Using location for service delivery

A guide for government, business and other service providers

QueenslandSpatial InformationCouncil An initiative of the Queensland Spatial Information Council

Suburb and locality boundaries

In 1996, Queensland government initiated a project where all 3,369 suburbs and localities in Queensland were officially bounded and named. This helps provide authoritative location addresses for homes and businesses. A location address as a minimum requires an address number, a road name, a suburb or locality and a state or territory name (as per Australian Standard AS4819), e.g. 867 Main St, Woolloongabba, Queensland.
(Courtesy Queensland Government DERM)

Using location for service delivery

Government agencies, private businesses and other service providers often service clients based on the clients location. While a specific location address is essential for emergency services or deliveries, a clients location is often generalised by just using a suburb, locality or postcode area to determine service delivery.

Issues with using location for service delivery

While using a clients location can assist with delivering services, using just a suburb, locality or postcode area may not be the most appropriate method. For example, postcode areas can be non-contiguous, do not necessarily line up with suburb and locality boundaries and are designed and managed solely for the delivery of mail by Australia Post. They may not be suitable for the allocation of other types of services. When allocating services, service providers also need to be aware of anomalies in suburb and locality names that can cause conflicts. These include: suburbs and localities split between two local government areas suburb and locality names duplicated in two geographically distinct local governments (e.g. West End, Brisbane and West End, Townsville) suburb and locality names that replicate the names of adjacent suburbs (e.g. Mt Gravatt, Mt Gravatt East, Upper Mt Gravatt)

Inconsistency in the use of some names may also create problems for service providers. These include using: gazetted unbounded localities (e.g. Stones Corner in Greenslopes) un-gazetted estate names (e.g. Windermere in Sinnamon Park) generalised un-gazetted local names for a group of suburbs (e.g. Greater Springfield) un-gazetted vanity names (e.g. Geebung Heights in Geebung)

Using location for service delivery Why is this important?

When a clients location is only referenced as the suburb name, locality name or a postcode, a service provider will allocate a service or make assumptions based on that general area. However this may not be the most appropriate service or assumption for specific location address points. In most cases a full location address is the most suitable reference for service delivery. Residents and businesses using un-gazetted names, vanity names, unbounded localities or local names for areas (even in a full location address) may also cause confusion for the service provider resulting in an ineffective or inappropriate service being provided.

(Courtesy Queensland Government DERM)

To avoid confusion in the delivery of services, the Queensland Spatial information Council (QSIC) is encouraging residents and businesses to always use their correct street name, house number and gazetted suburb or locality name. This becomes a real issue when an incorrect suburb or locality name is used in a location address; particularly in the dispatch of emergency service vehicles. Could an ambulance find you?

(Courtesy Queensland Government DERM)

What can be done?

Residents Always use your gazetted suburb or locality name. Always use your correct street name and house number. Be aware of the issues and risks in making assumptions or determining service delivery allocation based just on suburb, locality or postcode areas. Use the full location address to determine service delivery allocation. Ensure an alignment of suburb and locality boundaries with local government boundaries and remove ambiguity in street names. Service providers

Governments

Check your location address and gazetted suburb name at www.qsic.qld.gov.au

For more information

Queensland Spatial Information Council (QSIC) Level 9 Landcentre 867 Main, Woolloongabba, Queensland GPO Box 2454 Brisbane QLD 4001 phone: (07) 3896 3774 email: qsic@qld.gov.au web: www.qsic.qld.gov.au

About the Queensland Spatial Information Council (QSIC) Working with government, industry, academia, professions and the community, QSIC is responsible for driving major spatial information initiatives that optimise the collection, management and use of Queenslands spatial information resources. QSIC also sets the direction and provides coordination to achieve the vision 'smart spatial solutions for Queensland'