NSW land, property changes on July 1
On 1 July 2016, Land and Property Information (LPI) will separate into five discrete units which will be integrated into the Department of Finance, Services and Innovation (DFSI) - see organisation chart below.
- LPI – Titling and Registry Services
- Office of the Registrar General
- Spatial Services
- Valuation Services
- Office of the Valuer General
Why we’re changing
LPI was formed around 16 years ago to create a government agency with responsibility for land valuation, land titling and registration and surveying, mapping and spatial information. The division has operated successfully throughout this period and many synergies have been created.
With advances in technology, many manual processes are now digital and there are channels to ensure continued information sharing between the existing LPI units, without requiring the units to be grouped together as one division.
With this in mind, as part of a scoping study of LPI, the Government has concluded there is opportunity to provide more benefit to the State if the Titling and Registry Services (TRS), Valuation Services and Spatial Services units of LPI are separated and integrated into DFSI.
Further, the Government has decided to separate the regulatory and operational functions of LPI’s Titling and Registry Services.
What is changing
The newly formed Office of the Registrar General (ORG) will oversee the operations of LPI - Titling and Registry Services (TRS) and focus on legislative change and policy administration relating to the conveyancing industry. This area will become part of the Better Regulation division, providing for a consistent approach to regulation across government.
The split of regulatory and operational functions will enable TRS operations to focus on maximising efficiency, customer service and innovation - improving service outcomes for the conveyancing industry.
Valuation Services will move into Property NSW and will benefit from synergies with the other units within the division that manage property across NSW. Valuation Services will continue to provide services to the Valuer General under a service level agreement. The Office of the Valuer General will remain a separate unit reporting to Parliament and the Secretary, DFSI
Spatial Services will be integrated into Government and Corporate Services to ensure spatial information is provided to other government agencies efficiently, maximising innovation in this rapidly evolving area of technology.
The separation was carefully designed to avoid any increase in complexity and the new model strengthens commercial performance, innovation and regulatory oversight. As part of this, a new pricing framework has been introduced.
Land and Property Information changes 2016
Operational
LPI – Titling and Registry Services
LPI – Titling and Registry Services (TRS) – maintains a secure and efficient system of land ownership and State-Government-guaranteed land title protection (under the Torrens system).
In September 2015, the NSW Treasury launched a comprehensive scoping study to investigate future options for Land Property Information (LPI).
As announced on 20 May 2016, the Government has decided to offer a long term concession of 35 years for the management of the titling and registry services business of LPI.
You can also read the Treasurer’s announcement.
Spatial Services
Spatial Services, on behalf of the Surveyor General, creates and maintains a spatial representation of the State and acts as a ‘single source of truth’ for foundation spatial information and survey infrastructure and services in NSW. It supports the legislative and statutory requirements for the NSW Surveying and Spatial Information Act 2002.
Spatial Services provide leadership to NSW in the production and maintenance of foundation spatial datasets and services by capturing, sourcing, aggregating and quality-assuring information so that government, industry and the community can make informed decisions and create social and economic value.
It also digitises and preserves NSW state records including historic aerial imagery, land titles, plans and state survey records.
Spatial Services will be part of Government and Corporate Services within DFSI.
Valuation Services
Valuation Services manages the valuation system on behalf of the Valuer General. The Valuer General delegates specific functions to Valuation Services, detailed in a service level agreement.
Valuation Services:
- establishes and manages valuation contracts
- monitors the performance of contract valuers
- audits and quality assures land values
- determines compensation following the compulsory acquisition of land
- manages objections and appeals
- delivers customer service
Valuation Services will be part of Property NSW, within DFSI.
Office of the Valuer General
An independent statutory officer appointed by the Governor of New South Wales, the Valuer General is responsible for:
- the valuation of land for rating and taxing
- the determination of compensation when land is compulsorily acquired
- setting standards and policies for the valuation system which is managed by Valuation Services
- monitoring Valuation Services’ management of contract valuers
- monitoring the quality of land values and services provided to the community by Valuation Services
- providing professional leadership and stewardship to the valuation industry.
The Valuer General reports administratively to the Minister for Finance, Services and Property and the Secretary of DFSI.
Regulatory
Office of the Registrar General
The newly formed Office of the Registrar General (ORG) has assumed the regulatory functions of LPI – Titling and Registry Services (TRS). It will oversee the operations of TRS and focus on legislative change and policy administration relating to the conveyancing industry. The ORG will be integrated into Better Regulation in DFSI, providing for a consistent approach to regulation across government.
The Registrar General’s role
The Registrar General maintains the NSW land titles system, which underpins over $130 billion dollars of economic activity in NSW each year. This includes the creation and maintenance of land titles records evidencing legal ownership and registered interests for land parcels and the examination and registration of plans and documents relating to land within NSW, while ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and protecting the integrity of the State’s cadastre.
The NSW Government guarantees security of ownership for registered landowners recorded in the NSW land title system, ensuring confidence in the land title system.
For more information, click here.