NSW · Ballina Council
East Ballina, 2478
Current weather
18.5°COvercast
86% humidity · 6.2 km/h wind · 21.1° / 15.2° today · 0.1 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- Dog friendly
- High desirability
Suburb profile
East Ballina wears its coastal identity openly, a mid-sized suburb built around sand, sea and an easy outdoor rhythm. Set on the coast at a distance from the capital, it trades city proximity for a slower, beach-led rhythm. There is a lightness to the air here, with the coast never far from mind.
Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. Green space is a real strength, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods.
Homes here are sought-after, with many people drawn to the lifestyle the area offers. A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because safety and local dining and lifestyle amenities lag similar coastal suburbs, despite relative strength in parks and green space and growth momentum. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 5,882
- Median age
- 48
- Median household income / week
- $1,554
- Dwelling vacancy
- 7.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 203 of 2,609
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,800
- Employment rate
- 55.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 178 / 738 / 160
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)
- $595
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $850
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $755
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 236
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)
- 552
- Against the person
- 105
- Against property
- 295
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 93.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 56 residents
- State safety percentile
- 65.8th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +13%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions342
- Fraud335
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment155
- Malicious Damage To Property240
- Steal From Retail Store305
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
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 974.5
- Southern Cross Public SchoolPrimary
- Southern Cross School of Distance EducationCombined
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
209 public transport stops in this suburb
- Ballina Flood Recovery Centre, Compton Dr
- Bayview Dr Opp Barwen St
- Eyles Dr After John Sharpe St
- Eyles Dr Walkway, Angels Beach Dr
- Links Av At Fred Stoker Park
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).
190 planning-related records
2026· 17 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure50 FENWICK DRIVE EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool94 EYLES DRIVE EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
May 2026
- Dual occupancy; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport; Driveways and hard stand spaces52 ANTRIM STREET EAST BALLINA 2478Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (detached)23 CONDON DRIVE EAST BALLINA 2478Under Assessment
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure25 CEDAR CRESCENT EAST BALLINA 2478Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space10 TRILBY AVENUE EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation4 MELALEUCA PLACE EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
April 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation2 5 BAYVIEW STREET EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Carport; Swimming pool13 CASUARINA ROAD EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport51 JAMESON AVENUE EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure5 JOHN SHARPE STREET EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool57 NORTHUMBERLAND DRIVE EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
March 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool7 SHORT STREET EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool30 PINE AVENUE EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support11 SUZANNE STREET EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation28 NORTHUMBERLAND DRIVE EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
January 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool1 6 ANTRIM STREET EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
2025· 23 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation28 NORTHUMBERLAND DRIVE EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external); Skylights, roof windows and ventilators; Residential Accommodation; Supporting Development114 EYLES DRIVE EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
- Fences; Hours of operation and trading1 13 KARDELLA AVENUE EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
November 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Garage, carport or carparking space24 COOGEE STREET EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation31 BAYVIEW DRIVE EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
October 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah15 JAMESON AVENUE EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Fences68 BAYVIEW DRIVE EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
- Shed; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure7 RAINBOW PLACE EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport19 AINSWORTH CLOSE EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Fences; Swimming pool2 TUCKEROO DRIVE EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool37 ANDERSON STREET EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
September 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool8 Sea Swallow Place East Ballina NSW 2478Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation7 STAPLETON STREET EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Supporting Development4 17-19 ANDERSON STREET EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
July 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool12 SILVER GULL DRIVE EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4 WATTLE CRESCENT EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
June 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool29 ANDERSON STREET EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
- Subdivision17 SEAVIEW STREET EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah22 CENTRAL AVENUE EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; 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 tanks23 COMPTON DRIVE EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
May 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures); Carport; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space; Landscaping structures; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external); Pathways and paving; Skylights, roof windows and ventilators; Stairway3 PINE AVENUE EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport46 CEDAR CRESCENT EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
April 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool2 FIG TREE PLACE EAST BALLINA 2478Determined
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
317 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench (2)
- Biergarten
- 46 Shelly Beach RdBus stop
- Casuarina Rd at Melaleuca PlBus stop
- Cedar Cres at Lighthouse PdeBus stop
- Chickiba Dr after Kingfisher PlBus stop
- Chickiba Dr at Mahogany PlBus stop
- Chickiba Dr at Osprey PlBus stop
- Chickiba Dr at Pandanus PlBus stop
- Chickiba Drive opposite Casuarina DriveBus stop
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
17 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Antrim Street ReservePark
- Bayview Drive ReservePark
- Chickiba ParkPark
- Easton ParkPark
- Eliza Mackinnon ParkPark
- Fred Stoker ParkPark
- Jan Moon ReservePark
- Lions ParkPark
- McDougall ReservePark
- Mercer ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 7/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 7/10
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
Childcare
2 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
- childcarechildcare
- childcarechildcare
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
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)
- 138
- Parks (OSM)
- 29
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
- 48.5/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 31% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2113th in Australia
- State rank
- 665th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #28 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #76 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 85%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- 46 Shelly Beach Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Ballina Children's Poolamenitiesswimming_pool
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Biergartenamenitiesbiergarten
- Bonnie’s Emporiumamenities13a Wyuna Crescentpet
- Casuarina Rd at Melaleuca Plamenitiesbus_stop
- Cedar Cres at Lighthouse Pdeamenitiesbus_stop
- Chickiba Dr after Kingfisher Plamenitiesbus_stop
- Chickiba Dr at Mahogany Plamenitiesbus_stop
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
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.