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THE SPATIAL UNITS

Statistical Local Area (SLA)

The SLA is a general purpose spatial unit. It is the base spatial unit used to collect and disseminate statistics other than those collected from the Population Censuses. The SLA is the smallest unit defined in the 2011 edition of the ASGC. In aggregate, SLAs cover the whole of Australia (as defined in this publication) without gaps or overlaps.

SLAs aggregate directly to form the larger spatial units of SSDs in the Main Structure, SRSs in the SR Structure and LGAs in the LGA Structure (see ASGC Structural Chart). SSDs in turn aggregate to form the larger spatial units of S Dists in the S Dist. Structure. Therefore, the SLA is the common denominator which integrates the four classification structures in both census and non-census years.

In this edition of the ASGC, there are 1,390 SLAs in Australia including one SLA for each of the three Territories of Jervis Bay, Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands.

SLAs are listed in the table - Local Government Areas and Statistical Local Areas - Alphabetic. This table is available both within the publication pdf and the .csv file.


Delimitation of SLAs

SLAs are based on the boundaries of incorporated bodies of local government where these exist. These bodies are the Local Government Councils and the geographical areas which they administer are known as Local Government Areas (LGAs).

An SLA will correspond to an LGA if the LGA fits entirely inside an SSD. For example, the SLA of Albury (C) corresponds to the whole LGA of the City of Albury in New South Wales.

There are cases where multiple SLAs correspond to one LGA. This can occur if an LGA is divided by the boundary of one or more SSDs or where the LGA is substantially different in size, economic significance and user needs for statistics to other LGAs. The LGA is then split into two or more SLAs which generally correspond to one or more suburbs (as occurs in the predominantly urban LGA of the City of Brisbane) or other areas of interest.

For example, the LGA of the Shire of Indigo in Victoria is split into two SLAs Indigo (S) - Pt A and Indigo (S) - Pt B because it is split by an SSD boundary, and, the LGA of the City of Brisbane is split into 158 SLAs generally based on suburbs.

There are large parts of Australia which are not administered by incorporated local government bodies. For those areas an SLA is an unincorporated area. Unincorporated SLAs are defined for unincorporated on-shore area(s) and/or off-shore island(s) in an SSD or are defined for that part of an unincorporated area which is considered of sufficient economic significance as to warrant the formation of a separate SLA.

For example, Unincorp. Pirie is an unincorporated SLA in the Pirie SSD in South Australia and Unincorp. Far West is an unincorporated SLA in Far West SSD in New South Wales. Similarly the SLAs of Alyangula and Nhulunbuy in East Arnhem SSD in the Northern Territory are unincorporated areas.

Other large parts of Australia which are unincorporated include the unincorporated part of South Australia. The Australian Capital Territory is entirely an unincorporated area where each SLA is either a suburb, a locality or the non-urban area of an SSD.

Migratory - Offshore - Shipping SLAs are not spatial units, and are formed for Census of Population and Housing purposes for each S/T.


SLA name

The naming conventions for SLAs are as follows:

• An SLA which corresponds to a whole LGA adopts the name of the LGA including its LGA status as a suffix. Thus, Narrogin (S) and Narrogin (T) in Western Australia are separate SLAs. The various LGA types currently in use by states and the Northern Territory are specified in this publication.
• An SLA which is part of an LGA may adopt a hyphenated name the first part of which is the name of the LGA.

Stirling (C) - Central
Stirling (C) - Coastal
Stirling (C) - South-Eastern
• If the name includes - Pt A, - Pt B, or - Pt C, this indicates the SLAs were formed by splitting an LGA between two or more SSDs and - Pt A usually denotes the more urban part of the split LGA.

Latrobe (M) - Pt A
Latrobe (M) - Pt B
• An SLA which is part of an LGA may adopt a locality or suburb name.

Acacia Ridge
Albion
Yeronga
Zillmere
• The name of an SLA which covers an unincorporated area does not contain LGA type. In New South Wales and South Australia the SLA name may include Unincorp.

• A small number of SLA names are duplicated across S/Ts and one SLA name is duplicated within an S/T. These names become unique when used in conjunction with SLA codes.

City (Queensland and Australian Capital Territory)
City - Inner (Queensland and Northern Territory)
City - Remainder (Queensland and Northern Territory)
Durack (Queensland and Northern Territory)
Kingston (Queensland and Australian Capital Territory)
Oxley (Queensland and Australian Capital Territory)
Red Hill (Queensland and Australian Capital Territory)
West End (Townsville (C) and Brisbane (C))

• SLAs are identified by four-digit codes. These codes are unique only within an S/T. For unique Australia-wide identification the four-digit SLA code must be preceded by the unique one-digit S/T code.

Burwood (A) 1300 (in New South Wales) (S/T code 1)
East Arnhem (S) 1300 (in Northern Territory) (S/T code 7)
• The fourth (last) digit of the SLA code indicates the following:
  • 0 means the SLA is a whole LGA.

Ashburton (S) 0250 (in Western Australia)
• 1-8 means the SLA is part of an LGA.

Sorell (M) - Pt A 4811 (in Tasmania)
Sorell (M) - Pt B 4812 (in Tasmania)

• in transit on long distance trains, buses, aircraft and long haul transport vehicles
• on oil rigs and drilling platforms etc.
• on expeditions in the Australian Antarctic Territory
• on board vessels in Australian waters, in or between Australian ports.

