NSW · Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
Lakewood, 2443
Current weather
18.6°CClear sky
79% humidity · 11 km/h wind · 23.1° / 14.3° today · 0.3 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Lakewood is a quieter smaller community in Port Macquarie-Hastings, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. Life revolves around the local community, with the wider region offering trips and services when needed. Wide horizons and a country quiet give the area a restorative, unhurried atmosphere.
Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice, and that is part of the charm. The area offers approachable housing costs alongside a lifestyle that still feels complete.
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 parks and green space against similar regional towns, even with housing affordability holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 1,249
- Median age
- 58
- Median household income / week
- $1,036
- Dwelling vacancy
- 3.8%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 21 of 547
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,540
- Employment rate
- 35.8%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 49 / 20 / 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
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $600
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 37
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)
- 57
- Against the person
- 17
- Against property
- 23
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 45.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 73 residents
- State safety percentile
- 22th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -7.8%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order28
- Domestic Violence Related Assault36
- Fraud29
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment38
- Malicious Damage To Property41
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
6 public transport stops in this suburb
- Ocean Dr At Fairwinds Av
- Ocean Dr At Mission Tce
- Ocean Dr At Mission Tce
- Ocean Dr Opp Fairwinds Av
- Ocean Dr Opp Mission Tce
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).
73 planning-related records
2026· 2 proposals
May 2026
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah1 BOTTLEBRUSH PLACE LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
March 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)27 HONEYSUCKLE AVENUE LAKEWOOD 2443Under Assessment
2025· 12 proposals
December 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Landscaping structures22 ELLERSLIE CRESCENT LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support15 GUKANDI STREET LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
October 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah14 FAIRWINDS AVENUE LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure13 ADMIRALS CIRCLE LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure11 HONEYSUCKLE AVENUE LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah12 ADMIRALS CIRCLE LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
June 2025
- Demolition229 OCEAN DRIVE LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure13 BRONZEWING TERRACE LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure88 SIRIUS DRIVE LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool57 SIRIUS DRIVE LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
February 2025
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure8 CASUARINA DRIVE LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
January 2025
- Shed; Temporary building, structure or use5 BRONZEWING TERRACE LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
2024· 10 proposals
November 2024
- Subdivision11 MISSION TERRACE LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
September 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)34 SIRIUS DRIVE LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
July 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah18 ADMIRALS CIRCLE LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
June 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space19 SIRIUS DRIVE LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
May 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation8 PHILLIP CLOSE LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
April 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)5 HONEYSUCKLE AVENUE LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah12 ADMIRALS CIRCLE LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool7 MAHOGANY CLOSE LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Residential Accommodation8 PHILLIP CLOSE LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
February 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure21 BANKS STREET LAKEWOOD 2443Withdrawn
2023· 9 proposals
December 2023
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure6 ADMIRALS CIRCLE LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
November 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 TERN CLOSE LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
August 2023
- Shed13 BRONZEWING TERRACE LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
- Dwelling43 SIRIUS DRIVE LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
- Dual occupancy6 ADMIRALS CIRCLE LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
- Alterations and additions to commercial development10 BOTANIC DRIVE LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
May 2023
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces4 BANKS STREET LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development109 SIRIUS DRIVE LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
January 2023
- Pools / decks / fencing; Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development221-223 OCEAN DRIVE LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
2022· 7 proposals
September 2022
- Garages, carports and car parking spaces5 CHEESETREE PLACE LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
August 2022
- Shed12 WAYILA STREET LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
- Dwelling13 ADMIRALS CIRCLE LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
July 2022
- Dwelling9 ADMIRALS CIRCLE LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
May 2022
- Dwelling15 GUKANDI STREET LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Garages, carports and car parking spaces6 BANKSIA CLOSE LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
- Other1 BOTTLEBRUSH PLACE LAKEWOOD 2443Determined
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
8 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Ocean Dr at Fairwinds AveBus stop
- Ocean Dr at Mission TceBus stop
- Ocean Dr opp Fairwinds AveBus stop
- Ocean Dr opp Mission TceBus stop
- Christ The RedeemerPlace of worship
- Place of worship
- Shelter (2)
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
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 3/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
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)
- 1
- Parks (OSM)
- 0
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
- 30.5/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5233rd in Australia
- State rank
- 1664th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #367 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #716 among Country & regional 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
- Christ The Redeemeramenitiesplace_of_worship
- Ocean Dr at Fairwinds Aveamenitiesbus_stop
- Ocean Dr at Mission Tceamenitiesbus_stop
- Ocean Dr opp Fairwinds Aveamenitiesbus_stop
- Ocean Dr opp Mission Tceamenitiesbus_stop
- Place of worshipamenitiesplace_of_worship
- Shelteramenitiesshelter
- Shelteramenitiesshelter
- Breach Apprehended Violence Ordercrime28
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime36
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
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.