NSW · Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
Lake Cathie, 2445
Current weather
18.6°CClear sky
79% humidity · 11 km/h wind · 23.1° / 14.3° today · 0.3 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Green suburb
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Life in Lake Cathie revolves around the coast, with the feel of a mid-sized suburb that never strays far from the water. 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 multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. Parks, reserves and open space make it genuinely outdoor-friendly for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Public transport is a genuine asset, linking residents to work, study and nearby neighbourhoods.
Property is in demand, reflecting the appeal of living in a place people actively choose. 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 local dining and lifestyle amenities and community and employment lag similar coastal suburbs, despite relative strength in growth momentum and parks and green space. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 4,296
- Median age
- 52
- Median household income / week
- $1,275
- Dwelling vacancy
- 8.7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 163 of 1,875
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,850
- Employment rate
- 46.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 110 / 92 / 61
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)
- $700
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 66
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)
- 119
- Against the person
- 39
- Against property
- 44
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 27.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 110 residents
- State safety percentile
- 5.6th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -22%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order22
- Domestic Violence Related Assault20
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment22
- Malicious Damage To Property17
- Steal From Dwelling16
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
- 1,007
- Lake Cathie Public 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
76 public transport stops in this suburb
- Ocean Dr At Colli Cl Walkway
- Ocean Dr Before Abel Tasman Dr
- Ocean Dr Before Fiona Cres
- Ocean Dr Opp Bonny View Dr
- Surfside Resort, Ocean Dr
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).
484 planning-related records
2026· 33 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure119 TOBAGO PARADE LAKE CATHIE 2445Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation4 ANTILLES WAY LAKE CATHIE 2445Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure123 TOBAGO PARADE LAKE CATHIE 2445Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure6 BARBADOS AVENUE LAKE CATHIE 2445Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure12 GALENA GROVE LAKE CATHIE 2445Under Assessment
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1561 OCEAN DRIVE LAKE CATHIE 2445Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool5 KARIKEREE STREET LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool9 TIGER QUOLL DRIVE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Garage, carport or carparking space115 CHEPANA STREET LAKE CATHIE 2445Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure18 ANTILLES WAY LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation59 FOREST PARKWAY LAKE CATHIE 2445Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation4 BANJORA PLACE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure105 CHEPANA STREET LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure19 GALENA GROVE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure9 TIGER QUOLL DRIVE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
March 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool14 EVANS STREET LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external); Swimming pool7 HARDYS ROAD LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool67 FOREST PARKWAY LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external)13 ABEL TASMAN DRIVE LAKE CATHIE 2445Under Assessment
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Medium Density Housing; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Dual occupancy (detached); Residential Accommodation1501 OCEAN DRIVE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation19 SUMMER CIRCUIT LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation35 WALLUM DRIVE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation1350 OCEAN DRIVE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool21 Waterside Way Lake Cathie NSW 2445Determined
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation44 PLATYPUS PARADE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation73 CHEPANA STREET LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Registered club45 EVANS STREET LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation11 GALENA GROVE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool6 SOLOMON DRIVE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure14 GALENA GROVE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
January 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structureMARINE PARADE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool23 GALENA GROVE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure22 GALENA GROVE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
2025· 7 proposals
December 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure45 ANTIGUA AVENUE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
November 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool22 CATHIE CIRCUIT LAKE CATHIE 2445Under Assessment
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support23 GALENA GROVE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool1 CELTIC COURT LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure4 ST JOHN TERRACE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation21 GALENA GROVE LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (external)76 FIONA CRESCENT LAKE CATHIE 2445Determined
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
8 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Aqua ReservePark
- Chepana ReserveNature reserve
- Community Hall ReservePark
- Explorers Way ReservePark
- Foreshore ReservePark
- Jabiru ReserveNature reserve
- Jonathan Dickson ReservePark
- Lake Cathie Koala ReserveNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 2
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Lake Cathie Medical CentreOcean Driveclinic
- Lake Cathie Physio + HydroOcean Drivephysiotherapist
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 5/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 5/10
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
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Lake Cathie Little LearnersSeaside Drivechildcare
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)
- 29
- Parks (OSM)
- 5
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
- 51.2/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 27% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1789th in Australia
- State rank
- 570th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #21 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #65 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
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 Ordercrime22
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime20
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime22
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime17
- Steal From Dwellingcrime16
- Ocean Dr At Colli Cl Walkwaytransport
- Ocean Dr Before Abel Tasman Drtransport
- Ocean Dr Before Fiona Crestransport
- Ocean Dr Opp Bonny View Drtransport
- Surfside Resort, Ocean Drtransport
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 Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.