On 11 October 2021, the Real Property Amendment (Certificates of Title) Act 2021 commenced, which abolished the Certificates of Title (CTs) and the control of the right to deal (CoRD) framework. All existing CTs have been cancelled and CTs will no longer be issued. Existing CTs will not need to be produced, and CoRD holder consent will not be required, for a dealing or plan to be registered. All existing Guidelines subject to this change are currently being reviewed and will be updated to reflect these changes. For further information regarding the abolition of CTs, please see https://www.registrargeneral.nsw.gov.au/property-and-conveyancing/eConveyancing/abolition-of-certificates-of-title

Prescribed authorities

A Prescribed Authority for the purposes of section 88A(1)  means

(a)  the Crown, or
(b)  a public or local authority constituted by an Act, or
(c)  a corporation prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this section

All dealings involving a prescribed authority, except for a Local Council, must be executed by an authorised officer, the capacity must be stated and the signature must be witnessed.  See execution requirements for a dealing involving a Local Council page..

The ACN, where issued, must be stated following the first recital of the authority's name and appear in the authority's seal.

Section 88A Conveyancing Act 1919

The prescribed Corporations under s88A Conveyancing Act 1919 capable of creating an easement in gross are:

Clause 2 
(1) An energy services corporation within the meaning of the Energy Services Corporations Act 1995.
(2) The owner of a transacted distribution system or transacted transmission system under the Electricity Network Assets (Authorised Transactions) Act 2015.
(3)  An irrigation corporation within the meaning of the Water Management Act 2000.
(4)  A licensee within the meaning of the Pipelines Act 1967 (but only in respect of easements for the purposes of the construction and use of pipelines (including purposes incidental to the construction and use)) and access to pipelines or to apparatus or works.
(5)  Expressions used in subclause (4) have the same meanings as they have in the Pipelines Act 1967.


Clause 3   
(1) AGL Macquarie Pty Limited (ACN 167 859 494).
(2)  Australian Gas Networks (Albury) Pty Ltd (ACN 000 001 249).
(3)  Australian Gas Networks (NSW) Pty Ltd (ACN 083 199 839).
(3A)  Australian Industrial Energy Pty Ltd (ACN 624 375 417).
(4)  Australian Rail Track Corporation Limited (ACN 081 455 754).
(5)  Axicom Pty Ltd (ACN 090 873 019).
(6)  BAI Communications Pty Ltd (ACN 086 048 562).
(7)  Blayney and Crookwell Windfarm Pty Ltd (ACN 612 416 029).
(8)  Cochrane Dam Pty Ltd (ACN 613 015 768).
(9)  Directlink (No. 1) Pty Limited (ACN 085 123 468).
(10)  EnergyAustralia NSW Pty Ltd (ACN 163 935 635).
(11)  GSP Energy Pty Ltd (ACN 101 038 386).
(12)  Hunter Water Corporation.
(13)  Icon Distribution Investments Limited (ACN 073 025 224).
(14)  Jemena Eastern Gas Pipeline (3) Pty Ltd (ACN 067 715 646).
(15)  Jemena Gas Networks (NSW) Ltd (ACN 003 004 322).
(16)  Jemena Networks (ACT) Pty Ltd (ACN 008 552 663).
(17)  Kooragang Water Pty Ltd (ACN 609 789 808).
(18)  NBN Co Limited (ACN 136 533 741).
(19)  Optus Mobile Pty Limited (ACN 054 365 696).
(20)  Optus Networks Pty Limited (ACN 008 570 330).
(21)  Origin Energy Eraring Pty Limited (ACN 164 994 012).
(22)  Santos NSW (Narrabri Energy) Pty Ltd (ACN 055 932 315).
(23)  Santos NSW (Narrabri Power) Pty Ltd (ACN 104 570 943).
(24)  Santos NSW Pty Ltd (ACN 094 269 780).
(25)  SDP Australia No. 3 Pty Ltd (ACN 158 077 411).
(26)  SGSP Rosehill Network Pty Limited (ACN 131 213 691).
(27)  Silverton Wind Farm Transmission Pty Ltd (ACN 139 624 632).
(28)  Snowy Hydro Limited (ACN 090 574 431).
(29)  Stilmark Holdings Pty Ltd (ACN 147 919 122).
(30)  Sunset Power International Pty Ltd (ACN 162 696 335).
(31)  Sydney Desalination Plant Pty Limited (ACN 125 935 177).
(32)  Sydney Water Corporation.
(33)  Telstra Corporation Limited (ACN 051 775 556).
(34)  the Ministerial Holding Corporation constituted by the State Owned Corporations Act 1989.
(35)  Vodafone Network Pty Limited (ACN 081 918 461).
(36)  Water NSW.

See Schedule 3 of the Conveyancing (General) Regulation 2018.

For the purposes of section 88A of the Act, a licensee is a prescribed authority, but only in respect of easements for the purpose of the construction and use of pipelines, for any purpose incidental to any such purpose and for the purpose of access to pipelines or to apparatus or works. Expressions used in this subclause have the same meanings they have in the Pipelines Act 1967.

s88D Conveyancing Act 1919

The prescribed authorities for the purposes of s88D(1) Conveyancing Act 1919 capable of creating a restriction on use of land or positive covenant affecting land vested in the authority are:

  • a statutory authority, i.e. the Crown or a public or local authority constituted by an Act
  • AGL Macquarie Pty Limited 
  • an energy services corporation within the meaning of the Energy Services Corporations Act 1995,
  • an irrigation corporation within the meaning of the Water Management Act 2000
  • Australian Postal Corporation
  • Defence Housing Australia
  • Envestra (NSW) Pty Limited 
  • Hunter Water Corporation
  • Snowy Hydro Limited 
  • Sydney Water Corporation
  • the owner of a transacted distribution system or transacted transmission system under the Electricity Network Assets (Authorised Transactions) Act 2015
  • The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (N.S.W.)
  • Water NSW

s88E Conveyancing Act 1919

The prescribed authorities for the purposes of s88E(1) Conveyancing Act 1919 capable of creating a restriction on use of land or positive covenant affecting land not vested in the authority are:

  • a statutory authority, i.e. the Crown or a public or local authority constituted by an Act, and:
  • an energy services corporation within the meaning of the Energy Services Corporations Act 1995
  • an irrigation corporation within the meaning of the Water Management Act 2000
  • Australian Postal Corporation
  • Envestra (NSW) Pty Limited 
  • Greening Australia (Capital Region) 
  • Hunter Water Corporation
  • Sydney Water Corporation
  • the owner of a transacted distribution system or transacted transmission system under the Electricity Network Assets (Authorised Transactions) Act 2015
  • The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (N.S.W.)
  • Water NSW