EXPLANATORY NOTES
INTRODUCTION
1 This quarterly publication contains data from both ABS and non-ABS sources. The ABS publications referenced within the publication, as well as the websites of non-ABS organisations, can be found listed below. For further information, users are directed to these references.
AIR QUALITY
2 The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) reports air quality as an index for any given pollutant as its concentration expressed as a percentage of the relevant standard. It enables easy interpretation of whether the pollutant is at a level which may cause harm. An index value of 100 means the pollutant is currently at a concentration equal to the National Environment Protection Measure (Air NEPM) or State Environment Protection Policy (The Air Environment) (SEPP) standard levels (levels designed to protect human health and the environment). Indexes are calculated separately for each measured pollutant: Ozone, Nitrogen Dioxide, Sulfur Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, Fine Particulates (PM10), Visibility (Airborne Particle Index). For each station, the daily pollutant indexes are the maximum index values for that day. Note that not all pollutants are measured at each station. The EPA also calculates an overall Air Quality Index, which amalgamates each pollutant index into an overall measure of air quality at each station.
3 The air quality data have been provided for the Ozone and Visibility (or Airborne Particle) Indexes as these are the dominant pollutants and are widely measured across the EPA network. It should also be noted that meteorological conditions are a major determinant on the incidence of elevated pollutant levels. Hence significant daily, seasonal and annual variations can be expected in air quality. For more information on Air Quality, see the EPA web site, <http://www.epa.vic.gov.au>.
4 The air quality index is converted into a qualitative scale with five commonly understood terms. Very Good (0-33), Good (34-66) and Fair (67-99) represent measurements within the standards, while Poor (100-149) and Very Poor (150+) represent measurements exceeding the standards.
5 For air quality reporting purposes the Port Phillip Region (PPR) has been divided into 4 regions: East, West, City and Geelong. Air monitoring stations assigned to each region are: East - Alphington, Brighton, Box Hill, Dandenong, Mooroolbark; City - RMIT, Richmond; West - Footscray, Melton, Point Cook, Paisley; Geelong - Point Henry, Geelong South. In addition, the Latrobe Valley has stations at Moe and Traralgon. The regional index is considered to be the maximum of the station indexes calculated within each particular region. The daily index reported for a region is the maximum region index recorded each day.
MELBOURNE METROPOLITAN AREA
6 Most of the small area data provided by non-ABS organisations are aggregates at Local Government Area (LGA) level. With one exception, LGAs do not cross Statistical Division (SD) boundaries, and therefore it is generally possible to form SD data from aggregate LGA data. However, while the majority of the Yarra Ranges (S) LGA is in the Melbourne SD, the Yarra Ranges (S) - Pt B SLA is in the Gippsland SD. As a result, it is not possible to derive exact data for Melbourne and Gippsland SDs.
7 Where necessary, the Yarra Ranges (S) LGA as a whole is included with the LGAs in Melbourne SD to form a region referred to as the Melbourne Metropolitan Area (MMA). Consequently, in these instances Gippsland SD excludes Yarra Ranges (S) - Pt B SLA.
MAPS
8 Maps of geographic areas within Victoria can be found in the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) (cat. no. 1216.0) on the Downloads page (1216.0 - 2008 ASGC - Victorian Maps).
ABS PUBLICATIONS
9 The following ABS publications are referenced in State and Regional Indicators, Victoria:
- Retail Trade, Australia (cat. no. 8501.0)
- Labour Price Index, Australia (cat. no. 6345.0)
- Sales of New Motor Vehicles, Australia (cat. no. 9314.0)
- Australian Demographic Statistics (cat. no. 3101.0)
- Labour Force, Australia (cat. no. 6202.0)
- Labour Force, Australia, Detailed - Electronic Delivery (cat. no. 6291.0.55.001)
- Labour Force, Australia, Detailed, Quarterly (cat. no. 6291.0.55.003)
- Average Weekly Earnings, Australia (cat. no. 6302.0)
- Australian National Accounts: National Income, Expenditure and Product (cat. no. 5206.0)
- Consumer Price Index, Australia (cat. no. 6401.0)
- House Price Indexes: Eight Capital Cities (cat. no. 6416.0)
- Building Activity, Australia (cat. no. 8752.0)
- Building Approvals, Australia (cat. no. 8731.0)
- Engineering Construction Activity, Australia (cat. no. 8762.0)
- Tourist Accommodation, Small Area Data, Victoria (cat. no. 8635.2.55.001)
- Livestock Products, Australia (cat. no. 7215.0)
- International Trade in Good and Services, Australia (cat. no. 5368.0)
NON-ABS WEBSITES
10 The websites of the following organisations may provide further information on some of the data provided in
State and Regional Indicators, Victoria:
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