NSW · Coffs Harbour Council
Emerald Beach, 2456
Current weather
18.2°CClear sky
79% humidity · 12.5 km/h wind · 20.7° / 14.2° today · 1.4 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Excellent transport
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Life in Emerald Beach revolves around the coast, with the feel of a mid-sized suburb that never strays far from the water. Coastal living here comes with genuine distance from the capital, a self-contained pace with the sea at its heart. Sea breezes and coastal air are part of everyday life, especially on warmer evenings.
Families and commuters make up much of the community, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward. 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.
The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and safety against similar coastal suburbs, even with growth momentum and housing affordability holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 2,677
- Median age
- 41
- Median household income / week
- $1,813
- Dwelling vacancy
- 7.7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 78 of 1,007
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,950
- Employment rate
- 61.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 70 / 36 / 14
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)
- $545
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $700
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $665
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 124
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)
- 183
- Against the person
- 49
- Against property
- 72
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 68.4
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 55 residents
- State safety percentile
- 47th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +14%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order88
- Breach Bail Conditions76
- Domestic Violence Related Assault88
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment113
- Malicious Damage To Property102
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
63 public transport stops in this suburb
- Fiddaman Rd Opp Flagstaff Av
- Ocean View Cr At Semaphore St
- Poynten Dr At Pont Cl
- Poynten Dr Before Pont Cl
- Poynten Dr Opp Gwen Cl
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
- Exercise caution. Check signage. Emerald Beach Reserve Upgrade Works – 6 July 2026 to 30 November 2026. Fiddaman Road along the foreshore will be temporarily closed. One-way traffic conditions will apply on Flagstaff Avenue, with no parking permitted. Access to the playground and public amenities will be maintained. Traffic controllers will be on site to direct motorists. Signs will be in place.Fiddaman Road28 Jun 2026 – 30 Nov 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).
276 planning-related records
2026· 17 proposals
June 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Caravan park73 FISHERMANS DRIVE EMERALD BEACH 2456Under Assessment
May 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures)37 BLUFF ROAD EMERALD BEACH 2456Under Assessment
- Shed; Erection of a new structure17 POynten Drive, Emerald Beach NSW 2456Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool25 COMO AVENUE EMERALD BEACH 2456Determined
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure21 DAMMEREL CRESCENT EMERALD BEACH 2456Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation78 FIDDAMAN ROAD EMERALD BEACH 2456Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Portable offices78A PINEHYRST DRIVE EMERALD BEACH 2456Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure68 BLUFF ROAD EMERALD BEACH 2456Determined
- Subdivision8 SKINNER CLOSE EMERALD BEACH 2456Additional Information Requested
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport; Swimming pool37 FIDDAMAN ROAD EMERALD BEACH 2456Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 SEMAPHORE STREET EMERALD BEACH 2456Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah37 FIDDAMAN ROAD EMERALD BEACH 2456Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure40A HAMMOND ROAD EMERALD BEACH 2456Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure31 FISHERMANS DRIVE EMERALD BEACH 2456Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)67 LAKE BREEZE LANE EMERALD BEACH 2456Determined
January 2026
- Subdivision82 SMITHS ROAD EMERALD BEACH 2456Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool10 BLUFF ROAD EMERALD BEACH 2456Determined
2025· 23 proposals
December 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Residential Accommodation1 PONT CLOSE EMERALD BEACH 2456Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Stairway; Swimming pool10 SIGNAL STREET EMERALD BEACH 2456Determined
- Subdivision35 SKINNER CLOSE EMERALD BEACH 2456Under Assessment
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure55 BLUFF ROAD EMERALD BEACH 2456Determined
- Home business; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia5 SURF STREET EMERALD BEACH 2456Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure48 DAMMEREL CRESCENT EMERALD BEACH 2456Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure18 SUNSHINE CIRCUIT EMERALD BEACH 2456Determined
September 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool27 FISHERMANS DRIVE EMERALD BEACH 2456Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure36 GOONAROO PLACE EMERALD BEACH 2456Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure22 SMITHS ROAD EMERALD BEACH 2456Determined
August 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool22 SMITHS ROAD EMERALD BEACH 2456Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport; Garage, carport or carparking space18 EMERALD HEIGHTS DRIVE EMERALD BEACH 2456Determined
- Residential flat building; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4/107 FIDDAMAN ROAD EMERALD BEACH NSW 2456Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure2 AZURE AVENUE EMERALD BEACH 2456Determined
July 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation4 SURF STREET EMERALD BEACH 2456Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure11 TRADEWINDS AVENUE EMERALD BEACH 2456Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 FISHERMANS DRIVE EMERALD BEACH 2456Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure81 EMERALD HEIGHTS DRIVE EMERALD BEACH 2456Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Moveable dwelling; Residential Accommodation1 PONT CLOSE EMERALD BEACH 2456Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure25 LAKE RUSSELL DRIVE EMERALD BEACH 2456Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool65 EMERALD HEIGHTS DRIVE EMERALD BEACH 2456Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool; Supporting Development55 FISHERMANS DRIVE EMERALD BEACH 2456Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure31 FISHERMANS DRIVE EMERALD BEACH 2456Determined
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
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Emerald Beach 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
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)
- 3
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
- 40.7/100 — Average
- National rank
- 3353rd in Australia
- State rank
- 1059th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #53 among Coastal & beach · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #108 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 70%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Breach Apprehended Violence Ordercrime88
- Breach Bail Conditionscrime76
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime88
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime113
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime102
- Fiddaman Rd Opp Flagstaff Avtransport
- Ocean View Cr At Semaphore Sttransport
- Poynten Dr At Pont Cltransport
- Poynten Dr Before Pont Cltransport
- Poynten Dr Opp Gwen Cltransport
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 Coffs Harbour Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.