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Indicator: HS-48 Material Flows in Human Settlements

Data

Material Flow Indicators for South East Queensland – 2001

	Gross (Mt/year)	Per capita (t/person/year)
Direct Material Inputs (DMI)	56.2	24.7
Domestic Material Extraction (DME)	21.0	9.2
Material imports (MI)	35.2	15.5
Internal Flows
Net Additionto Settlement Stock (NAS)	5.2	2.3
Domestic Material Consumption (DMC)	12.6	5.5
Direct material Outputs (DMO)	43.0	18.9
Material Exports (ME)	35.6	15.7
Domestic Wastes (DPO)*	7.4	3.3

* Partial estimate – excludes some waste streams.

Source: Lennox, J A, & Turner, G M 2004, State of the Environment Report on Human Settlements: Stocks and Flows Indicators, Department of the Environment and Heritage, pp. 93-94.

• State of the Environment Report on Human Settlements: Stocks and Flows Indicators

What the data mean

A significant inference drawn from the study undertaken to measure the stocks and flows through three settlement types is that settlements should be considered in a national or at least regional context, and not in isolation or individually. The primary basis for this view is the high degree to which mass flows come into and leave the settlement and surrounding hinterland; 50% or more of aggregate mass flows through a settlement are to and from other places. Due to this high dependency on other settlements or regions, settlements have to be viewed in a collective manner.

One key insight provided by the study is that gross material flows mirror the size of the respective region (56 mt per year for south east Queensland, 5.4 for mid north coast and 4.1 for Goulburn) while the per capita flows are more uniform (25, 19 and 21 t per capita respectively).

The data on material stocks and flows through Southeast Queensland region was most comprehensive and shows that:

• The region appears strongly linked in material flows to other settlements (as illustrated by the relatively large material imports (>60% of inputs) and exports (>80% of outputs) to and from the settlement);
• Relatively small proportions (9% of inputs) of the mass flows are incorporated (annually) in the stocks of the settlement. The majority of mass flows are associated with intermediate uses, final consumption and production of exports;
• Wastes generated amount to 13% of direct material inputs.

Data Limitations

The available data were frequently insufficient or inadequate. A relatively complete picture was provided for the south east Queensland only for 2001.

Issues for which this is an indicator and why

Human Settlements — Pressures created by human settlements on the environment - Material use 

Human settlements consume material and energy resources from and emit wastes to the environment. The flow of resources through a settlement is related to the demand and supply processes occurring within the settlement. The flow of resources is indicative of the rates of change in stocks within the settlement. The size and growth rates of stocks greatly influence the nature of the human settlement and its impacts on the environment.

Other indicators for this issue:

• LD-12 Quantity and dollar value of raw materials from non-living terrestrial sources 
• CO-47 Quantity and dollar value of raw materials from non-living marine sources 

Coasts and Oceans — Contributions of the coasts and oceans to human life - Food 

Material flows analysis provides insights into the movement of food from the sea.

Other indicators for this issue:

• CO-07 Australian fisheries production - national tonnage and value of retained catch 
• CO-08 National tonnage and value of aquaculture production 

Coasts and Oceans — Contributions of the coasts and oceans to human life - Non-living material (materials and energy fuels) 

Material flows analysis provides insights into the movement of non-living materials from the sea.

Other indicators for this issue:

• CO-10 Total energy production from the Australian marine environment 
• CO-47 Quantity and dollar value of raw materials from non-living marine sources 

Land — Contributions of land to human life - Living materials from the land 

Material flows analysis provides insights into the movement of food from terrestrial sources.

Other indicators for this issue:

• LD-08 Average tonnage and value of food produced per hectare of land under food production 
• LD-09 Average tonnage and value of other (non-food) agricultural products per hectare of land under production 
• BD-23 Some selected nationally significant native terrestrial species subjected to harvesting and population trends 
• LD-19 Land use and land use change 

Land — Contributions of land to human life - Non-living materials from the land 

Material flows analysis provides insights into the movement of non-living materials from terrestrial sources.

Other indicators for this issue:

• LD-11 Total energy value of land-based energy fuels from non-living sources produced in Australia 
• LD-12 Quantity and dollar value of raw materials from non-living terrestrial sources 

Further Information

Source: Lennox, JA & Turner, GM 2004, State of the Environment Report on Human Settlements: Stocks and Flows Indicators, Department of the Environment and Heritage.