• SSDs consist of one or more SLAs. In aggregate, they cover Australia (as defined in this publication) without gaps or overlaps. The larger spatial units of SDs and S Dists can be formed by aggregation of SSDs (see ASGC Structural Chart). SSDs do not cross S/T boundaries except in the case of the Other Territories SSD, which comprises the three Territories of Jervis Bay, Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands.

• SSDs are defined as socially and economically homogeneous regions characterised by identifiable links between the inhabitants. Moreover, in the non-urban areas (i.e. outside the capital cities or areas with population clusters of 25,000 or more people), an SSD is characterised by identifiable links between the economic units within the region, under the unifying influence of one or more major towns or cities.
• Where possible, SSD boundaries embrace contiguous whole LGAs. However, in some cases e.g. where S Dists or capital city SDs have been defined, an SSD boundary may split the LGA into parts with each part of the LGA forming part of the relevant SSD.

• One or more SSDs must be defined for an S Dist. that falls within an S/T.

• One or more SSDs must be defined for each part of an S Dist. which straddles an S/T boundary.

• Where an SD contains an S Dist. (or part of an S Dist.), one or more SSDs must be defined for the S Dist. and at least one SSD for the remainder of the SD which falls outside the S Dist. even though, the SSD(s) defined may not have a predominant town or cluster of towns with a unifying socioeconomic influence over the region.

• Migratory - Offshore - Shipping SSDs are not spatial units, and are formed for Census of Population and Housing purposes for each S/T.

• SSDs are identified by unique two-digit codes within SDs. Unique Australia-wide identification of SSDs is obtained by use of a five-digit code comprising S/T code (digit 1), SD code (digits 2-3) and SSD code (digits 4-5).

• In the Main Structure, SSD codes are arranged in ascending numerical order within an SD. Gaps have been provided between the codes for future expansion or change.

• SDs should ideally be delimited on the basis of socioeconomic criteria and should, where possible, embrace contiguous whole local government areas.
• SD boundaries so delimited should be changed only at infrequent intervals, for example, at periods of 15-20 years.
• SD boundaries should be determined in time for use in the next Population Census if practicable.
• A Capital City SD (currently one in each capital city) should be defined, after consultation with planners, to contain the anticipated development of the city for a period of at least 20 years. This fixed SD boundary - as distinct from the moving urban centre boundary - delimits an area which is stable for general statistical purposes. It represents the city in a wider sense. This delimitation procedure cannot be applied to the separate urban centres within a Capital City SD.
• SDs outside a capital city should be defined as a relatively homogeneous region characterised by identifiable social and economic links between the inhabitants and between the economic units within the region, under the unifying influence of one or more major towns or cities.

• In New South Wales, SDs correspond to proclaimed Government Regions with the exception that North Coast Region consists of the SDs of Richmond-Tweed and Mid-North Coast. These Regions were delimited to maximize the degree of socioeconomic interactions within each Region. Information on transport patterns, telephone traffic between major cities and towns, retail shopping, fresh goods marketing, provincial newspaper circulation areas and coverage of principal radio stations were all used in delimiting these boundaries.
• In Victoria, the SDs prior to 1995 generally corresponded to State Planning Regions adopted by the Victorian Government in October 1981. However, following the restructuring of local government in that State during 1994 and 1995, the SDs were redefined to accord with the general considerations and criteria outlined above.
• In Queensland, formal State Planning Regions have been abolished. SDs are used on an informal basis for State Government planning purposes where relevant. SD delimitation follows the general criteria outlined above.
• In South Australia, State Planning Regions, as proposed by the Committee on Uniform Regional Boundaries for Government Departments (CURB), were adopted by the South Australia Government in 1976. CURB Regions were based on such factors as: population density and distribution, socioeconomic characteristics, political boundaries, government service areas, newspaper circulation, retail trading patterns, etc. Prior to 1998, South Australian SDs did not always correspond to CURB Regions but they always aggregated to these Regions. However, following the restructuring of local government in South Australia in 1996 and 1997, the SDs were redefined to accord with the general considerations and criteria outlined above.
• In Western Australia, State Planning Regions, as proposed by the State Statistical Coordination Committee, were adopted by the Western Australia Government in January 1976. SDs in Western Australia correspond to these Regions. The Perth Metropolitan Region is delimited to be consistent with the overall concepts and planning of Perth and to take into account LGA and CD boundaries. Rural Regions on the other hand are delimited based on the socioeconomic interest of the community; the character of natural resource; the distribution of population and industries; town size; road and railway systems; and production and marketing practices.
• In Tasmania, SD delimitation follows the general considerations and criteria outlined above. They are considered satisfactory for the purpose of State Government planning.
• In the Northern Territory, SDs are based on Territory Government Administrative Regions, and are consistent with the general considerations and criteria for their delimitation described above.
• In the Australian Capital Territory, SD delimitation follows the general considerations and criteria outlined above.
• In the Other Territories, the SD has been delimited to represent the aggregated area of the Territories of Jervis Bay, Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
• Migratory - Offshore - Shipping SDs are not spatial units, and are formed for Census of Population and Housing purposes for each S/T.

Central West (in New South Wales and Queensland)
Northern (in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania)
South West (in Queensland and Western Australia)
South Eastern (in New South Wales and Western Australia)

• SDs are identified by unique two-digit codes within an S/T. Unique Australia-wide identification of SDs requires a three-digit code comprising S/T code (digit 1) and SD code (digits 2-3).

Adelaide 405
Kimberley 545
• The SD code 85 is reserved for Migratory - Offshore - Shipping SDs.
• In the Main Structure, SD codes are arranged in ascending numerical order within an S/T.