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How to view population forecast data by geography in Placemaker

Learn how to use the Layers panel in Placemaker to change geographic boundary views and apply data themes to visualise population and dwelling forecasts on the map.

The Layers panel lets you overlay Informed Decisions' population and dwelling forecast data across the map at different geographic levels. Use it to see where communities are growing, where new housing is being built, and which areas will generate the most demand for your services before you commit to a catchment.

Before You Begin

From the home screen, click Explore map to open the map directly, or use + Create catchment to access the map through the catchment creation flow. The Layers panel is available from both entry points.

If you need help navigating to a specific location first, see How to go to a location in Placemaker.

If you are unsure what data your organisation has access to, see [How to check your data entitlements in Placemaker].

Steps

Step 1: Open the Layers panel  

Click the layers icon (stacked layers symbol, top right of the map). The Layers panel slides open from the right.

placemaker-how-to-view-population-forecast-by-geography-step-1Screenshot showing the layers icon highlighted in the top right of the map, with the Layers panel open in Placemaker.

Step 2: Set a boundary view

In the Boundary view section, click the Select a boundary type to view dropdown and choose a geography level.


Option Best for
SA1 Small area analysis — the finest level of detail available
SA2 Suburb-like level analysis
SA4 Regional analysis
STE State-level analysis (default)

The map updates immediately to show boundaries at the selected level.

For more detail on what each geography level means, see What are standard ABS geographies?.

Step 3: Apply a data theme (optional) 

In the Themes section, click the Select a single theme to view dropdown and choose one theme. The theme applies as a colour overlay across the map boundaries, showing the value of the selected metric per area. Only one theme can be active at a time.

Themes draw on two datasets: the National Forecasting Program (NFP), which provides small-area population and dwelling forecasts across Australia, and the Residential Development Forecast (RDF), which models where and when new dwellings are expected to be built. See Understanding population and dwelling forecasts in Placemaker for a full overview.

Theme What it shows When to use it
None No overlay (default) When you want to build a catchment by viewing the base map.
Total population Current total population per area Understand the current or forecast size of the community.
Total population (change) Forecast change in total population from 2021 to 2046 Identify where populations are growing or declining over a set timeframe.
Total dwellings Current total dwellings per area, including major residential sites and infill Understand housing stock for planning services to changing communities.
Total dwellings (change) Forecast change in total dwellings from 2021 to 2046 See where new housing is being built. A strong signal for where new service demand will emerge.
Residential development forecast — Dwellings per site (annual) Expected annual dwelling yield from identified major residential development sites Identify the specific development sites driving growth.
Residential development forecast (change) — Dwellings per site (cumulative) Cumulative forecast change in dwelling yield from major development sites over the forecast period Understand where development activity is concentrated over time.

Step 4: Close the Layers panel

 Click the X at the top right of the Layers panel when you are done to maximise the map view.

What to Expect

The map updates immediately as you change boundary types and apply themes.

Hovering over any area highlights the boundary. Click it to bring up a tooltip showing the data value for that area.

placemaker-how-to-view-population-forecast-by-geography-tool-tipScreenshot showing a data tooltip over a highlighted boundary area displaying the forecast value for the selected theme in Placemaker.

To understand the data behind each theme, see Understanding population and dwelling forecasts in Placemaker, What is the National Forecasting Program? and What are Residential Development Forecasts?

When you are ready to analyse a specific location, click + Create catchment to define a service area.

Troubleshooting

  • Map boundaries are not updating: Click a different boundary type, then switch back. If the issue persists, refresh the page.
  • Theme data appears blank in some areas: Data may not be available at the selected boundary level for all regions. Try a different boundary level or theme combination.
  • Colour variation on the map appears limited: Colour ranges are set against the full national data extent. Local variation can appear subtle where the national range is wide. Custom colour configuration is planned for a future release.

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