NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Brightwaters, 2264
Current weather
17.1°CClear sky
61% humidity · 14 km/h wind · 21.2° / 14.1° today · 4.5 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
In Lake Macquarie, Brightwaters is a settled smaller community with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. Still within reach of the city while offering more breathing room, it suits those who want balance over bustle. Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life.
Local shops and services cover the basics well, with more choice a short trip into neighbouring suburbs. Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods. Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose.
Active development is adding new homes and refreshed pockets throughout the suburb.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, with housing affordability and local dining and lifestyle amenities the main drags compared with similar metro suburbs. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 875
- Median age
- 50
- Median household income / week
- $1,419
- Dwelling vacancy
- 14.9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 60 of 403
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,000
- Employment rate
- 49.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 18 / 5 / 7
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
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $628
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 99
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)
- 74
- Against the person
- 19
- Against property
- 28
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 84.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 46 residents
- State safety percentile
- 59.7th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -12.7%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault97
- Fraud105
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment115
- Malicious Damage To Property97
- Transport Regulatory Offences251
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
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 1,001
- Brightwaters Christian CollegeCombined
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
27 public transport stops in this suburb
- Dandaraga Rd After Buttaba Rd
- Dandaraga Rd At Kimbul Rd
- Dandaraga Rd Opp Buttaba Rd
- Fishery Point Rd At Yarrawonga Park Rd
- Fishery Point Rd Opp Yarrawonga Park Rd
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).
105 planning-related records
2026· 4 proposals
May 2026
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)29 DANDARAGA ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure43 DANDARAGA ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Under Assessment
April 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development12 PILLAPAI ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Under Assessment
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure22 PILLAPAI ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
2025· 13 proposals
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation102A DANDARAGA ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
October 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure62 PILLAPAI ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool31 DANDARAGA ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Non-standard Housing24 PILLAPAI ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
September 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation32 PILLAPAI ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Water recreation structure37 DANDARAGA ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
August 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure24 BUTTABA ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
July 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Waterway structures - minor alterations2 PILLAPAI ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
April 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool37 DANDARAGA ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
March 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah68 BULGONIA ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
February 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure54 BULGONIA ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Jetty; Boat launching ramp64A BUTTABA ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
January 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies67 DANDARAGA ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
2024· 10 proposals
July 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure97 BUTTABA ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation45 DANDARAGA ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
May 2024
- Temporary building, structure or use; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support12 BULGONIA ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport30 BULGONIA ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool7B KIMBUL ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure5 KALLAROO ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
April 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Supporting Development11 DANDARAGA ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
March 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure57C BUTTABA ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation68A BUTTABA ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation62 DANDARAGA ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
2023· 13 proposals
November 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure54 BUTTABA ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
September 2023
- Subdivision56 BUTTABA ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
August 2023
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces69 DANDARAGA ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
- Shed37 DANDARAGA ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
July 2023
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces; Shed14 BULGONIA ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
- Dwelling; Demolition32 PILLAPAI ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development24 BUTTABA ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development28 BUTTABA ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
June 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development50 DANDARAGA ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
May 2023
- Dwelling14 BULGONIA ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
March 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development1 DANDARAGA ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
- Pools / decks / fencing78 BULGONIA ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Withdrawn
February 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development44 BUTTABA ROAD BRIGHTWATERS 2264Determined
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
10 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Brightwaters Christian College, Bulgonia RdBus stop
- Bulgonia Rd at Hall StBus stop
- Bulgonia Rd opp Brightwaters Christian CollegeBus stop
- Bulgonia Rd opp Hall StBus stop
- Dandaraga Rd after Buttaba RdBus stop
- Dandaraga Rd opp Buttaba RdBus stop
- Rhodes Pde opp Asquith AvBus stop
- Picnic Table (2)
- Playground
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
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
Parks & reserves
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Brightwaters Hall ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 6/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 6/10
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
- Overlay applies
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
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 1
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 22.4/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6339th in Australia
- State rank
- 1974th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #132 among Metro Sydney · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #851 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 78%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Brightwaters Christian College, Bulgonia Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Bulgonia Rd at Hall Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Bulgonia Rd opp Brightwaters Christian Collegeamenitiesbus_stop
- Bulgonia Rd opp Hall Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Dandaraga Rd after Buttaba Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Dandaraga Rd opp Buttaba Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Picnic Tableamenitiespicnic_table
- Picnic Tableamenitiespicnic_table
- Playgroundamenitiesplayground
- Rhodes Pde opp Asquith Avamenitiesbus_stop
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Lake Macquarie Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.