21 January 2026

Surveyor-General Victoria (SGV) is supporting the surveying response to the recent January 2026 bushfires in Victoria. As a property owner, you may need to determine where your property boundaries are for planning permit applications and any other construction work as part of the design and building process.

SGV can put you in contact with land surveyors who are local to you and will be able to provide professional advice and surveying services at a discounted rate.

If your property has been affected by the bushfires and you’re unsure about your land surveying needs, contact us on (03) 9194 0282 or email surveyor.general@transport.vic.gov.au and download our factsheet.

Land surveys before building

There’s a range of reasons why you may need a land survey, including:

  • Title boundary re-establishment
  • Existing site and flood levels
  • Engineering and civil works
  • Easement dealings
  • Feature, level and contour surveys.

Landholders may need to engage a licensed land surveyor for these services, for planning permit applications and any other construction work as part of the design and building process.

Following a bushfire, where boundary fences may have been destroyed, it’s important that a title boundary survey is undertaken before any building or other works occurs near the property boundaries. Only licensed land surveyors are authorised to perform title boundary surveys.

Protecting survey marks

Following a bushfire and during clean-up works, it is vital that survey marks are not disturbed. Survey marks hold accurate coordinate and height information and provide a stable point of reference in the ground for surveying activities.

Survey marks are used by surveyors to re-establish property boundaries, map features and levels, and support rebuilding infrastructure. Every effort should be made to preserve survey marks to support surveying activities and reduce costs for industry, government and the community in reconstruction activities.

For more information about the importance of protecting survey marks in the wake of bushfires, contact us on (03) 9194 0282 or email surveyor.general@transport.vic.gov.au.

Properties next to public land

SGV is working with public land managers who are responsible for repairs to damaged or destroyed fences between private properties and public land including National Parks, State Parks and State Forests.

The Victorian Government will pay half the cost of the materials for these boundary fencing repairs, and SGV is providing advice on the land surveys required for that work.

Contact us

If you’re uncertain about what your land surveying needs are or would like to arrange a survey of your property boundaries, please contact Surveyor-General Victoria on (03) 9194 0282 or email surveyor.general@transport.vic.gov.au.

SGV will put you in contact with a licensed land surveyor who will be able to assist you.

Read more about the work of SGV.

Page last updated: 21/01/26