NSW · Lake Macquarie Council
Kotara South, 2289
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
- Excellent transport
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Kotara South is a practical smaller community in Lake Macquarie, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. Still within reach of the city while offering more breathing room, it suits those who want balance over bustle. Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with plenty of young families in the mix.
Local shops and services cover the basics well, with more choice a short trip into neighbouring suburbs. 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.
Construction and infill projects are noticeably reshaping parts of the area.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and growth momentum against similar metro suburbs, even with community and employment and housing affordability holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 1,267
- Median age
- 37
- Median household income / week
- $2,230
- Dwelling vacancy
- 5.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 24 of 465
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,167
- Employment rate
- 64.9%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 24 / 16 / 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)
- $580
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $760
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $750
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 151
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)
- 117
- Against the person
- 19
- Against property
- 65
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 92.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 67 residents
- State safety percentile
- 65th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -8.3%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Fraud119
- Malicious Damage To Property119
- Steal From Motor Vehicle172
- Steal From Retail Store342
- Transport Regulatory Offences258
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
- 1,104
- St James' 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
30 public transport stops in this suburb
- Charlestown Rd At Blackbutt Pde
- Charlestown Rd At Stuart St
- Charlestown Rd At Stuart St
- Charlestown Rd Opp 177
- Myall Rd At Charlestown Rd
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).
62 planning-related records
2026· 2 proposals
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure40 STUART STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
January 2026
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space14 ROSCOE STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Additional Information Requested
2025· 8 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure34 DEBORAH STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 Deborah St, Kotara SouthUnder Assessment
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure4 KENNETH STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure55 KURANDA CRESCENT KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
July 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool21 INGLIS STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure21 KIRKDALE DRIVE KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure55 KURANDA CRESCENT KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
January 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure141 CHARLESTOWN ROAD KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
2024· 8 proposals
December 2024
- Pools / decks / fencing; Retaining walls, protection of trees12 Elvidge Crescent, KOTARA SOUTH NSW 2289Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23 INGLIS STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
November 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure28 NEERIM AVENUE KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 ELVIDGE CRESCENT KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation19 CATHRINE STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
February 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure29 STUART STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure26 DEBORAH STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
January 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure17 BLACKBUTT PARADE KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
2023· 10 proposals
November 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure29 STUART STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
October 2023
- Dwelling; Demolition110 LAURIE STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Withdrawn
September 2023
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure22 LUGAR STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure12 ELVIDGE CRESCENT KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure4 KENNETH STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
June 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development7 STUART STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
- Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development21 DEBORAH STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
May 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing; Retaining walls, protection of trees22 ROSCOE STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
- Dwelling17 DEBORAH STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
January 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development23 INGLIS STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
2022· 12 proposals
December 2022
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development21 LUGAR STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
- Retaining walls, protection of trees2 KIRKDALE DRIVE KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development39 DALPURA LANE KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
November 2022
- Dwelling; Secondary dwelling; Retaining walls, protection of trees141 CHARLESTOWN ROAD KOTARA SOUTH 2289Withdrawn
October 2022
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision of land17 INGLIS STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
September 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development165 CHARLESTOWN ROAD KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
- Pools / decks / fencing; Alterations and additions to residential development; Retaining walls, protection of trees18 KENNETH STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
August 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing3 ROSCOE STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Withdrawn
- Pools / decks / fencing; Earthworks / change in levels; Retaining walls, protection of trees159 CHARLESTOWN ROAD KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
June 2022
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations and additions to residential development; Garages, carports and car parking spaces47 CATHRINE STREET KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
- Dwelling; Earthworks / change in levels; Retaining walls, protection of trees8 BEULAH PLACE KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
May 2022
- Retaining walls, protection of trees69 BLACKBUTT PARADE KOTARA SOUTH 2289Determined
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
14 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Charlestown Rd at Blackbutt PdeBus stop
- Charlestown Rd at Stuart StBus stop
- Charlestown Rd opp 177Bus stop
- Inglis St after Lugar StBus stop
- Inglis St before Lugar StBus stop
- Laurie St opp Boundary StBus stop
- Myall Rd at Charlestown RdBus stop
- Stuart St after Elvidge CresBus stop
- Stuart St at Charlestown RdBus stop
- Stuart St at Elvidge CresBus 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
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Carramar 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)
- 8/10
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
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 4
- 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
- 38.6/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 3708th in Australia
- State rank
- 1158th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #260 among Metro Sydney · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #652 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
- Carramar Park Playgroundamenitiesplayground
- Charlestown Rd at Blackbutt Pdeamenitiesbus_stop
- Charlestown Rd at Stuart Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Charlestown Rd opp 177amenitiesbus_stop
- Drinking wateramenitiesdrinking_water
- Inglis St after Lugar Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Inglis St before Lugar Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Laurie St opp Boundary Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Myall Rd at Charlestown Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- 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.