451-203 Planning, Property & Surveying Law

This subject gives students a basic understanding of the history and operation of urban planning in Victoria; the origin and background of the land laws affecting our community; and the statute laws that affect surveying practice in Victoria.

Topics include the economic and social significance of land and buildings; urban planning and its role in the process of urban development; the concept, substance and practice of development regulation, land use zoning and comprehensive planned development; planning schemes and the Planning and Environment Act; law of property in land; reception of English law into Australia; real and personal property; land tenure and its history; estates in land; interests of other persons; qualifications of the rights of ownership; land as a security; mortgages; transfer of land; the common law and the Transfer of Land Act; the extinction of interests in land; adverse possession; legal persons, corporations and partnerships; law relating to surveying; history of Victorian surveying law; introduction to current survey law; Surveyors Act 1978 and regulations; Survey Coordination Act 1958 and regulations; and introduction to relevant provisions of the Land Act 1958, Property Law Act 1958 and the Fences Act 1968.

Not more than three hours of written examinations and tests, and not more than 60 pages of written assignments and reports. The relative weighting of the assessment components will be published at the commencement of the subject.