Parker Scanlon

Parker Scanlon Parker Scanlon Pty Ltd is a multi-disciplinary firm specialising in Surveying, Town Planning and Pro

Granny flats (secondary dwellings) have become one of the popular ways to maximise property value, create additional inc...
09/06/2026

Granny flats (secondary dwellings) have become one of the popular ways to maximise property value, create additional income, and provide flexible living arrangements. With increasing demand for adaptable housing solutions, more homeowners are choosing to make better use of their existing land rather than upsizing or relocating. Whether used to accommodate extended family, generate rental income, or create a private guest retreat, granny flats offer a practical and cost-effective response to evolving housing needs. Their relatively compact scale also means they can often be delivered faster and with fewer constraints than larger developments, making them an attractive option for many property owners.

A key benefit of engaging Parker Scanlon on a small-scale project is our ability to deliver a truly holistic service. By managing the detail survey, drafting, and approval pathway in-house, we maintain full oversight and consistency throughout the entire process. This approach improves efficiency, minimising delays. Our team understands how each stage of the project connects, allowing us to proactively address potential challenges and ensure your application is accurate, compliant, and well positioned for a smooth approval.

A little over a month has passed since another of our Survey Team Members completed their final Board of Surveying and S...
25/05/2026

A little over a month has passed since another of our Survey Team Members completed their final Board of Surveying and Spatial Information (BOSSI) examination and was awarded their Certificate of Competency.

Now having had time to reflect on the process holistically, Logan Davies said his most significant takeaway from the experience is that "it is exceptionally demanding. The broader professional and personal experience of becoming a registered surveyor requires a level of sustained commitment that is difficult to fully appreciate until you are immersed in it. Balancing full-time employment with the extensive study, project work, and preparation required for registration is, at times, overwhelming. It tests not only your technical capability, but your discipline, resilience, and ability to prioritise over a prolonged period."

Notably, behind the achievement lies a real personal sacrifice. "Over the course of this journey, I sacrificed time with family and friends, missed important events, and often traded rest for productivity. Birthdays, weddings, and everyday moments that would normally take precedence were, at times, set aside in pursuit of a long-term professional goal. Maintaining a sense of balance, whether through social connection, physical wellbeing, or simply switching off, becomes increasingly difficult as exam preparation intensifies."

The BOSSI registration process does more than develop technical competency, it shapes well-rounded professionals, "it is precisely these challenges that make the achievement so meaningful. The process forces you to grow, not just as a surveyor, but as a professional capable of operating under pressure, managing competing priorities, and delivering to a high standard despite constraints. In hindsight, while the journey is arduous, it is also formative in a way that few other professional experiences are."

We are incredibly proud of Logan in achieving this milestone. Becoming a registered surveyor is a testament not only his technical expertise, but to Logans perseverance, discipline, and dedication to the profession.
Congratulations to Logan!

Expanding Our Regional Reach!At Parker Scanlon, we are always looking for ways to better support our staff and clients. ...
17/05/2026

Expanding Our Regional Reach!

At Parker Scanlon, we are always looking for ways to better support our staff and clients. Our town planning services have long extended beyond our Newcastle office, with our team regularly working with clients across New South Wales to provide tailored, practical planning advice suited to each unique site.

That’s why we’re excited to share that our Town Planning Department now has a branch working remotely from Walgett, NSW. One of our planners has recently made the move to rural NSW to be with family and is now ‘working from home’ (from a cotton and wheat farm in Walgett). This step reflects our ongoing commitment to providing planning expertise NSW wide and importantly, embracing flexible working arrangements that better support our team.

As our Town Planning Department begins this new chapter, we are looking forward to the insights, perspectives, and opportunities this will bring to Parker Scanlon and our clients.

We see this move as part of a broader shift to further expand our reach and make our Town Planning services more accessible. Whether you’re based in a city, or remote regional area in NSW, our team remains committed to delivering the same consistency, reliability, and attention to detail, regardless of where our team members are physically based.

If you’d like to learn more about our NSW Town Planning services or discuss an upcoming project, we’d love to hear from you!

The road to Registration is not an easy one to travel. At minimum it requires a dedicated mentor and a candidate who is ...
12/05/2026

The road to Registration is not an easy one to travel. At minimum it requires a dedicated mentor and a candidate who is willing to often sacrifice their social life and put their relationships to the test in the quest to complete the 5 competencies.

Joseph Byrne our Survey Team Manager, can now add registration to his list of achievements, since officially becoming a Registered Surveyor earlier this month. We asked Joe to share some insights into his personal registration journey, during the time since he completed his 4 year Bachelor Degree at the University of Newcastle, 5 years ago, he said;

"Some are fortunate to achieve the feat in 2.5 years, sitting an exam every 6 months and steam roll to the finish line. Pushing through the process quickly is an incredible and admirable effort, though I believe it is important that a candidate not rob themselves of the opportunity to become well-rounded in their professional experience before obtaining their Registration."

