Icsm.gov.au
Title
Intergovernmental Committee on Survey and Mapping Home
Description
About ICSM
The Intergovernmental Committee on Surveying and Mapping (ICSM) was established by the Prime Minister, State Premiers, and the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory in 1988. Since that time the Australian Capital Territory and New Zealand have joined ICSM. Prior to 1988 a similar body, the National Mapping Council (NMC), had coordinated cooperative Commonwealth, State and Northern Territory mapping programs since 1945.
Although the NMC had been an effective forum, the changing operational environment of the late 1980s led to the cessation of the NMC and the formation of ICSM to cover both surveying and mapping issues, as they related to Government activities, to ensure continued cooperation in these activities on a national basis.
There is a surveying and mapping agency within each Australian State and Territory and a Commonwealth agency with specific national responsibilities. The Australian Defence forces are also represented on ICSM and have specific national and international defence surveying, mapping and charting responsibilities. ICSM is comprised of senior representatives of Australia's Commonwealth, State, Territory and Defence agencies responsible for surveying and mapping. New Zealand is also a member of ICSM and their members represent both New Zealand civil and Defence mapping.
