Muswellbrook Bypass – Cadastral Acquisition Survey

Client:
Site Location: Muswellbrook, NSW
Services Deployed:

Overview

Beveridge Williams was commissioned by Transport for NSW (TfNSW) to conduct an acquisition survey for the Muswellbrook bypass, a crucial component of the New England Highway upgrades, funded by both Federal and State Governments. This bypass is essential for enhancing the road corridor through the Hunter Valley to Newcastle Port and other regions, supporting the development of renewable energy.

 

Work Undertaken

The survey involved establishing survey control, calculating existing and new cadastral boundaries, and marking new boundaries and easements as needed. The survey covered approximately 10 kilometres of the proposed road corridor, intersecting multiple land parcels, creeks, railway land, crown roads, Council roads and mining lands. The scale and location of the project posed significant challenges from the tendering phase through to the delivery. Reviewing all the supplied search documents during our tender preparation provided insight into the cadastral difficulties we would encounter on site.

Many lots to be partially acquired, with the residue created, were based on multiple compiled plans, tracing back to historical survey plans: DP16352 (1928) and DP26760 (1954). The undulating terrain and vast distances covered in these plans heightened the expectations of excesses and shortages. For partial acquisition, we had to define three natural feature boundaries, a Crown Boundary Road, and a private railway line lot. Additionally, easements not shown on current titles required clarification and accurate representation.

Another challenge was managing interactions with various title owners during the survey process. These included private residents, rail authority, crown lands, council roads, Ausgrid, Muswellbrook Coal Company and TfNSW. Despite these complexities, our team demonstrated professional and consulting excellence, ensuring the successful execution and delivery of the project.

 

Award winner: Excellence in Surveying & Spatial Information (EISSI) Awards – 2024 Winner of the Rural Cadastral Surveying & Land Titling category.