Version 2.1
Mapping tool instructions
The following instructions will explain how to draw polygon areas (borders around a specific land area)
for a project using Google Maps and determine the latitude and longitude of your general project
location. Existing polygons can also be loaded as an existing Google Earth (KML) file.
Browser Compatibility:
This mapping tool is known to work with the following browsers:
- Internet Explorer version 9 and above (Internet Explorer’s Compatability View is not supported)
- Chrome version 36 and above
- Firefox version 17 and above
If you experience any issues please ensure that you are using the latest browser version.
Contents
1. Launch the Mapping Tool ................................................................................................... 2
2. Navigate to the general area of interest using search or the zoom and pan functions......... 2
3. Drawing a polygon area or multiple areas ........................................................................... 4
4. Modifying site areas and clearing the map.......................................................................... 5
5. Derive general latitude and longitude of project area .......................................................... 7
6. Saving mapping .................................................................................................................. 8
7. Advanced Features ............................................................................................................ 9
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More information .............................................................................................................. 10
While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the contents of this publication are factually correct, the Commonwealth
does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the contents, and shall not be liable for any loss or damage
that may be occasioned directly or indirectly through the use of, or reliance on, the contents of this publication.
1. LAUNCH THE MAPPING TOOL

The mapping tool launches from a link within your application form.

You can return to your mapping using this link at any time until you submit your application to
the department.
You will note the map opens in the basic map view which is
helpful in showing roads, creeks and property boundaries.
You may prefer to use the satellite image which can be
accessed by clicking the ‘Satellite’ button at the top right
side of the map. If you want to go back to the basic map
view at any time, click on the ‘Map’ button next to the
‘Satellite’ button.
2. NAVIGATE TO THE GENERAL AREA OF INTEREST - using search or the zoom and
pan functions
Search

Type a town or location into the search box in the upper left of the screen. The tool will suggest
a list of places based on what you type, and you can select the closest location by clicking on the
listed place.
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Zoom and pan to your area of interest

After the tool has taken you to the genreal area of your search, you can move the map in any
direction by ’zooming‘ and ’panning‘.
Pan Button – use
the arrow buttons
for the direction
Pan by selecting
the hand tool
Zoom Slide bar –
use your mouse on
the slide, or on the
plus/minus symbols

After selecting the hand tool at the top of the screen you can shift the image
side to side, or up and down by clicking and holding down the left mouse
button while on the image, and sliding the mouse.

You can also navigate using the ‘Pan’ Button in the top left of the screen.

You can zoom in on your area of interest by scrolling your mouse wheel, or using the zoom slide
bar (to the left of the screen).

Navigate to your area of interest by zooming and panning on the image.

Zoom in as close as you can to your area of interest so your mapping has the highest accuracy.
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3. DRAWING A POLYGON AREA OR MULTIPLE AREAS

Select the drawing tool at top of the map window

Your mouse will now turn into a cross symbol

Place your cross at a place where you want to start drawing and click the left mouse button to
make your first point.

Continue placing points around your area of interest until you get back to the starting point. To
finish your area, click back on your first point.
TIP: You can pan around the map whilst in draw mode by holding down the left mouse button
and dragging mouse, then release the mouse button to return to drawing.


Once you have created the polygon an
information window will appear (if you have
made a mistake at this stage, you can use the
‘Delete’ button to remove the polygon and
start again).

The information box gives you the area of the
polygon, and the perimeter length around it.

In the information window you will be asked
to add a title for the site and if your program
requires it, to select the project activities (by
clicking on the activity in the list) then click
the ‘OK’ button.

If you are doing more than one activity, you
can hold down the Control key on your
keyboard (Ctrl) and select multiple options
with the left mouse button, then click ‘OK’.
In the top right of the map the total area of all your polygons is shown.
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Area of this polygon
Combined area of all polygons

After clicking ‘OK’ you can add another polygon area by following these steps again.

