NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Kilaben Bay, 2283
Current weather
16.9°CClear sky
67% humidity · 13.5 km/h wind · 20.8° / 13.8° today · 3.1 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Lake Macquarie, Kilaben Bay is a settled smaller community with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. The metro area remains accessible without feeling caught up in the inner-city rush. The area suits established families and long-term locals, with a strong presence of young families throughout.
Everyday errands and local outings are straightforward, with the wider metro area adding variety. Local parks and tree cover add a welcome outdoor dimension to suburban life. Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods.
Housing carries a premium, but residents tend to feel the lifestyle justifies the commitment. Active development is adding new homes and refreshed pockets throughout the suburb.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and growth momentum lag similar metro suburbs, despite relative strength in housing affordability and community and employment. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 1,516
- Median age
- 47
- Median household income / week
- $2,186
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 29 of 583
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,036
- Employment rate
- 57.1%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 35 / 23 / 6
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)
- $650
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 89
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)
- 126
- Against the person
- 36
- Against property
- 33
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 83.1
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 42 residents
- State safety percentile
- 58th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -1.3%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions387
- Domestic Violence Related Assault156
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment194
- Malicious Damage To Property138
- Transport Regulatory Offences278
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
- 1,023
- St Joseph'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
38 public transport stops in this suburb
- Kilaben Rd After Barina Av
- Kilaben Rd After Warruga St
- Kilaben Rd At Toronto Rd
- Kilaben Rd Opp Barina Av
- Kilaben Rd Opp Warruga St
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).
126 planning-related records
2026· 3 proposals
June 2026
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure166 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Under Assessment
April 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)128 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool55 RIDGE ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
2025· 24 proposals
December 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Carport114 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support37 LAKE VIEW ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Under Assessment
November 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies19 PUNTEE STREET KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Water recreation structure266 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure222 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure232 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure90 RIDGE ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure73 RIDGE ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure55 JARRETT STREET KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space; Rainwater tanks; Swimming pool62 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
- Subdivision166 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure17 LAKE VIEW ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Additional Information Requested
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool19 LAKESHORE CLOSE KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure59 JARRETT STREET KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
May 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation23 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure86 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
April 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Garage, carport or carparking space62 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Withdrawn
March 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Landscaping structures; Swimming pool32 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure70 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure183 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
January 2025
- Dual occupancy; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Garage, carport or carparking space62 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool19 PUNTEE STREET KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool35 BARINA AVENUE KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure49A LAKE VIEW ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
2024· 13 proposals
December 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool36 LAKE VIEW ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
November 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces149 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure70 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
September 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure216 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Garage, carport or carparking space62 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Withdrawn
- Erection of a new structure; Carport110 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
August 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool2 RIDGE ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
June 2024
- Subdivision168 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure1 WARRUGA STREET KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
May 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
April 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces149 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure33 KILABEN ROAD KILABEN BAY 2283Withdrawn
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
15 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench (2)
- 35 Lake View RdBus stop
- Jarrett St opp Oakhampton CtBus stop
- Kilaben Rd at Toronto RdBus stop
- Kilaben Rd opp Barina AvBus stop
- Kilaben Rd opp Warruga StBus stop
- Lake View Rd before Jarrett StBus stop
- Warruga St after Kilaben RdBus stop
- Picnic Table (3)
- 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
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Collard ReservePark
- Kilaben ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 9/10
- 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
- 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)
- 8
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
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
- 36.7/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4080th in Australia
- State rank
- 1283rd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #79 among Metro Sydney · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #690 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
- 35 Lake View Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Jarrett St opp Oakhampton Ctamenitiesbus_stop
- Kilaben Rd at Toronto Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Kilaben Rd opp Barina Avamenitiesbus_stop
- Kilaben Rd opp Warruga Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Lake View Rd before Jarrett Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Picnic Tableamenitiespicnic_table
- Picnic Tableamenitiespicnic_table
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.