure, construction (bridges, roads, sports fields, buildings, etc.), building and land development, including monitoring and environmental measuring. 

Land surveyors are experts and can easily determine the land measurements and size. They can offer advice to guide architects, engineers, geologists, developers and town planners. Surveyors also work with the government and other service authorities like sewer, power and water authorities.

They are the first people who visit any development or construction site before any work can begin to measure the land. These measurements are used by architects to know and make the most of that landscape. The architects ensure that the buildings get to fit in that landscape.

Reasons developers and renovators need the land they own surveyed   

If the structural development or renovation project requires the construction of additional dwellings or new rooms, you have to know if it's possible or not, including if you will be adhering to the town planning codes. This is your land must be surveyed.

If you propose to renovate, build, change or subdivide the land, a planning permit is needed. These documents are lodged with the local government department and can be assessed against overlays, permitted land uses, land zoning, municipal strategic statements, etc.

You need to know that different zones are allocated for different land uses. There are also overlays like vegetation, wildlife, and heritage, making it important to protect the land.

Reason to hire a licenced surveyor

A licenced surveyor is registered by the government agencies responsible for maintaining the educational standards and competency for licenced surveyors.  The professional is the only person who is legally entitled to undertake any survey with the aim of marking boundaries on the property. The professional defines the land boundaries and can provide a plan that confirms that work has been completed correctly.

Understand that any survey that has been done by a surveyor who isn't licenced is not legal and cannot be recognized as evidence if you have a boundary dispute. To be safe, always work with a licenced professional who can survey the land and offer legal documents.


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