New Technology for a New Century
International Conference 
FIG Working Week 2001, Seoul, Korea 6–11 May 2001

Abstracts

NEW FORMS FOR GOVERNMENT LAND ADMINISTRATION - LAND VICTORIA, A CASE STUDY OF THE TREND TOWARDS COMBINING LAND ADMINISTRATION FUNCTIONS AND THE RESULTING BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY

Leonie NEWNHAM, Adrian SPALL and Elizabeth O'KEEFFE, Australia

Key words: government, partnership, land information, system change, international change, networks.


Abstract

In layperson terms, the key questions about land with which communities are concerned include: Where is it? What are its boundaries? What is on it? What can be done with it? Who owns it? Who can use it? How can it be improved? What is it worth? Government land administration functions provide answers to many of these questions in a rational and useful way. Land administration systems and procedures also provide a firm basis on which governments and individuals can undertake sound and sustainable land management.

This paper explores how land administration service delivery in Victorian government has responded to the demands of the modern world, associated with increased global competitiveness, rapid advances in telecommunications, transportation and information processing. The key role these land administration institutions and associated professions had historically played in the development of Victoria meant that they saw themselves as 'keepers of the faith' and they guarded what they saw as the integrity of their operations with vigour. This meant the creation of a number of purpose-built infrastructures resulting in isolated business 'silos' where information and knowledge was jealously guarded, not easily integrated or combined, and not readily shared.

Land Victoria was formed when a number of separate government entities were merged with a view to creating a coordinated land administration system and to deliver wide ranging business efficiencies and improvements to customer service. Using network theory, Land Victoria's creation can be seen to be brought about by 'the growing recognition at all levels of government that land administration and more specifically appropriate spatial business systems and associated spatial data infrastructures are essential components of any modern economy.' This paper reviews how Land Victoria as a division in a state government department was created and developed the concept of an integrated government land administration system over the last five years.


CONTACT

M/s Leonie Newnham, MBA, DipEd, BA
Land Victoria, Department of Natural Resources & Environment
Level 11, 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne, Australia
Tel. + 61 3 9637 8259
Fax + 61 3 9637 8148
Email: leonie.newnham@nre.vic.gov.au 

Mr Adrian Spall, MBA, BA (Hons)
Catchment and Water, Department of Natural Resources & Environment
Level 1, 240 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne, Australia
Tel. + 61 3 9412 4030
Fax + 61 3 9412 4052
Email: Adrian.Spall@nre.vic.gov.au 

M/s Elizabeth O'Keeffe, LLB,
Land Victoria, Department of Natural Resources & Environment
Level 11, 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne, Australia
Tel. + 61 3 963 8239
Fax + 61 3 9637 8148
Email: elizabeth.o'keeffe@nre.vic.gov.au 

26 March 2001


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