NSW · Ballina Council
Alstonvale, 2477
Current weather
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84% humidity · 9.1 km/h wind · 21.6° / 13.7° today · 0.5 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
In Ballina, Alstonvale keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. A strong local centre anchors daily routines, while the surrounding region adds variety for weekends away. Open skies and rolling countryside set a calm backdrop to everyday routines.
Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice, and that is part of the charm. Strong public transport connections keep the wider area accessible.
Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose. A trickle of new development is refreshing selected pockets without changing the overall feel.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and growth momentum lag similar regional towns, despite relative strength in housing affordability and community and employment. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 431
- Median age
- 53
- Median household income / week
- $2,038
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5.5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 9 of 163
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,000
- Employment rate
- 62.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 4 / 0 / 0
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $530
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $750
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $700
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 59
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · Period: January to March 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 17
- Against the person
- 5
- Against property
- 9
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 39.4
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 86 residents
- State safety percentile
- 14.6th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +0.3%
Reported offences are unchanged compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault37
- Fraud33
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment40
- Malicious Damage To Property62
- Steal From Motor Vehicle47
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Period: Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
Public transport
65 public transport stops in this suburb
- 160 Wenga Dr
- 413 Pearces Creek Rd
- 651 Pearces Creek Rd
- 86 Sproule Dr
- Eltham Rd Opp 1305
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
20 planning-related records
2026· 2 proposals
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure128 WENGA DRIVE ALSTONVALE 2477Under Assessment
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure21 WENGA DRIVE ALSTONVALE 2477Determined
2025· 3 proposals
September 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool1192 ELTHAM ROAD ALSTONVALE 2477Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure21 WENGA DRIVE ALSTONVALE 2477Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space; Rainwater tanks122 ALSTONVALE ROAD ALSTONVALE 2477Determined
2024· 4 proposals
November 2024
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures); Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space; Rainwater tanks485 PEARCES CREEK ROAD ALSTONVALE 2477Determined
August 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure137 WENGA DRIVE ALSTONVALE 2477Determined
May 2024
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures); Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space; Rainwater tanks; Swimming pool485 PEARCES CREEK ROAD ALSTONVALE 2477Determined
January 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure379 PEARCES CREEK ROAD ALSTONVALE 2477Determined
2023· 4 proposals
November 2023
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Tennis courts; Swimming pool72 WENGA DRIVE ALSTONVALE 2477Determined
September 2023
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool441 SNEATHS ROAD ALSTONVALE 2477Determined
August 2023
- Subdivision of land121 ALSTONVALE ROAD ALSTONVALE 2477Determined
April 2023
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Demolition; Alterations and additions to residential development121 ALSTONVALE ROAD ALSTONVALE 2477Determined
2022· 6 proposals
October 2022
- Dwelling423 SNEATHS ROAD ALSTONVALE 2477Determined
August 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing; Demolition; Alterations and additions to residential development; Earthworks / change in levels; Garages, carports and car parking spaces379 PEARCES CREEK ROAD ALSTONVALE 2477Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development40 ALSTONVALE ROAD ALSTONVALE 2477Determined
June 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing131 WILLOWBANK DRIVE ALSTONVALE 2477Determined
April 2022
- Dual occupancy621 PEARCES CREEK ROAD ALSTONVALE 2477Determined
March 2022
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces34 WILLOWBANK DRIVE ALSTONVALE 2477Determined
2021· 1 proposal
October 2021
- Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development; Garages, carports and car parking spaces81 WENGA DRIVE ALSTONVALE 2477Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Period: 2020–2026 · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 9/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 9/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 47.9/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 33% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2195th in Australia
- State rank
- 690th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #54 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #150 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 60%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime37
- Fraudcrime33
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime40
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime62
- Steal From Motor Vehiclecrime47
- 160 Wenga Drtransport
- 413 Pearces Creek Rdtransport
- 651 Pearces Creek Rdtransport
- 86 Sproule Drtransport
- Eltham Rd Opp 1305transport
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · Updated on site · GTFS static feed (updated nightly)
More in Ballina Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.