NSW · Lismore Council
Caniaba, 2480
Current weather
18°CModerate drizzle
86% humidity · 14 km/h wind · 21.5° / 12.1° today · 0.7 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Caniaba offers a slower smaller community life in Lismore, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. Life revolves around the local community, with the wider region offering trips and services when needed. Open skies and rolling countryside set a calm backdrop to everyday routines.
Families and commuters make up much of the community, with plenty of young families in the mix. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting. Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward.
Housing carries a premium, but residents tend to feel the lifestyle justifies the commitment. Construction and infill projects are noticeably reshaping parts of the area.
The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and growth momentum against similar regional towns, even with housing affordability and community and employment holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 804
- Median age
- 41
- Median household income / week
- $2,231
- Dwelling vacancy
- 3.9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 10 of 259
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,962
- Employment rate
- 70.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 8 / 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)
- $425
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $620
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $550
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 252
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)
- 81
- Against the person
- 22
- Against property
- 31
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 100.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 37 residents
- State safety percentile
- 70.7th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -7.7%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions513
- Fraud284
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment361
- Malicious Damage To Property360
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault312
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
43 public transport stops in this suburb
- 225 Caniaba Rd
- Caniaba Rd At Norton Rd
- Fredericks Rd At Rudgley Rd
- Sandalwood Dr At Pimelea Ct
- Sandalwood Dr Before Gardenia Cres
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).
53 planning-related records
2026· 3 proposals
May 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Rainwater tanks9 SANDALWOOD DRIVE CANIABA 2480Determined
March 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool384 CANIABA ROAD CANIABA 2480Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool2 TOOHEY ROAD CANIABA 2480Determined
2025· 6 proposals
July 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support3 BOTTLEBRUSH PLACE CANIABA 2480Withdrawn
June 2025
- Subdivision9 FREDERICKS ROAD CANIABA 2480Under Assessment
May 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure6 GREY GUM CLOSE CANIABA 2480Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport12 SANDALWOOD DRIVE CANIABA 2480Determined
April 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure144 FREDERICKS ROAD CANIABA 2480Determined
March 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies374 CANIABA ROAD CANIABA 2480Determined
2024· 8 proposals
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7 GREY GUM CLOSE CANIABA 2480Determined
July 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure2 BOTTLEBRUSH PLACE CANIABA 2480Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure108 FREDERICKS ROAD CANIABA 2480Determined
June 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool514 CANIABA ROAD CANIABA 2480Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 GREY GUM CLOSE CANIABA 2480Determined
April 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support5 GREY GUM CLOSE CANIABA 2480Determined
March 2024
- Home business; Hours of operation and trading7 SANDALWOOD DRIVE CANIABA 2480Determined
January 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)3 BOTTLEBRUSH PLACE CANIABA 2480Determined
2023· 10 proposals
October 2023
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool10A FREDERICKS ROAD CANIABA 2480Determined
August 2023
- Subdivision of land; Stratum / community title subdivision3 BOTTLEBRUSH PLACE CANIABA 2480Determined
- Dwelling; Dual occupancy35 DOUGAN ROAD CANIABA 2480Determined
June 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing; Alterations and additions to residential development40 CHITTICK ACCESS CANIABA 2480Determined
- Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs4 MELALEUCA COURT CANIABA 2480Determined
May 2023
- Shed5 BOTTLEBRUSH PLACE CANIABA 2480Determined
February 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Change of use8 GARDENIA CRESCENT CANIABA 2480Determined
January 2023
- Shed374 CANIABA ROAD CANIABA 2480Determined
- Signage387 CANIABA ROAD CANIABA 2480Determined
- Dwelling466 CANIABA ROAD CANIABA 2480Determined
2022· 13 proposals
November 2022
- Shed225 CANIABA ROAD CANIABA 2480Withdrawn
October 2022
- Dwelling; Dual occupancy; Pools / decks / fencing; Alterations and additions to residential development4 MELALEUCA COURT CANIABA 2480Determined
August 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Retaining walls, protection of trees; Shed4 GREY GUM CLOSE CANIABA 2480Determined
July 2022
- Shed533 CANIABA ROAD CANIABA 2480Determined
- Pools / decks / fencing6 GREY GUM CLOSE CANIABA 2480Determined
- Pools / decks / fencing17 LOMANDRA AVENUE CANIABA 2480Determined
June 2022
- Educational establishment387 CANIABA ROAD CANIABA 2480Determined
- Pools / decks / fencing14 KURRAJONG PLACE CANIABA 2480Determined
- Pools / decks / fencing; Shed32 LOMANDRA AVENUE CANIABA 2480Determined
- Dwelling7 BOTTLEBRUSH PLACE CANIABA 2480Determined
May 2022
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces628 CANIABA ROAD CANIABA 2480Determined
- Dwelling2 BOTTLEBRUSH PLACE CANIABA 2480Determined
March 2022
- Dwelling13 GREY GUM CLOSE CANIABA 2480Determined
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)
- 7/10
- 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
- 46.4/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 35% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2392nd in Australia
- State rank
- 744th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #73 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #172 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
- Breach Bail Conditionscrime513
- Fraudcrime284
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime361
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime360
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime312
- 225 Caniaba Rdtransport
- Caniaba Rd At Norton Rdtransport
- Fredericks Rd At Rudgley Rdtransport
- Sandalwood Dr At Pimelea Cttransport
- Sandalwood Dr Before Gardenia Crestransport
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 Lismore Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.