Firstly, we hope you, your families and your teams are well in these extraordinary times. The current COVID-19 crisis across the globe has brought many challenges, while also showing the substantial benefits of having online digital services. To this end, our work with industry on digital survey plans is more important than ever, although we have adapted the sequencing of activities to suit current needs and priorities.
Thank you for continuing to make time to contribute to and guide the reform.
Electronic signatures on plans
The Office of the Registrar General (ORG) has received a number of enquiries about wet signatures for plans during the COVID-19 restrictions. ORG is working closely with NSW Land Registry Services (NSW LRS) and other stakeholders to develop new options for signing. We will provide further updates as soon as possible on this important development.
LandXML delivery to industry
An easier way to access landXML files will soon be available to industry. Several information brokers have signed up to an arrangement with NSW LRS to make landXML files available with the purchase of the corresponding registered plan image. NSW LRS has advised they will update industry in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Spatial Services is continuing to back-capture registered deposited plans in landXML, with the number of files on hand now approaching 600,000. The following map shows the current status of capture by Local Government Area.
Hybrid Capture-on-Demand update
Spatial Services and NSW LRS are continuing their collaboration to increase the use of digital survey plans for plan examination. NSW LRS is now selecting up to 40 lodged plans per week for capture into landXML prior to examination.
The outcome of this collaboration is already having the desired impact on the quality of registered plans, with the rate of errors detected starting to drop in March. Of course, there is still much more work to be done in this area to substantially reduce error rates and we look forward to continuing to work with you on ways and means to reduce errors.
LandXML lodgments increased significantly in March 2020 and at 6.5% is the equal highest rate of digital survey plan lodgments to date.
‘Grosvenor review’ report reminder
The recently released ‘Grosvenor review’ into digital survey plans in NSW is available on the ORG website. There are specific sections that relate to the sentiment of surveyors and other stakeholder groups about digital survey plans. Please have a quick read (perhaps over a coffee if you want to read the full report) to make sure that your views and concerns have been captured. Please contact us if you have any further views you’d like to share.
Feedback
Please direct any questions or feedback to the Digital Survey Plans Program. We are keen to hear your views on how we’re tracking and any concerns you may have.
Kind Regards
Jeremy Cox, Registrar General, Narelle Underwood, Surveyor General, Adam Bennett, CEO, NSW Land Registry Services