Land Surveying in Melbourne

Standard residential surveys (cadastral, feature and level, and boundary identification) are typically completed within 3–10 business days from site access. Plans of subdivision take 4–12 weeks due to council referral and SPEAR lodgement requirements. Complex commercial land surveys in Melbourne, 3D laser scanning, and monitoring programs are scoped individually.

Land surveying in Melbourne starts around $1200. However, the cost of land surveying depends on a range of factors including existing surveys in the area, the size and location of the property and existing conditions and features that makes it difficult to access the subject site. 

We can provide a detailed and accurate cost estimate once we have an address to conduct some due diligence on the property. You can book a no obligation free consultation and tell us about your land surveying requirements.

The cost of a feature survey in Melbourne can vary depending on several factors such as the size of the land, complexity of the site, required level of detail, and the surveying company hired. Generally, feature surveys in Melbourne can range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars.

A feature and level survey can cost in the range of $2,000 to $4,500 in Victoria depending on the size of the land parcel and complexity of the sub-division.

Smaller and simpler surveys, such as residential property surveys, tend to be on the lower end of the cost spectrum, while larger and more intricate surveys, such as commercial or industrial sites, can be more expensive. It is advisable to obtain a quick quote from our team after discussing the scope of the survey to get a more accurate cost estimate based on your specific requirement.

You can find on this here – Land Surveying Costing Guide Australia 2023

Land surveying covers parcel-level measurement for construction, renovation, and council compliance, using total stations, GNSS, and 3D laser scanners. Drone surveying handles large-area aerial capture for property development, design feasibility, subdivision planning, and land management. Choose land surveying for a known parcel; choose drone surveying for a large or unfamiliar area. The two services often combine on infrastructure and development projects.

A cadastral survey legally defines the boundaries of a land parcel and produces a plan that can be lodged with Land Use Victoria. It must be performed by a Licensed Cadastral Surveyor.
A feature and level survey captures the physical characteristics of a site (buildings, services, contours, and levels) to provide a base dataset for design and council applications; it does not affect title and does not require cadastral licensing.

We conduct an investigation about the property titles and history before quotation to ensure we correctly assess the complexity and required time onsite. Some properties may not have had a land survey completed in a long time and therefore it takes longer to establish the baselines to work from. In other cases, there are difficulties with accessing areas of the property due to trees, vegetation or structures making it difficult to take measurements on all property boundaries.

The land surveyor will attend the property and establish the existing property boundaries and features using precision surveying equipment. This involves taking site measurements called observations and checking the property boundaries, fence lines, topography features and the proximity to adjacent properties. As you can imagine, it takes time to ensure the measurements are accurate and equipment is correctly positioned to avoid any disputes or errors from the results.

In our experience, there are many challenges with land surveying but mostly difficulty with site access that causes our work to be more complicated. Aside from technical issues that occur from time to time our main concern is to ensure the safety and well being of our team while in the field.

We would recommend builders to conduct a cadastral and feature and levels survey before starting the construction project. A cadastral survey is used to define the property boundaries and verify land titles and can only be completed by a licensed cadastral surveyor.

Other than that, we also advise builders to invest in topographical surveys, sub-division surveys, dilapidation and site analysis surveys to get more information of the property for design and planning purposes.

Yes, there are regulatory considerations and restrictions when conducting aerial land surveying for engineering and construction purposes in Melbourne. It is essential to comply with local council laws, aviation regulations, check for no-fly zones and obtain necessary permits or approvals from relevant authorities before conducting aerial surveys.

Additionally, privacy concerns may arise when capturing aerial imagery, requiring adherence to guidelines and ensuring the protection of sensitive information. Engaging experienced professionals familiar with local regulations and best practices is crucial to ensure legal compliance and ethical use of aerial land surveying data.

Our team always stays on top of changing guidelines from various authorities and takes care of all permits and compliance when it comes to doing it right.

Yes. Avian has experience with heritage-listed structures across Victoria, including dilapidation surveys, monitoring programs, and 3D laser scanning for heritage documentation and restoration design. Heritage work requires particular care around non-invasive measurement and coordination with Heritage Victoria, disciplines in which our team is experienced.

For complex or large-scale engagements, Avian conducts a complimentary site review prior to quoting. For standard residential and commercial surveys, a thorough desktop review of title records, planning data, and existing survey information is typically sufficient to provide a fixed-price quote within 24 hours.

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