All services, functions, and tools to create and update an ePlan are accessible from a single location in the ePlan Portal of the SPEAR system. The suite of services appears on the left, and tools to conduct parcel search, and to identify parcels and survey marks appear on the right. All features of the displayed ePlan can also be identified, such as parcels, easements, occupation and survey observations.

- ePlan Portal Services

All services, functions, and tools to create and update an ePlan are accessible from a single location in the ePlan Portal of the SPEAR system. The suite of services appears on the left, and tools to conduct parcel search, and to identify parcels and survey marks appear on the right. All features of the displayed ePlan can also be identified, such as parcels, easements, occupation and survey observations.
Surveyors can view their ePlan activity, including access to current and previous versions of the ePlan and associated files – Single CAD Format File (SCFF), LandXML file, Owners Corporation spreadsheet and Enhanced Diagram file. They can also remove the ePlans that are not attached to SPEAR applications, upload a new version of SCFF, search based on keyword, SPEAR Status, Applications Type or Dealing Type, export Dashboard data to Excel, and change the configuration of the Dashboard based on their preference.

- ePlan Dashboard

Surveyors can view their ePlan activity, including access to current and previous versions of the ePlan and associated files – Single CAD Format File (SCFF), LandXML file, Owners Corporation spreadsheet and Enhanced Diagram file. They can also remove the ePlans that are not attached to SPEAR applications, upload a new version of SCFF, search based on keyword, SPEAR Status, Applications Type or Dealing Type, export Dashboard data to Excel, and change the configuration of the Dashboard based on their preference.
This service provides advice to the surveyor that their CAD plan drawing has been prepared in compliance to the Single CAD Format File (SCFF) requirements. 20 validation rules are checked, and a ‘Validation Status’ report is provided as to whether the SCFF has passed or failed. Validation messages are displayed for any non-compliance (shown left); accompanied with a complementary lite view of the SCFF (shown right). A link is provided between geometrical features causing errors within the report and SCFF content to enable the surveyor to better interpret the errors.

- SCFF Validation Service

This service provides advice to the surveyor that their CAD plan drawing has been prepared in compliance to the Single CAD Format File (SCFF) requirements. 20 validation rules are checked, and a ‘Validation Status’ report is provided as to whether the SCFF has passed or failed. Validation messages are displayed for any non-compliance (shown left); accompanied with a complementary lite view of the SCFF (shown right). A link is provided between geometrical features causing errors within the report and SCFF content to enable the surveyor to better interpret the errors.
A tool that will assist address non-compliance issues of the Single CAD Format File (SCFF), the SCFF Viewer enables the surveyor to view the SCFF and interact with any CAD layer (displayed along left panel) and selecting features of the CAD drawing, which are highlighted when selected. This tool provides two types of search: a) DXF Feature ID, and b) Coordinates.

- SCFF Viewer

A tool that will assist address non-compliance issues of the Single CAD Format File (SCFF), the SCFF Viewer enables the surveyor to view the SCFF and interact with any CAD layer (displayed along left panel) and selecting features of the CAD drawing, which are highlighted when selected. This tool provides two types of search: a) DXF Feature ID, and b) Coordinates.
This User Interface (UI) is accessible when the surveyor has uploaded a Single CAD Format File (SCFF) compliant DXF file in the ePlan Creation Service. Data in the SCFF is converted on the fly and is pre-populated in the ePlan Editor. Cadastral data relevant to the subject parcels in the SCFF is also pre-populated from cadastral systems and databases, such as SPEAR, SMES, SRBV and Vicmap. All pre-populated data can be reviewed and edited, and new data entered. The UI also presents the surveyor with validation warnings for incomplete data. A LandXML file is generated when the process is completed, which can be validated by the ePlan Validation Service, and the plan automatically generated from the Plan Visualisation Service.

