Welcome to the UQ Indicators Annual Report website
accompanying natural gas development
We have employed internationally recognised leading practices to monitor changes in the Queensland gasfield regions. We have assessed trends from 2001 to 2018 using interviews and statistical data on key indicators. These indicators include population, housing costs, incomes, unemployment, and crime rates. This information has helped to identify cause and effect, providing an understanding of each town that we studied and an understanding of the region as a system. These understandings are essential to making decisions aimed at improving each community's and the region's future.
Annual Report: Data updates and Analysis
This website was launched in 2016 with data and analysis is being updated to show more data for 2017 and again in 2018. The site covers trends in key indicators to the end of 2018. There is capacity for more annual updates into the future. Each year's 'Annual Report' contains an overview of the status of towns and regions studied (Executive summary) that is, which way are trends in population, income, housing costs, etc., currently heading. There is also a focus article (Opportunities and challenges). For the Annual Report published in 2016, that article was on housing costs, the timing of construction, and associated migration during the period of coal seam gas development. For the 2017 Annual Report, ongoing business activity will be assessed in one feature article for this site. In 2018, the article was on the process of hydraulic fracturing.
Features of this website
- Head to 'Compare Towns' to chart and compare data on different towns.
- Head to 'Annual Reports' for insights, reports, and articles.
There is also a summary on each town profiled accompanied by details in downloadable 'town data booklets'. This work addresses the Queensland local government areas of Western Downs, Maranoa, Toowoomba, and Isaac.
For communities facing change
This Annual Report, the Cumulative Socioeconomic Impacts study, the town data booklets, and the UQ Toolkit are meant to aid the Queensland gasfield regions. They can also provide insight for any community or region in the middle of a resource boom, at the end of a boom, or expecting big changes, such as in water availability or infrastructure.
The data and insights provided on this website and via the UQ Toolkit should be used to gain an understanding of what changes have occurred in communities previously. Research does not include future predictions, outlook or forecasts on how indicators may change in the future. However research information may provide professional advisors with a guide to support future decisions and support regional long-term planning.
More informationtion about the research here
Research team
The research findings were gathered by a team from the University of Queensland's Centre for Coal Seam Gas. CCSG research is funded by UQ and industry members who are CSG companies.