WA Licensing Board Cracks Down on Unregistered Surveyors

The WA Land Surveyors Licensing Board (LSLB) has announced its third successful prosecution involving unregistered surveyors, reinforcing the importance of licensing across the profession. Licensing ensures that only qualified professionals are legally authorised to define property boundaries. The recent case adds to a broader regulatory push seen in other states, including New South Wales, where authorities are increasing enforcement to uphold industry standards. As scrutiny intensifies nationwide, licensing remains a critical safeguard for ensuring accuracy, compliance, and public trust in land surveying. 

In November 2024, the LSLB successfully prosecuted an individual for conducting authorised surveys while unlicensed. The surveyor, who had never been a licensed surveyor, pled guilty in the Perth Magistrates Court to six criminal charges.

The Court found that even without lodging a survey, physically marking property boundaries could mislead clients, builders, and the public — making the work unlawful. The individual was fined and ordered to contribute to the Board’s legal costs. This marks the third successful prosecution of unregistered surveyors in WA, reinforcing the Board’s commitment to protecting professional standards and public confidence in the industry. 

Engaging a Licensed Surveyor isn’t just a regulatory requirement — it’s a safeguard against risk. Unregistered surveyors lack the qualifications and know how needed to ensure property boundaries are defined accurately and legally. Errors in boundary marking can lead to costly disputes, delays in approvals, and complications in property transactions. 

Licensing ensures that surveyors meet established technical standards, operate under a code of conduct, and are accountable to a governing body. It also gives clients confidence that the work they receive is both reliable and compliant. 

“In cadastral and engineering surveying, there is no margin for error ,” says Tunbridge. 

“Without proper qualifications and supervision, errors can be made — with significant downstream consequences for everyone involved in a project.” 

Western Australia is not alone in addressing the issue of unregistered surveyors. In New South Wales, the Board of Surveying and Spatial Information (BOSSI) has increased enforcement activity, pursuing legal action against individuals operating without registration. These actions reflect a wider national trend toward strengthening compliance and protecting the integrity of the profession. 

At RM Surveys, we’re aligned with this direction and support efforts to ensure only qualified, licensed professionals carry out surveying work. Maintaining high standards across the industry benefits clients, communities, and long-term trust in the profession. 

“There’s strong momentum now to lift the bar nationally — not just for cadastral licensing, but for engineering certification too,” says Tunbridge, who recently spoke at a national event on engineering surveyor standards. 

“Being part of those conversations helps us contribute to the future of the profession, not just react to it.” 

RM Surveys, along with a growing coalition of surveying companies, stands firmly behind efforts to maintain high professional standards. As advocates for quality and compliance, we support ongoing enforcement of registration requirements and broader professional development initiatives like the National Engineering Surveyors Certification (NESC). 

This commitment to professionalism is embedded in how we operate. All RM Surveys field and office staff involved in survey delivery are fully qualified and registered where required. Our work is supported by structured QA processes, ongoing technical training, and a culture that prioritises accountability and precision. 

We regularly deliver projects across construction, infrastructure, mining, and cadastral sectors — where the need for accuracy, clarity, and compliance is critical. Our internal systems are designed to meet these demands consistently, giving clients confidence that every project is approached with the highest level of care and capability.