- ePlan Editor

This User Interface (UI) is accessible when the surveyor has uploaded a Single CAD Format File (SCFF) compliant DXF file in the ePlan Creation Service. Data in the SCFF is converted on the fly and is pre-populated in the ePlan Editor. Cadastral data relevant to the subject parcels in the SCFF is also pre-populated from cadastral systems and databases, such as SPEAR, SMES, SRBV and Vicmap. All pre-populated data can be reviewed and edited, and new data entered. The UI also presents the surveyor with validation warnings for incomplete data. A LandXML file is generated when the process is completed, which can be validated by the ePlan Validation Service, and the plan automatically generated from the Plan Visualisation Service.
By executing the ePlan Validation Service, the surveyor can validate the ePlan LandXML file against a suite of business rules. This generates an ePlan Validation Report which identifies any errors and warnings that must either be addressed or justified by the surveyor.

- ePlan Validation Report

By executing the ePlan Validation Service, the surveyor can validate the ePlan LandXML file against a suite of business rules. This generates an ePlan Validation Report which identifies any errors and warnings that must either be addressed or justified by the surveyor.
By executing the Plan Visualisation Service, the surveyor receives an automatically generated PDF plan, which is used as the plan for council certification, contracts for sale, and subsequently as the title diagram when the plan is registered by LUV. Provision to enhance plan presentation may be needed in certain situations, which can be performed using VET. This tool enables the surveyor to enhance plan presentation, particularly for heavily detailed and complex plans.

- VET (Visualisation Enhancement Tool)

By executing the Plan Visualisation Service, the surveyor receives an automatically generated PDF plan, which is used as the plan for council certification, contracts for sale, and subsequently as the title diagram when the plan is registered by LUV. Provision to enhance plan presentation may be needed in certain situations, which can be performed using VET. This tool enables the surveyor to enhance plan presentation, particularly for heavily detailed and complex plans.
To submit the plan application for planning permit and council certification, the surveyor can select from a list of created ePlans from their own dedicated organisational site in SPEAR. Listed ePlans can also viewed and edited in the ePlan Portal, as well as previewing the visualised PDF plan.

- Select ePlan

To submit the plan application for planning permit and council certification, the surveyor can select from a list of created ePlans from their own dedicated organisational site in SPEAR. Listed ePlans can also viewed and edited in the ePlan Portal, as well as previewing the visualised PDF plan.
12 November 2021

Land Use Victoria (LUV) achieved a major milestone in the progress towards the adoption of ePlan by surveying firms in Victoria with the launch of the ePlan Portal in SPEAR.

The ePlan Portal houses the suite of all ePlan services, including the newly developed ePlan Creation Service and SCFF Validation Service, which surveyors can directly access from SPEAR to facilitate ePlan creation.

Embedding the ePlan Portal in SPEAR makes it a world-leading first digital data-driven cadastral system that facilitates end to end processes when combined with the SPEAR Electronic Lodgment Network (ELN), as lawyers and conveyancers can electronically lodge ePlans in SPEAR to LUV for registration.

Broad engagement and collaboration with the surveying industry has been an integral part in the re-engineering of the ePlan portal. A series of ePlan webinars and engagement forums were held during the development phase.

An ePlan Pilot with 12 Victorian surveying firms has commenced with the second round of formal training scheduled to take place this month. The Pilot will continue into 2022 with the aim of increasing participation from the surveying industry and increasing the uptake of ePlan.

Electronic Subdivisions Unit (ESU) within Land Registry Services provides training and ongoing support to assist surveying firms transition to ePlan. Surveying firms interested in ePlan can contact ESU by email.

Surveying firms that are ‘ePlan trained’ and have access to SPEAR are now able to manage their ePlans for land subdivisions within the ePlan Portal. This includes ePlan creation, validation, visualisation, visual enhancement and updating of plans.

This work is part of the new Digital Twin Victoria program’s ‘Faster Subdivision Registration’ workstream. This workstream aims to realise benefits for the property industry and government by streamlining title creation, electronic examination, and the development of a digital cadastral data distribution service.

This crucial new digital infrastructure is also the connecting piece with the Digital Cadastre Modernisation (DCM) program, enabling Victoria’s property boundary spatial data to be born-digital, breaking the current cycle of pdf digitisation.

The cadastral data of an ePlan can now be supplied by the licensed surveyor directly into SPEAR when the plan is initially submitted to council for certification.

Page last updated: 10/12/21