1362.6 - Regional Statistics, Tasmania, 2001  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 06/08/2001   
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MEDIA RELEASE

August 06, 2001
Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST)
/2001

ABS publication puts the microscope on Tasmania

From Huon Valley to George Town, from Break O'Day to West Coast, Regional Statistics, Tasmania, 2001 answers many questions about Tasmania's regions. It includes tables, commentary and maps, bringing together information from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and a range of other sources.

'This information will assist Tasmanian Government, business and the people of rural and regional Tasmania to make informed decisions about development across the State and in smaller communities,' said the ABS's Regional Director Steve Matheson.

The ABS publication contains information on population; environment; employment and industry; education and training; income and expenditure; community services; crime and justice; transport; housing; primary industries; tourism, sport and recreation; trade and government finance.

Examples from the publication include:
  • Launceston local government area recorded the highest number of births, with 781 babies born in 1999.
  • West Coast local government area had the highest mean taxable income, $39,288 in 1998-99; Tasman had the lowest, $25,090.
  • Hobart local government area had the highest number of dwelling units approved, with 211 in 1999-2000; King Island had the lowest, 6.
  • Launceston local government area had the highest number of licensed gaming machines (excluding those in casinos), with 252 at January 2001.
  • The Tamar Valley vineyard region had the greatest area of vineyards, 253 hectares in 2000.
  • Launceston local government area had the highest number of full-time school students, with 13,914 in 2000. Some 75% of Tasmanian full-time school students attended government schools.
  • Households in the Hobart urban area spent $21.13 a week on alcoholic beverages compared to the State average of $15.60 during 1998-99.
  • Flinders local government area had the highest number of natural sites listed on the Register of the National Estate, 27 at March 2001.

Details are in Regional Statistics, Tasmania, 2001 (cat. no. 1362.6), which is available from ABS Bookshops. To purchase a copy of this publication, contact the ABS Bookshop in your capital city. For further information, contact Margaret Dyas (03) 6222 5847


REGIONAL STATISTICS TASMANIA - "KEY FACTS" PROFILES

The following profiles contain information on three regions within Tasmania.


GREATER HOBART-SOUTHERN REGION
  • At 30 June 2000, the estimated resident population of the Greater Hobart-Southern Region was 229,060. The Sorell local government area had the greatest change in its population from 1996 to 2000, increasing from 10,624 to 10,911, a 2.7% increase.
  • In 1999, the Glenorchy local government area had the highest number of births with 602. The Clarence local government area followed with 546 births.
  • In 2000, the annual average unemployment rate was 9.4%. There were 96,700 people employed and 10,100 unemployed.
  • At January 2001, this region had 43 licensed gaming premises (excluding casinos) and 754 machines within its boundaries. The Glenorchy local government area had the region's highest number of licensed gaming machines with 185 and Hobart local government area had the highest number of premises, 10.
  • At February 2001, the Greater Hobart-Southern Region had 15,343 of the State's 29,998 public rental property occupants.
  • The construction of 1,036 dwelling units was approved in the region in 1999-2000.
  • The mean sales price of 1,410 residential properties sold in the Hobart local government area in 1999-2000 was $158,736. The mean sales price of 96 properties sold in the Central Highlands local government area was $33,375.
  • 92,795 individual taxable taxpayers in the Greater Hobart-Southern Region had a mean taxable income of $31,862 and a mean net tax of $7,247 in 1998-99.
  • 41,387 full-time students attended school in the Greater-Hobart Southern Region in 2000. Of these, 29,454 attended government schools.
  • There were 6,256 claims relating to workplace accidents in the Greater Hobart-Southern Region lodged for 1997-98. By 1999-2000 the number of claims had dropped to 5,848.
  • According to 1996 Census data, the Greater Hobart-Southern Region had the State's highest median personal weekly income of $273. Of the State's local government areas, Kingborough had the highest median weekly personal income of $316, closely followed by Hobart with $315.
  • At January 2001, 38.9% of land in the Greater-Hobart Southern Region was private property, 29.1% was National Park and 15.4% was State forest.


