1386.0 - What's New in Regional Statistics, 2012  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 13/06/2012   
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Image: Understanding The New ABS Geography UNDERSTANDING THE NEW ABS GEOGRAPHY


Introduction
Building Approvals case studies
Case study example
Further information


INTRODUCTION

From July 2011, the ABS began to release data using the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS). Information about the new geographies can be found in the ABS Geography Portal.

A summary table of the ABS publications that will be impacted by the transition from the previous Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) to the ASGS can be found on the ASGS Implementation Schedule for ABS Publications page in the ABS Geography Portal. For each publication the table summarises the geographical level available and output dates for final data on the ASGC and first data using the ASGS. The first ABS data series that was released on the ASGS was Building Approvals, Australia (cat. no 8731.0) in August 2011.


BUILDING APPROVALS CASE STUDIES

In April 2012 an article was released with four case studies of 'New House Building Approvals' data illustrating, with maps, the impact of change in statistical geography from the ASGC to the ASGS.

The four case studies presented in the article are:

  • Case Study #1 shows a former SLA (ASGC) that is now represented by eight SA2s (ASGS), with the result that more regional data is now available.
  • Case Study #2 shows where five sparsely 'populated' SLAs are now one SA2.
  • Case Study #3 is an example of where a Statistical Subdivision (SSD) covers an apparently similar geographic area to two SA3s. However, as the area covered by the SA3s is slightly different, understanding where the boundaries are is important. Also, in this example, the component SA2s within the SA3s offer more regional data than previously under the ASGC.
  • Case Study # 4 shows another example of different boundaries. In this case, the SLA and SA2 have similar names but cover different areas.
CASE STUDY EXAMPLE

Case study #1 has been reproduced here as an example of the impact of change from the ASGC to the ASGS. This case study includes Map 1A showing the SLA (ASGC) representing the City of Armadale in Western Australia.

Map 1A: Number of New House Building Approvals by SLA, July-December 2011, ASGC
Image:Map of City of Armadale in Western Australia



Map 1B shows how this SLA is now represented by the SA3 of Armadale and its eight SA2s under the ASGS, providing a greater level of geographic detail.


Map 1B: Number of New House Building Approvals by SA2, July-December 2011, ASGS
Image:Map of Armadale region in Western Australia



Under the ASGC, the SLA of Armadale (C) had 708 new houses approved from July to December 2011. Under the new ASGS structure, the SA3 of Armadale also has 708 new house building approvals. There were 456 approvals in the SA2 of Forrestdale - Harrisdale - Piara Waters, 128 in Armadale - Wungong - Brookdale, 38 in Kelmscott, 27 in Seville Grove, 26 in Camillo - Champion Lakes, 20 in Mount Nasura - Mount Richon - Bedfordale, 13 in Roleystone and zero in Ashendon - Lesley.


FURTHER INFORMATION

To read the other case studies in the feature article, refer to Exploring the New ABS Geography with Buildings Data.

More information on the ASGS can be found by visiting the Geography Portal on the ABS website. This includes details about the new ASGS regions referred to in this article, for example, the Statistical Area 2 (SA2) and Statistical Area 3 (SA3) regions.