A new era for forecast.id

We're improving the way we deliver forecasts for local government.

In November 2023, the forecast.id team held a series of information sessions to share some great new features that are coming up in forecast.id for local government.

forecast.id New

Session 1

Monday
6th November

12pm-1pm, AEDT

Session 2

Wednesday
8th November

12pm-1pm, AEDT

Watch the recording →

Session 3

Tuesday
21st November

12pm-1pm, AEDT

Session 4

Monday
27th November

12pm-1pm, AEDT

The current forecast.id service

forecast.id is a website and a methodology for delivering quality forecasts of population and dwellings, designed specifically for local governments and based on detailed local area land use assumptions. The forecasts are “bottom up” whereby we forecast the population for agreed small areas, the sum of which creates the LGA totals. 

The new forecast.id service

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We now have national coverage with our population forecasts that will be updated annually to deliver...

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..a forecast that is more fit-for-purpose in the current high migration environment, with...

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..on-demand insights and data available at customisable geographies...

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..so you can make informed decisions about when and where to provide services and invest in infrastructure to support the changing needs of your community.

We now have a critical mass of local governments subscribing to forecast.id, and we have amassed a huge body of information about land-use and residential development across the entire country.

This, combined with investment in new technology and methodologies, means we are now producing forecasts for every LGA in every state. Not only that, but we produce these forecasts at a micro-geography (SA1 and below in growth areas), which means we can deliver them for any catchment – suburb, activity centre, service catchment, planning precinct. 

What's new in forecast.id

Introducing forecast benchmarks

Give weight to your planning and advocacy work by comparing your council to regional, State and national benchmarks.

 


forecast.id Benchmarks (2)

A new methodology to suit a high-migration environment

Our population forecasts combine the rigour of a “bottom-up” modelling approach with the discipline of a "top-down" constraint.

Our 'bottom up' research accounts for detailed development site and infill capacity considerations. Our 'top down' methodology provides important constraints to growth and accounts for demand drivers at the national, state, and regional level.

The short video opposite summarises the process and assumptions behind each forecast we publish.

 

Custom forecast areas

The new forecast.id methodology generates forecasts at a granular micro-geographic areas (SA1 geography and smaller in growth areas), so you can see the exact timing and sequencing of development.

These micro-geogrpahic forecast areas can be combined to create forecasts for any catchment (e.g. suburb, activity centre, planning precinct, service catchment such as kindergartens).

Council can also see forecast information beyond the administrative local government boundary and more effectively plan for catchments that extend beyond the LGA border (for example a sports facility catchment).

 

Flexible geographies

The forecasts can easily be delivered for any small area (e.g. Major Activity Centres) meaningful to council and the community.

forecast.id custom catchments

Transparent assumptions

Access the detailed Residential Development Layer that underpins forecast.id, including our forecast for the timing and sequence of development for all assessed sites.

forecast.id development assumptions

An independent view

forecast.id is produced by .id's experienced demographic forecasters and land use researchers. The forecasts provide an independent, apolitical and objective view of the most likely future of places, accounting for current demographic, economic and land use policies and influences.

forecast.id is designed to encourage an evidence-based conversation about likely futures and support council advocacy.

 

A regional perspective

The forecasts are undertaken within a regional context (SA4), which enables us to make more informed decisions the sequencing and timing of development.

We also share our summary reports for the State and regions to help councils understand the broader drivers of population and dwelling change within their region.

 

Monitoring and collaboration to ensure timely and accurate forecasts

Forecast monitoring, including providing feedback and inputs to the underlying development assumptions when the forecasts are revised.