NORTHERN REGION
  • At 30 June 2000, the estimated resident population of the Northern Region was 133,080. The Flinders local government areas had the greatest change in population from 1996 to 2000 with a 3.8% decrease.
  • In 1999, there were 1,717 births in the Northern Region. The Launceston local government area had the highest number of births in the State, 781.
  • In 2000, the annual average unemployment rate was 7.7%. There were 59,500 people employed and 5,000 unemployed.
  • The Launceston local government area has the highest number of licensed gaming premises and machines in the State. At January 2001, Launceston had 14 premises (excluding casinos) licensed for gaming purposes. These premises contained 252 gaming machines.
  • At February 2001, the Northern Region had 7,369 of the State's 29,998 public rental property occupants.
  • The construction of 536 dwelling units was approved in the region in 1999-2000.
  • The mean sales price of 1,401 residential properties sold in the Launceston local government area in 1999-2000 was $92,803. The mean sales price of 14 properties sold in the Flinders local government area was $49,159.
  • 51,940 individual taxable taxpayers in the Northern Region had a mean taxable income of $29,840 and a mean net tax of $6,520 in 1998-99.
  • 22,951 full-time students attended school in the Northern Region in 2000. Of these, 18,081 attended government schools.
  • There were 3,783 claims relating to workplace accidents in the Northern Region lodged for 1997-98. By 1999-2000 the number of claims had dropped to 3,193.
  • According to 1996 Census data, the Northern Region had a median personal weekly income of $246. Of the local government areas, West Tamar had the highest median personal weekly income of $265, followed by Meander Valley with $256. Break O'Day local government area had the State's lowest median personal weekly income, $188.
  • At January 2001, 54.0% of land in the Northern Region was private property, 22.5% was State forest and 6.8% was National Park.


MERSEY-LYELL REGION
  • At 30 June 2000, the Mersey-Lyell Region had the State's greatest fall in population from 1996 to 2000. In 1996, the estimated resident population of the Mersey-Lyell Region was 110,209. By 2000 it had fallen by 1.8% to 108,236. For the same period, the West Coast local government area had the greatest change in its population with a 11.8% decrease.
  • In 1997, the Devonport local government area had the highest number of births with 297. In the region, there were 1,345 babies born.
  • In 2000, the annual average unemployment rate was 10.5%. There were 43,400 people employed and 5,100 unemployed.
  • At January 2001, the Mersey-Lyell Region had 35 licensed gaming premises and 581 machines within its boundaries. The Devonport local government area had the region's highest number of licensed gaming premises, 9, and machines, 165.
  • At February 2001, the Mersey-Lyell Region had 7,286 of the State's 29,998 public rental property occupants.
  • The construction of 319 dwelling units was approved in the region in 1999-2000.
  • The mean sales price of 527 residential properties sold in the Devonport local government area in 1999-2000 was $87,438. The mean sales price of 168 properties sold in the West Coast local government area was $34,100.
  • 40,814 individual taxable taxpayers in the Mersey-Lyell Region had a mean taxable income of $30,226 and a mean net tax of $6,757 in 1998-99.
  • 19,199 full-time students attended school in the Mersey-Lyell Region in 2000. Of these, 15,268 attended government schools.
  • There were 3,191 claims relating to workplace accidents in the Mersey-Lyell Region lodged for 1997-98. By 1999-2000 the number of claims had dropped to 2,742.
  • According to 1996 Census data, the Mersey-Lyell Region had a median personal weekly income of $237, the lowest of the State's regions. Of the local government areas, King Island had the highest median personal weekly income of $324, while Kentish had the lowest median personal weekly income of $209.
  • At January 2001, 24.1% of land in the Mersey-Lyell Region was private property, 22.8% was National Park and 20.5% was State forest.