The ePlan strategy is being implemented and rolled out by the State Government, and is a gradual transition to what will eventually becomes a fully digital plan and registration system, when the ePlan design framework is fully completed.
Phase 1 of the ePlan commenced in July 2024, and only affected Plans of Consolidation, being single lots with minimal easements and often based on non-survey. Phase 1 has been a soft introduction to the ePlan digital concepts, with many survey firms including Thomas & George P/L having successfully completed at least one Plan of Consolidation based on ePlan.
Phase 2 of the ePlan mandate commences on 29th August 2025, and will apply to most Plans of Subdivision that are 10 lots or less unless satisfying a current exemption criteria. Phase 2 of ePlan is expected to apply to approximately 65% of all plans of subdivision.
The current ePlan Phase 2 rollout substantially increases the work required to be undertaken by Surveyors during the Subdivision process. The Phase 2 ePlan rollout is the old traditional CAD/PDF Plan system with the additional requirements of ePlan added to the project scope of works. Phase 2 of ePlan is a hybrid system for subdivisions, and for anology is similar to the shift towards Electrical vehicles without a sufficient Charging Station Network in place. The Phase 2 ePlan mandate will assist Government to identify the issues within their current digital platform network and its practical implementation, enabling future refinement and developmentof the ePlan network. Surveyors are the test pilots for Phase 2, in the use and this future development of the digital transformation system.
The Phase 2 expansion of ePlan requires the old system of subdivision CAD/PDF plans within SPEAR to continue. A separate Digital eplan is now also required to be prepared at the time of Lodgement with Council for Certification. The ePlan is again updated at the time of release of the plan to the Lodging Party and Land Use Victoria, where the final updated ePlan will accord with the Final Certfied Plan of Subdivision layout and additional survey information is also required to be added and included within the eplan digital file.
Further expansion of ePlan mandates are expected to occur during the 2026-2028 period. These will rollout once ePlan has been further developed and refined by Government to be able to be used for all plans of subdivision and other types of plan registrations. The current design of ePlan is limited in some of its functions that are required to be depicted on some Plans of Subdivision (ie x-Section diagrams) which may exempt some plans from requirement for ePlan. Some plans may trigger compliance and/or non compliance with the Phase 2 ePlan strategy during the subdivision process, meaning requirements for ePlan may vary during your subdivision project.
Thomas & George have invested substantially in training of our staff in preparation for the Phase 2 eplan mandate expansion and will need to continue to invest in training of staff as the ePlan system continues to evolve.
Thomas and George have had success in registration of recent 2 Lot Plans of Subdivision in Wesburn & Hoddles Creek, with associated ePlans and attached survey information. We have also had several non-survey based Plans of Consolidation registered using the ePlan framework.
This has been part of the Thomas & George development and training strategy in preparation for the Phase 2 ePlan rollout.
The additional works and costs of ePan for subdivision will be passed onto our clients during this transition to a fully digital system. Eventually the fully digital system should lead to efficiencies for Government, and efficient plan registration for our clients.
Any transition to a new system will have its "bugs" to be resolved once identified within the ePlan software as developed by Government. Thomas & George and the SPEAR ePlan Support team will be trying to efficiently resolve these issues as they arise in relation to your subdivision project.
The ePlan process continues to evolve and be developed by Government. Thomas & George will continue to adapt and refine our process with the ePlan changes.
