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What are permanent survey marks What a PSM looks like Finding a PSM What are permanent survey marks
Permanent survey marks (PSMs) are major reference marks placed by surveyors to help them re-peg parcels of land and extending new surveys. They are also used when:
- constructing roads
- producing maps
- planning mining developments.
If you damage a PSM you can be fined up to $2,000. It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that PSMs aren’t damaged. PSMs are usually damaged by:
- building fences
- landscaping
- laying driveways
- constructing roads and footpaths
- installing underground services - eg water pipes.
If you are carrying out any kind of construction or earth movement, no matter how small, you must make sure that you won’t be damaging or removing a PSM.
Surveyors are legally able to break the surface to locate a PSM. This includes driveways and landscaped areas so it is important to ensure PSMs are not damaged and remain visible.
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What a PSM looks like
 
Witness posts |
Brass plaque |
PSMs are blocks of concrete approximately 200mm square and 300mm deep with a brass plaque or metal rod at the centre. Most are placed below ground level and aren’t visible unless they have been marked with either a metal cover (usually in metropolitan areas) or a witness post and indicator plate (usually in areas being developed).
In the Riverland most PSMs are concrete pillars 400mm above ground level to prevent them being accidentally destroyed in the course of intense cultivation and to make them easier to find.
Witness posts with indicator plates are used to mark the location of a PSM. They can be mistaken for the PSM.
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Finding a PSM
There are no definite rules about where a surveyor will place a PSM but they are usually on road reserves and footpaths, and usually at least one meter from the boundary of private properties.
In town and city areas PSMs are usually placed in footpaths near street corners and bends. In new building developments they may be near the back of kerbs.
In the country, PSMs are most often located near prominent bends, at road intersections or property boundaries about one meter into the road reserve. Occasionally, on large rural surveys, they are located on private property.
To locate any PSMs on your property - contact
Survey Mark Maintenance. Any work needed to protect the PSM will be done within 24 to 48 hours of your call.
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More information
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