A Local-State Government Spatial Data Sharing Partnership

A Local-State Spatial Data Sharing Partnership Model to Facilitate SDI Development
part of the chapter then analyses and compares the three case studies to identify common
structures, issues and learnings. Finally, some conclusions from the case studies are
presented.
5.2 The State of Victoria – The Property Information Project
The first case study described is the Property Information Project (PIP) in the State of
Victoria. This data sharing initiative between the Victorian State Government and the
Victorian Local Government Authorities (LGAs) formally commenced in 1997, in
response to the significant duplication of effort and the emergence of a growing number of
disparate databases across the state relating to key property information.
5.2.1 The Jurisdictional Environment
Geography
The State of Victoria is Australia’s most compact state occupying only 3% of Australia’s
area but with approximately one-quarter of its population (see Figure 5.1). Victoria is
Australia’s most densely populated state with an average of 21 persons per square
kilometre, compared with the national average of 2.5 persons (Australian Bureau of
Statistics 2006a). As of June 2004, Victoria’s estimated resident population was 4.97
million people, representing 24.6% of the national population. In the 1970s and 1980s,
Victoria had a high level of interstate migration, mainly to Queensland and New South
Wales, reflecting the significant impact of the national recession on Victoria. However, in
recent years this trend has reversed and the state population has grown significantly.
Government Sector
Figure 5.1 Geographic location of the State of Victoria
The total size of the public sector in Victoria (federal, state and local governments)
decreased by over 33% between 1988 and 1999, as all levels of government downsized.
Victorian State Government numbers peaked at 317,000 staff in 1991, declined to 220,000
in 1999, before climbing again to almost 270,000 in 2005. In a similar pattern, local
government staff numbers peaked at approximately 41,000 staff in 1990, declined to
31,500 in 1999, before gradually increasing to around 38,500 in 2005 as illustrated in
Figure 5.2 (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006a).
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