NSW · Central Coast (NSW) Council
Lake Haven, 2263
Current weather
17.1°CClear sky
61% humidity · 14 km/h wind · 21.2° / 14.1° today · 4.5 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Lake Haven is a well-connected mid-sized suburb in Central Coast (NSW) with everyday amenities close at hand. Well placed between the city and outer suburbs, it offers practical access in every direction. Tree-lined streets and leafy pockets give the suburb a noticeably green, settled character.
Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life. Local shops and services cover the basics well, with more choice a short trip into neighbouring suburbs. Parks, reserves and open space make it genuinely outdoor-friendly for walks, sport and weekend downtime.
Buses and trains connect the area to surrounding suburbs, keeping the wider city within easy reach. Housing remains accessible compared with many parts of the state.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because community and employment and schools and education lag similar metro suburbs, despite relative strength in parks and green space.
Population
- Population
- 3,529
- Median age
- 49
- Median household income / week
- $1,023
- Dwelling vacancy
- 7.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 113 of 1,560
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,700
- Employment rate
- 38%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 126 / 338 / 67
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)
- $450
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $600
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $570
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 230
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)
- 390
- Against the person
- 123
- Against property
- 122
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 110.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 29 residents
- State safety percentile
- 78th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -6.2%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order193
- Breach Bail Conditions442
- Domestic Violence Related Assault201
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment344
- Malicious Damage To Property238
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
- 923
- Gorokan High SchoolSecondary
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
55 public transport stops in this suburb
- Gorokan High School, Goobarabah Av
- Lake Haven Centre, Stand E
- Lake Haven Centre, Stand F
- Lake Haven Dr Before Lyle St
- Lake Haven Dr Opp Homemaker Lake Haven
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).
55 planning-related records
2026· 6 proposals
June 2026
- Advertising and signage; Retail Premise; Specialised Retail Premises53 LAKE HAVEN DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Under Assessment
April 2026
- Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Food and drink premise; Take away food and drink4 BANNISTER DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Under Assessment
March 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Recreation facility (outdoor)10 GAVIN WAY LAKE HAVEN 2263Under Assessment
January 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool35 COURIGAL STREET LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Erection of a new structure7 GOROKAN DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool13 OXFORD DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
2025· 4 proposals
December 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport65 CHRISTOPHER CRESCENT LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
August 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure27 BROMLEY COURT LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
July 2025
- Restaurant or cafe; Advertising and signage; Food and drink premise7 BANNISTER DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure29 GOOBARABAH AVENUE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
2024· 9 proposals
December 2024
- Commercial development; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Food and drink premise; Take away food and drink4 BANNISTER DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
November 2024
- Restaurant or cafe; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Food and drink premise7 BANNISTER DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
- Advertising and signage; Retail Premise; Shop43 LAKE HAVEN DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure158 DUDLEY STREET LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
September 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool6 BENSLEY CLOSE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
May 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure39 GLADING CLOSE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure61 MALVINA PARADE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
February 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 BENSLEY CLOSE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
January 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation7 COURIGAL STREET LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
2023· 6 proposals
November 2023
- Restaurant or cafe; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia7 BANNISTER DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
August 2023
- Subdivision of land7 COURIGAL STREET LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
June 2023
- Subdivision of land5 KYLIE CLOSE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
April 2023
- Other43 LAKE HAVEN DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
March 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing101 MALVINA PARADE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
February 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing; Earthworks / change in levels; Retaining walls, protection of trees; Other4 LONSDALE CLOSE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
2022· 15 proposals
December 2022
- Other43 LAKE HAVEN DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
November 2022
- Dwelling; Demolition5 GLADING CLOSE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
October 2022
- Secondary dwelling5 NATHAN PLACE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
- Change of use53 LAKE HAVEN DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
August 2022
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision of land6 LYLE STREET LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
July 2022
- Dual occupancy7 COURIGAL STREET LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
June 2022
- Alterations and additions to commercial development53 LAKE HAVEN DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
May 2022
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs6 TRISTRAM CLOSE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
- Demolition; Alterations and additions to residential development2 BENSLEY CLOSE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
April 2022
- Other1 BANNISTER DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
- Alterations and additions to commercial development; Other43 LAKE HAVEN DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
- Change of use7 BANNISTER DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development1 2 HOLLY CLOSE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
March 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development9 COURIGAL STREET LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
January 2022
- Signage7 BANNISTER DRIVE LAKE HAVEN 2263Determined
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
52 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- BWSAlcohol
- Lake Haven Centre, Stand 3Bus Station
- Lake Haven Centre, Stand 4Bus Station
- Lake Haven Centre, Stand 5Bus Station
- Lake Haven Centre, Stand 7Bus Station
- Dudley St at Inderan AveBus stop
- Gorokan Dr after Christopher CresBus stop
- Gorokan Dr after Goobarabah AvBus stop
- Gorokan Dr at Megan ClBus stop
- Gorokan Dr before Christopher 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
3 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Chelmsford Road East ReservePark
- Elise Close ReservePark
- Renee Close ReserveNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 1
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Priceline Pharmacypharmacy
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)
- 1/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 1/10
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)
- 12
- 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
- 42.7/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 45% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 2999th in Australia
- State rank
- 954th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #60 among Metro Sydney · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #586 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 82%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Aldiamenitiessupermarket
- BWSamenitiesalcohol
- Best & Lessamenitiesclothes
- Bob Jane T-Martsamenitiestyres
- Centrelink Lake Havenamenitiescommunity_centre
- Colesamenities43 Lake Haven Drivesupermarket
- Dudley St at Inderan Aveamenitiesbus_stop
- Gorokan Dr after Christopher Cresamenitiesbus_stop
- Gorokan Dr after Goobarabah Avamenitiesbus_stop
- Gorokan Dr at Megan Clamenitiesbus_stop
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Central Coast (NSW) Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.