Click the ‘Save Mapping’ button in the top right of the screen to save your work. Once saved, the
map will be automatically submitted to the Department when you submit your application form.
You can return to the mapping tool to adjust your maps at any time, until you finally submit the
form.
4. MODIFYING SITE AREAS AND CLEARING THE MAP

If you need to modify a site area boundary you will need to use the hand tool and left
mouse button to click and drag the relevant white points. To make new points along the
boundary click and drag the semi-transparent (partly see through) points.
If you move any
semi-transparent point,
automatically more
points will appear for
you to add more detail
to your shape
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
To undo the last point you dragged, click the back symbol. It
will appear every time you shift a point.

To edit a site polygon you have created, use the hand tool
and click the left mouse inside the polygon. After changes,
click ‘OK’ to confirm and close the information window.
Click ‘Cancel’ if you don’t want to keep any of the changes
you just made.

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To delete a polygon click the ‘Delete’
button bottom left within the
information window. Beware – you
cannot undo this action.

The ‘Delete All Polygons’ button in the bottom left of the screen is used to delete all existing
drawn areas and information. Beware - you cannot undo this action.
The ‘Delete All Polygons’
button deletes all the
mapped areas. Beware you cannot undo this action
5. DERIVE GENERAL LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE OF PROJECT AREA

Your application form requires a general latitude and longitude of the project area. To do this,
right click approximately in the centre of your project area using the hand tool. If you have a
number of project areas, click in approximately the middle of the areas.

The latitude and longitude will appear in the search box in the top left corner. They are
separated by a comma. You can now copy and paste them back into the Application form in the
‘Location & Sites’ section.
Latitude
Longitude
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6. SAVING MAPPING

Incomplete polygons will not be saved, so before you save, make sure you have finished drawing
and that the information window is closed by pressing ‘OK’.

After clicking ‘OK’ in the information window, click the ‘Save Mapping’ button. You can save your
mapping at any time by clicking the ‘Save Mapping’ button. You can return to the mapping tool
to adjust your maps at any time, until you finally submit the form.
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7. ADVANCED FEATURES
Loading Google Earth KML files
Note: 1.
2.
This functionality is only available on Firefox browser versions 13 and above, or
Internet Explorer versions 10 and above. It should also work with most other
browsers if they are up to date.
Please make sure KML files only contain polygon areas.
What is a Google Earth KML file? See link for information
(https://support.google.com/earth/answer/148118?hl=en)

If you already have a Google Earth KML file of your site or multiple site areas, you can browse to
it using the ‘Load from File (KML)’ button in the bottom left of the screen. Browse to a KML file
on your file system and click ‘Open’ to load the KML file to the map.

Once loaded, use the hand tool method described earlier to click on each site and edit the
information box. You may find some existing information is loaded from your KML file into text
box, you can edit this if it is not correct. REMEMBER, after loading, or editing, and pressing ‘OK’
you should press the “Save Mapping” button for your KMLs to be attached to the application
form.
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Loading Google Earth KML as text
Browsers that don’t support KML file loading will automatically provide white space below the map to
paste the contents of a KML file as text and load it.
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
If the ‘Load from File (KML)’ button is greyed out, this means your browser version doesn’t
support KML file loading. As an alternative method you will see a ‘Load from Text (KML)’ button,
which allows you to copy and paste KML text into the provided text area and load it to the map.
Firstly open your KML file in a text editor (e.g. notepad) and copy the full KML text and paste it
into the text box. Then click the ‘Load from File (KML)’ button to load the KML to the map.

Once loaded, use the hand tool method described earlier to click on each site and edit the
information box. You may find some existing information is loaded from your KML file into the
‘Title’ text box, you can edit this if it is not correct. REMEMBER, after loading, or editing, and
pressing ‘OK’ you should press the “Save Mapping” button for your KMLs to be attached to the
application form.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information or assistance using the mapping tool please contact the Department on
1800 552 008
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