C&A Surveyors FAQs

You’ll need subdivision approval from Council or a Private Certifier, supported by a Preliminary Plan of Subdivision. Once approved, a Final Plan of Subdivision needs to be prepared and lodged with the Land Registry Services.

Strata subdivision requires Council or Private Certifier approval, starting with a Preliminary Strata Plan of Subdivision. Once approved, a Final Strata Plan needs to be prepared and registered with associated documentation with the Land Registry Services.

A drainage easement is registered either through a Plan of Easement or a Transfer Granting Easement, depending on the easement’s location and the property’s features. A Hydraulic Engineer designs the drainage details, and our Registered Surveyors prepare the plan for registration with Land Registry Services.

A boundary survey is the only reliable way to find your exact property line. A Registered Surveyor uses titles, government records, and site measurements to set physical markers, protecting you from building a fence or structure in the wrong spot.

Yes. Fence locations don’t determine your actual boundaries. A Registered Surveyor calculates the true boundary line using State Survey Marks and registered survey plans, then marks it on-site with a signed sketch. This is the only way to confirm your fence is in the right spot.

Age doesn’t guarantee accuracy. Older fences and structures may sit outside the true boundary, and original survey pegs are often long gone. If you’re planning a fence, extension, or sale, a boundary survey confirms exactly where your property lines sit today.

You’ll need a construction setout survey. Our surveyor attends site to mark the approved architectural plans with physical pegs, then provides a signed sketch so trades like concreters and bricklayers can build exactly to plan.

You’ll need either a Detail and Level Survey or a Detail and Identification Survey, depending on your council. A Detail and Level Survey covers existing site features and services; a Detail and Identification Survey adds the exact location of your property boundaries.

You’ll need a Final Survey once construction is complete. It confirms your new build matches the approved plans, checking boundary position, ridge heights, and floor levels, a mandatory requirement before your Principal Certifier can issue the Occupation Certificate.

A contour survey captures ground levels and visible features like trees and fences, with boundaries shown only approximately. A Detail & Boundary Identification Survey adds a full boundary investigation using registered plans and title searches, something now required by most councils and certifiers.

A contour survey (also called a topographic or site survey) maps the natural and man-made features of your land – trees, buildings, fences, and ground levels – showing shape, slope, and elevation to guide design, drainage, and construction planning.

A 3D survey uses laser scanning to capture millions of measurements, creating a photo-realistic, rotatable 3D model of your site. Unlike flat 2D plans, it records walls, floors, and services in full detail, helping you spot issues before design or construction begins.

Consider a 3D survey for renovations, heritage features, multi-trade coordination, or tight-space fit-outs, anywhere accuracy and visual clarity matter most. It gives your team a full digital record to plan around, reducing site visits and costly redesigns.

Depending on your project, your plans may need endorsement from Council, Land Registry Services, or a Strata Certifier. We collate, prepare, and lodge the required documents with each authority on your behalf.

Look for a Registered Surveyor with BOSSI accreditation, clear upfront pricing, and a track record of on-time delivery. Ask how they communicate progress and whether their plans are usable by your architect or builder without follow-up.

Watch for vague boundary lines, missing levels or easements, no Registered Surveyor’s signature, or a plan your consultants need to call and clarify. These signal a survey based on assumptions rather than verified titles, plans, and on-site measurement.

Yes. A qualified surveyor prevents boundary disputes, reduces rework from inaccurate data, speeds up council approval, and helps avoid over- or under-engineering in your design. The cost of skipping a survey is almost always higher than the fee.

A land surveyor measures and maps land to define boundaries, levels, and features, work that’s essential for construction, design, and council approvals at every stage of a project.

An experienced surveyor identifies boundary issues and site constraints early, before they become expensive problems. This prevents legal disputes, reduces rework for your architect or builder, speeds up council approvals, and helps avoid over- or under-engineering in your design.

We check your address against the NSW Spatial Digital Twin Explorer, the government mapping platform, to see existing survey information and property features in your area. This lets us give you an accurate, cost-effective fee proposal.

Clear access to your front and back yard, and secure any pets before we arrive. You generally don’t need to be home, and no other preparation is required; our surveyor works around existing structures, fences, and landscaping on-site.

Generally, no. Most surveys only need access to the front and back yard. Just make sure pets are safely secured while our surveyor is on-site.

We provide two file formats for our surveys: a PDF for your viewing and records, and a DWG drawing file for your designer. DWG files need CAD software like AutoCAD or Revit to open.

Review your PDF and DWG files, then pass the DWG on to your architect, designer, or certifier; it’s compatible with AutoCAD and Revit. If the survey flagged boundary or compliance issues, use it to plan your next step with your design team.