1 Registration Numbers
While overall registration numbers have increased by 10% in the past decade the aging profile of the profession has had an impact on the registration numbers within the individual registration categories. Listed below is a comparison of the current registration numbers 2019 to the numbers from 2010.
| Category of Registration | 2019 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|
| Surveying Associate | 503 | 270 |
| Surveying Graduate | 197 | 308 |
| Surveyor | 754 | 746 |
| SUBTOTALS | 1,454 | 1,324 |
| Endorsements | ||
| Cadastral | 464 | 579 |
| Engineering | 84 | 113 |
| Mining OC | 88 | N/A* |
| Mining UC | 37 | N/A* |
| Mining UM | 45 | N/A* |
| Consulting | 218 | 164 |
| Corporations | 145 | 164 |
*Mining endorsements changed in 2013 and a direct comparison is not possible.
In the past ten years the number of cadastral endorsed surveyors has declined by 20% with a relatively constant reduction in recent years. The actual position for the last four years is listed below.
| Year | Cadastral Endorsement |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 545 |
| 2017 | 500 |
| 2018 | 485 |
| 2019 | 464 |
A similar position applies to both engineering and consulting endorsements.
The number of surveyors seeking endorsement is below the annual “retirement rate” and it is likely this trend will continue for some time into the future. The Board is currently developing a program to encourage the current 156 registered surveyors without an endorsement to seek an endorsement, especially as many of these surveyors are below the age of forty years.
2 Complaints Summary
2 (a) Plan lodgement
The Board has had to address three separate matters were surveyors had not lodged plans within the legislated timeframe of 40 business days. The Board takes this opportunity to remind all surveyors of the legislative requirements, which are that plans must be lodged within 40 business days after placing a survey mark.
2 (b) Consulting and cadastral endorsements
Three surveyors have come before the Board for providing cadastral services in Queensland without holding the appropriate endorsements. Two surveyors did not hold a consulting endorsement while the third did not hold either cadastral or consulting endorsements.
The first of these matters related to a surveyor with dual registration in Queensland and New South Wales (NSW) as a cadastral surveyor. However, the NSW corporate entity was not registered in Queensland and the surveyor did not hold a consulting endorsement. After attendance at a s86 meeting the NSW surveyor advised he would cancel his Queensland registration and refer any future Queensland work to a Queensland registered surveyor. The other two surveyors faced a disciplinary hearing and were subsequently found guilty with fines and costs orders in excess of $10,000 imposed on each.
2 (c) Building Format Plan
The Board became aware that some units within a new development did not contain balconies while the plan disclosed balconies were present. The Board requested a representative of the survey corporation to attend a section 86 meeting to discuss the issue. The Board accepted the explanation provided and the acknowledgement by the corporation that more rigour was required with field measurements for voids, patios and balconies. The Board discussed the obligations to inspect and measure all completed units. The corporation agreed to correct the BFP plan and to review and update their corporate surveying procedures and guidelines.
3 Staking of Original Boundaries or Offsets
Surveyors are reminded that undertaking a survey for the purpose of locating the boundaries of a parcel of land falls within the definition of a cadastral survey. Accordingly, the requirements of the Survey and Mapping Infrastructure Act (and associated subordinate legislation e.g. Cadastral Survey Requirements) must be complied with.
Specifically, where a corner of or the location of a boundary is marked, the survey must comply with the prescribed accuracy standards and the placement of the marks must be recorded on the public record. Further, placement of a mark that does not comply with the requirements does not render the survey outside the jurisdiction of the Act.
“Staking” or marking the approximate location of the position of a boundary or corner of a parcel of land is not permissible unless it is part of the process in carrying out the subdivision of new parcels of land. (e.g. to assist in construction of subdivisional works, design team inspections etc)
“Staking” of offset lines off a boundary are not acceptable unless the offset is required for legitimate construction (e.g. a new building or public utility services and the like) where the proposed construction does not impinge on the boundary or existing improvements on that boundary.
4 From the Training Advocate
In the last eighteen months, 28 surveying graduates completed their competency assessment and progressed to be a registered surveyor and 9 surveyors have successfully gained an endorsement. Further, a large number of graduates have completed significant portions of their competency assessment and are currently looking to finalise the process.
There are significant numbers of graduates and surveyors with knowledge and experience in both the framework content, and with writing CERs. It is recommended that applicants contact other surveyors from their work, professional associations or personal contacts to seek guidance and information when writing CERs, as it is the responsibility of the applicant to acquire the knowledge or skills required to demonstrate competency.
Tip for progressing through assessment – it is important to do some work towards your progression on a regular basis. It is recommended that candidates identify a work project that would be suitable for a CER and then each week or fortnight collect some evidence (copy work files) for your portfolio. This can be achieved in small parts, ½ hr or so at a time. Once the evidence is collected, write a small 1 page summary of your project and store it until you can “write-up” your CER. You can consider an Oral Presentation if you have collected evidence for all components of the framework and have not started writing or submitting CERs.
5 AIMS Update – Candidate Session Moranbah May 2019
The Australian Institute of Mine Surveyors (AIMS) conducted a registration candidate’s session in Moranbah after a successful and well attended technology session the day before. Both days were held at the Moranbah community centre with mine surveyors and suppliers coming from Brisbane and the Bowen Basin region.
Stephen Steggall, the board’s training advocate presented for several hours and took candidates and supervisors through the surveyor framework, explaining the CER submission and assessment process along with details of how the CERs could be completed through the selection of suitable projects.
Experienced and endorsed mining surveyors were able to relate these projects to actual tasks likely to be encountered by candidates in the workplace. The importance of the role of the supervisor was highlighted as was the need to complete the CERs in a focussed and disciplined way. All in all the day was very successful having been run three consecutive years now. AIMS has proposed to expand the opportunities for attendance with a further session to be held in Brisbane later in the year.