NSW · Richmond Valley Council
Broadwater, 2472
Current weather
18.2°CMainly clear
81% humidity · 13.6 km/h wind · 22.1° / 12.7° today · 0 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Broadwater offers a slower smaller community life in Richmond Valley, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. A strong local centre anchors daily routines, while the surrounding region adds variety for weekends away. The landscape itself is part of the lifestyle: open paddocks, big skies and room to breathe.
Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name. Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward.
The area offers approachable housing costs alongside a lifestyle that still feels complete. Construction and infill projects are noticeably reshaping parts of the area.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and community and employment lag similar regional towns, despite relative strength in housing affordability and schools and education. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 670
- Median age
- 50
- Median household income / week
- $1,071
- Dwelling vacancy
- 7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 21 of 299
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,560
- Employment rate
- 53%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 18 / 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.
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 40
- Against the person
- 8
- Against property
- 20
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 59.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 84 residents
- State safety percentile
- 37th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -25.7%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Arson8
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order9
- Breach Bail Conditions9
- Malicious Damage To Property12
- Steal From Motor Vehicle7
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
- 4
- Median school ICSEA (4 schools)
- 1,039.5
- Centre of Excellence in Agricultural EducationSecondary
- Richmond High SchoolSecondary
- Richmond Public SchoolPrimary
- St Monica's Primary SchoolPrimary
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
39 public transport stops in this suburb
- 243 Baraang Dr
- 88 Bagotville Rd
- Broadwater Public School, Byrnes St
- Broadwater Rd After Plenkovich Rd
- Pacific Hwy After Matthes Lane
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)
Roadworks & transport
1 active roadworks / incidents
- Allow extra travel time. Check signage. Reduced speed limit. Scheduled roadworks on Broadwater Evans Head Road BROADWATER.Broadwater-Evans Head Road18 Jun 2026 – 05 Jul 2026
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · Hourly refresh where supported
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
144 planning-related records
2026· 4 proposals
April 2026
- Subdivision; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Garage, carport or carparking space13-15 FAITHFULL STREET RICHMOND 2753Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation162 FRANCIS STREET RICHMOND 2753Additional Information Requested
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure82 PITT STREET RICHMOND 2753Determined
January 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Animal boarding or training establishment100 OLD KURRAJONG ROAD RICHMOND 2753Determined
2025· 22 proposals
November 2025
- Demolition; Commercial development; Hours of operation and trading25 WINDSOR STREET RICHMOND 2753Determined
October 2025
- Subdivision36 TEVIOT STREET RICHMOND 2753Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure27 PITT STREET RICHMOND 2753Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support97 FRANCIS STREET RICHMOND 2753Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure25 PITT STREET RICHMOND 2753Determined
September 2025
- Advertising and signage; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Community facility; Other Infrastructure288 WINDSOR STREET RICHMOND 2753Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Take away food and drink69 MARCH STREET RICHMOND 2753Determined
- Subdivision239 WINDSOR STREET RICHMOND 2753Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure17 DIGHT STREET RICHMOND 2753Determined
August 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation5 WINDSOR STREET RICHMOND 2753Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)20 FAITHFULL STREET RICHMOND 2753Determined
May 2025
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Early Education and Care Facility; Centre-based child care11 DRIFT ROAD RICHMOND 2753Determined
- Demolition; Signage; Advertising and signage; Advertising structure; Building identification sign; Business identification sign1A BOURKE STREET RICHMOND 2753Determined
- Recreation facility (indoor); Hours of operation and trading3 40 BOWMAN STREET RICHMOND 2753Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure17 DIGHT STREET RICHMOND 2753Determined
April 2025
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)41 WILLIAM COX DRIVE RICHMOND 2753Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure317 WINDSOR STREET RICHMOND 2753Determined
March 2025
- Subdivision2 COLLEGE STREET RICHMOND 2753Determined
- Health consulting room; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia8 LENNOX STREET RICHMOND 2753Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external)104 MARCH STREET RICHMOND 2753Determined
February 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Co-living4 WEST MARKET STREET RICHMOND 2753Withdrawn
January 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external)104 MARCH STREET RICHMOND 2753Determined
2024· 14 proposals
December 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Animal boarding or training establishment100 OLD KURRAJONG ROAD RICHMOND 2753Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external)104 MARCH STREET RICHMOND 2753Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Centre-based child care76 WINDSOR STREET RICHMOND 2753Determined
November 2024
- Demolition; Subdivision; Dual occupancy (attached)33 BOURKE STREET RICHMOND 2753Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure82 LENNOX STREET RICHMOND 2753Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure54 FRANCIS STREET RICHMOND 2753Determined
October 2024
- Shop top housing; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure245 WINDSOR STREET RICHMOND 2753Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation35 TEVIOT STREET RICHMOND 2753Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure60 DIGHT STREET RICHMOND 2753Determined
- Office Premise; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia29 BOSWORTH STREET RICHMOND 2753Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure67 WINDSOR STREET RICHMOND 2753Determined
September 2024
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Carport59 BOSWORTH STREET RICHMOND 2753Withdrawn
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation168 FRANCIS STREET RICHMOND 2753Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure48 WEST MARKET STREET RICHMOND 2753Determined
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
Parks & reserves
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Broadwater Koala ReserveNature reserve
- Broadwater ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 1/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
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)
- 3
- 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
- 42.4/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 45% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 3048th in Australia
- State rank
- 964th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #104 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #273 among Country & regional 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
- Arsoncrime8
- Breach Apprehended Violence Ordercrime9
- Breach Bail Conditionscrime9
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime12
- Steal From Motor Vehiclecrime7
- 243 Baraang Drtransport
- 88 Bagotville Rdtransport
- Broadwater Public School, Byrnes Sttransport
- Broadwater Rd After Plenkovich Rdtransport
- Pacific Hwy After Matthes Lanetransport
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 Richmond Valley Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.