"Sitting a Registration Exam is incredibly humbling process. Regardless of the stature the candidate has built within their business and immediate community, if they enter the exam room without having sufficiently addressed the deliverables and demonstrated the key competencies, they will be humbly deemed not competent and requested to re-sit in the next exam period."

"Conversely, achieving a competency is an electrifying experience. When all the work a candidate has put into their project and preparation is recognised and deemed as competent, there are few greater feelings. The finish line at the end of each 300+ hour project has made it all the worthwhile with the handshake and recognition that “you have been deemed competent”. This sense of accomplishment is amplified one hundred fold when the final exam is passed and the next stage of a candidates career is initiated with the title of Registered Surveyor."

"It is a process which requires a committed team to uplift the individual. A supportive family and friend group in the private sphere, and a structured mentoring group within the professional sphere. It is as challenging as it is rewarding, and I look forward to assisting the candidates within my colleagues and peer groups in navigating their road to the same result."

After several dedicated years, 'Registered Surveyor' is not just an embellished title. Registered Surveyors are the only professionals legally authorised to perform boundary surveys and lodge plans with NSW Land Registry Services and is a HUGE achievement! Congratulations , Joe!

AI in Town Planning Reports, What’s Legal and Where It Falls Short The team at Parker Scanlon is constantly educating th...
23/04/2026

AI in Town Planning Reports, What’s Legal and Where It Falls Short

The team at Parker Scanlon is constantly educating themselves on the latest developments in the Survey and Town Planning spheres. Recently, one of our Town Planning team members attended a thought-provoking webinar as part of the Planning Institute of Australia’s Legal Series on ‘Artificial Intelligence in Planning Evidence’.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly used in NSW town planning to assist with research, zoning analysis and report drafting. While AI can improve efficiency, its use in professional planning reports comes with clear legal and practical limits.

When preparing any professional reports, planners must consider that they are not only for the Client or Council’s usage, but they may also be used as part of a legal proceedings in the courts, therefore court rules apply.

There is no law in Australia banning AI in planning reports. However, the planner who prepares and submits the report remains fully accountable for accuracy, legislative interpretation and professional judgment. AI cannot replace statutory reasoning or expert opinion.

NSW courts now require disclosure of generative AI use in expert reports. While most planning reports are not court evidence, this signals a broader expectation that professionals understand, control and disclose AI involvement where relevant.

Planning decisions rely on context-specific analysis, weighing objectives, constraints and local policy intent. AI commonly produces generic or repetitive content and can misinterpret controls if left unchecked. Councils increasingly identify overreliance on AI as a cause of delays and requests for further information.

Under Australian privacy law, client or site‑specific personal information should not be entered into public AI tools. Incorrect AI outputs can still constitute personal data breaches.
Copyright law also remains human‑centric, fully AI‑generated content may offer little legal protection or ownership certainty.

Used properly, AI can support low‑risk tasks like document search, formatting or language clarity. Legal responsibility, expert opinions, interpretation and final sign‑off must always remain with a qualified town planner.

Understanding whether AI has been used in a report, and ensuring the accuracy of that work, is now an important consideration when selecting a preferred town planner for a project. This is why Parker Scanlon’s planning reports are prepared in accordance with the Planning Institute of Australia’s ethical guidelines.

17/04/2026

Celebrating 19 years with great food, great people, and a day full of moments worth remembering. After lunch at the Commercial Hotel in Morpeth, a wander through town, and a stop at the local ice‑creamery, we made our way back to the boat, where the team shared some fun “Who’s Most Likely To”. Here’s to 19 years of growth and many more ahead!

Just before the long weekend, we celebrated our company’s 19th anniversary. This year, we were lucky enough that our ann...
12/04/2026

Just before the long weekend, we celebrated our company’s 19th anniversary. This year, we were lucky enough that our anniversary date, the 2nd of April, fell on a day when the tides were working in our favor. This allowed us to pass under the Hexham Bridge (southbound) and embark on a leisurely cruise up the Hunter River, travelling from Newcastle to Morpeth for lunch and then back again with our team.

In the lead-up to the day, each staff member was asked to submit a fun fact about themselves that others in the company may not know. The challenge of coming up with a fact that would throw off the rest of the team proved to be a highlight of the day. The game revealed some surprising stories that were difficult to match to each staff member, including past army life, local and international celebrity status (or five minutes of fame), and childhood mischief of accidental nose piercings.

For lunch, we dined at the Commercial Hotel in Morpeth, followed by a bit of exploring and a delicious ice cream from the local ice‑creamery. We then headed back to the boat for the trip home, creating even more memories with a “Who Is Most Likely To” game, that we are excited to share on socials soon!

An achievement that we are very grateful for is our team, who have allowed us to serve our local community and clients further afield for nineteen years now.

Address

17 William Street, Hamilton
Newcastle, NSW
2303

Opening Hours

Monday 7:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 7:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 7:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 7:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 7:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+61249696995

Website

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