Department of Natural Resources and Mines
Registrar of Titles Directions for the Preparation of Plans
3. Plan Forms:
3.1
Approved forms:
Plans and additional sheets to plans must be in the approved form.
Plans and additional sheets to plans prepared NOT using the Electronic Access to Registry
Lodgement (EARL) system, must be in the approved form, Form 21 Version 3 and Form 21A
Version 1 respectively, and must comply with section 3(3) Land Title Regulation 2005 and:
 be international A3 size;
 be white and free from discolouration and blemishes;
 be printed on material that complies with Direction 3.2
 have clear margins no smaller than 10 mm on all sides, and printing, writing or
drawing, must not extend into any margin;
 have information, signatures and seals added in a manner that is permanent and
can be imaged by mechanical or digital processes to produce a copy or a
reduced size copy satisfactory to the Registrar.
 be flat or rolled, and not having been folded.
For surveys where a visualisation of a submitted cadastral information file (CIF) is created using
a Department supplied web service using the Electronic Access to Registry Lodgement (EARL)
system, the plans and additional sheets to plans must be in the approved form, Form 38
Version 1 and Form 38A Version 1 respectively, and comply with 3(3) Land Title Regulation
2005 and:
 be international A3 size;
 be white and free from discolouration and blemishes;
 be printed on material that complies with Direction 3.2;
 have clear margins no smaller than 10 mm on all sides, and printing, writing or
drawing, must not extend into any margin;
 have information, signatures and seals added in a manner that is permanent and
can be imaged by mechanical or digital processes to produce a copy or a
reduced size copy satisfactory to the Registrar.
 be flat or rolled, and not having been folded.
Updated : 28 February 2013
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Department of Natural Resources and Mines
Registrar of Titles Directions for the Preparation of Plans
3.2
Material specifications for plan forms:
The material used for each plan form must comply with the following:
 Weight: Minimum of 130gsm, and with sufficient rigidity that it can be readily
distinguished from photocopy paper;
 Colour: White;
 Opacity: Must be such that there is no “print through” when the reverse side is
imaged;
 Surface: Must be such that it will take a permanent image. For the Form 21,
this requirement applies also to the reverse side of the form;
 Archival Properties: Minimal;
The same material must be used for all sheets within the one plan.
Surveyors are advised that:
 amendments to plans may be required following lodgement. These must be
effected by strike out and/or addition by hand. (See Direction 4.19). The surface
must be capable of accepting these amendments;
 if a plan is presented for lodgement with multiple amendments by strike out and
additions, it may not be accepted.
3.3
Digital plan forms:
The Registrar may approve a form in digital format to persons wishing to use that form.
Where plans are drawn from a digital format, the form or forms produced must comply as
closely as possible with the approved format, and any differences occurring due to the use of
different software packages should be minimised as far as possible.
3.4
Transition provisions for plans:
3.4.1
Plans for Community Titles Schemes:
The transition period defined in Section 273 of the Body Corporate and Community
Management Act 1997 expired on the 13th July 2000.
3.4.2
Other plans:
All plans signed by a surveyor after 10th September 1997 must be drawn on Form 21, Version
3 and, if necessary, on Form 21A, Version 1 or Form 38, Version 1 and, if necessary, on Form
38A, Version 1.
Updated : 28 February 2013
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Department of Natural Resources and Mines
Registrar of Titles Directions for the Preparation of Plans
3.5
Building Units and Group Titles Act 1980 in conjunction with Specified Acts:
A Specified Act is as defined in Section 326 of the Body Corporate and Community
Management Act 1997.
Where it is desired to lodge a Building Units or Group Titles plan under the provisions of a
Specified Act, the Building Units and Group Titles Act 1980 remains in force and defines the
requirements for plans.
Under the provisions of s.4 of the Building Units and Group Titles Regulation 1998, forms to be
lodged in the land registry:
 must be in the approved form; and
 comply with any relevant direction of the registrar.
Approved forms are only available in Word format from any NR&M Centre at no cost. All
forms, including those used for plan preparation, should satisfy the material specifications of
Direction 3.2. Where possible, a common form for use under the Building Units and Group
Titles Regulation 1998 has been adopted.
Plans will be numbered on lodgement.
3.6
Southbank Corporation (Modified Building Units and Group Titles) Regulation 2003:
Under the provisions of s .8 of the Southbank Corporation (Modified Building Units and Group
Titles) Regulation 2003 forms to be lodged in the land registry:  must be in the approved form; and  comply with any relevant direction of the registrar.
Plans will be numbered on lodgement.
Updated : 28 February 2013
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