Transfer Fees Matter — For Surveyors and the Community

CSV’s recently lodged a submission on land transfer and subdivision fees and our submission talks to why this issue deserves close attention.

Consulting surveyors sit at the intersection between government systems and private landholders. When transfer fees increase, particularly without clear alignment to service improvements or efficiency gains, the impact flows directly to businesses and ultimately to the community.

This isn’t about resisting reform.
It’s about transparency, proportionality and accountability.

Our submission focused on three key principles:
• Clear justification for fee settings
• Alignment between cost recovery and service delivery
• Recognition of the cumulative impact of regulatory charges on professional practice

Surveying businesses operate in a highly regulated environment. Incremental fee increases, system changes and compliance requirements all add up and those costs do not exist in isolation.

CSV will continue to advocate for fair, defensible and transparent settings that support both efficient land administration and sustainable professional practice.

If you’re a consulting surveyor, business owner or stakeholder in land administration, I’d welcome your perspective at james@acsv.com.au

Or you can click the link to read our submission:

Submission - Transfer of Land and Subdivision Fees 2026 (final).docx

Or listen to James discuss the submission here.