suburb.guide

NSW · Walgett Council

Lightning Ridge, 2834

Current weather

15.7°CClear sky

84% humidity · 6.3 km/h wind · 21.4° / 12.8° today · 15.5 mm rain

Updated

Desirability score

34.6/100
Below average

1421st in NSW

89% data confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Excellent transport
  • Green suburb
  • High desirability
What Lightning Ridge is known for: Excellent transport, Green suburb, High desirability

Suburb profile

Lightning Ridge is a hillside smaller community in Walgett, with elevated streets and a greener, quieter pace. Far from the capital hubbub, it offers genuine distance, local character and room to live at a slower pace. Elevated streets and bushland backdrops bring a sense of fresh country air to daily life.

An older demographic makes it especially popular with retirees, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting. There is enough green space nearby for walks, picnics and after-school play.

Strong public transport connections keep the wider area accessible. Housing remains accessible compared with many parts of the state.

On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and community and employment lag similar regional towns, despite relative strength in growth momentum and transport and access. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

Population

Population
1,946
Median age
53
Median household income / week
$792
Dwelling vacancy
17.1%
Unoccupied private dwellings
149 of 870
Median monthly mortgage
$867
Employment rate
33.3%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
130 / 33 / 13

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.

Crime & safety

Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
676
Against the person
205
Against property
221
Rate per 1,000 residents
347.4
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 9 residents
State safety percentile
98.9th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate)
+22.6%

Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

Most common offence types

  • Breach Apprehended Violence Order57
  • Breach Bail Conditions61
  • Domestic Violence Related Assault48
  • Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment94
  • Malicious Damage To Property67

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
790
  • Lightning Ridge Central SchoolCombined

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

151 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Benny Walfords Crossing, Bill O'Brien Way
  • Nettleton Dr After Pandora St
  • Nettleton Dr At Rainbow St
  • Nettleton Dr Before Butterfly Av
  • Nettleton Dr Opp Red Robin 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).

556 planning-related records

2026· 40 proposals

  • June 2026

  • Subdivision
    235 Racecourse Road Lot 1 DP 1089791Under Assessment
  • Subdivision
    1-10/3/DP1611On Exhibition
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    9/15/DP759118Additional Information Requested
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    115/-/DP280097Under Assessment
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    115/-/DP280097Under Assessment
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    115/-/DP280097Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    70/-/DP1320632Under Assessment
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    77/-/DP1320632Under Assessment
  • Subdivision
    41A Main Road, Badagarang – Lot 1 DP 1289976Under Assessment
  • Community facility; Hours of operation and trading; Other Infrastructure
    34/DP1083581Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Carport
    21/1194175Under Assessment

  • May 2026

  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    Proposed Lot 11 in Subdivision of Lot 10 DP 132576Under Assessment
  • Dwelling house; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Residential Accommodation
    28/DP1291430Determined
  • Shed; Erection of a new structure
    15 Collins St Carcoar Lot 16 DP 758225 Section 10Under Assessment
  • Advertising and signage; Shop
    11 MORILLA STREET LIGHTNING RIDGE 2834Under Assessment
  • Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Non-standard Housing; Residential Accommodation
    34/-/DP752264Under Assessment
  • Subdivision
    15 Grassbird Avenue - LOT 8001 DP 1257213Determined

  • April 2026

  • Dwelling house; Commercial development; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Automotive/truck premises; Vehicle repair station
    Lots A and B DP 318836Additional Information Requested
  • Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Vehicle Sales or Hire Premises
    15/-/DP102977Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    Lot 2 DP 817117Determined
  • Business premises; Commercial development; Advertising and signage; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Hours of operation and trading
    3/-/SP94657Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    Proposed Lot 9 in Subdivision of Lot 10 DP 1325766Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure
    17/-/1125743Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool
    LOT 716/-/DP 1280026Determined

  • March 2026

  • Entertainment facility; Recreation/Tourist Premise; Hours of operation and trading
    Owen St HUSKISSON - Lot 87 DP 755928Under Assessment
  • Erection of a new structure; Environmental facility
    19/DP750415Determined
  • Demolition; Residential flat building; Subdivision; Office Premise; Erection of a new structure; Temporary building, structure or use; Car park
    10/-/DP737193Under Assessment
  • Subdivision; Medium Density Housing; Erection of a new structure; Multi-dwelling housing (terraces); Residential Accommodation
    34 DP1293159Under Assessment
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Community facility
    Part of Lot 7356 in DP 1167221Under Assessment
  • Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Agriculture
    Lot 5 DP 28214Withdrawn
  • Subdivision
    Catalina Pl, BADAGARANG - Lot 41 DP 1282389Deferred Commencement
  • Signage; Temporary building, structure or use; Bollards; Entertainment associated with existing premises; Playground equipment; Shade structures of canvas, fabric, mesh or the like; Advertising structure; Recreation facility (outdoor); Supporting Development
    Wason St ULLADULLA - Part Lot 7314 DP 1166835Determined
  • Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space
    lot 5 DP 830723Determined
  • Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Swimming pool
    Lot 536 DP 1306203Determined
  • Demolition; Commercial development; Office Premise; Erection of a new structure
    LOT 101 DP 611878Determined
  • Restaurant or cafe; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia
    89 Queen St BERRY - Lot B DP 400209Determined
  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation
    14 SILICA STREET LIGHTNING RIDGE 2834Additional Information Requested
  • Erection of a new structure; Multi-dwelling housing (terraces)
    4&5/-/Dp 1302214 AustralAdditional Information Requested
  • Subdivision
    Lot 113 DP 1109077Withdrawn

  • February 2026

  • Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah
    12//DP1240204Determined

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

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

3 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Butterfly Avenue ParkPark
  • Len Cram ParkPark
  • Lions ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Hospitals & GP clinics
5
Emergency department
On site
  • Lightning Ridge Multi-Purpose ServicePandora Streethospital
  • Ochre Medical CentrePandora Streetdoctor
  • Royal Flying Doctor Service - Wellbeing PlaceMorilla Streetyes
  • White's PharmacyMorilla Streetpharmacy
  • Yesyes

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Hospitals and GP clinics

Data sources & freshness

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

Childcare

2 childcare services from OpenStreetMap

  • Littel Diggers PlaygroupKaolin Streetkindergarten
  • kindergartenkindergarten

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

Childcare centre count

Data sources & freshness

  • Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site

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)
6
Parks (OSM)
6

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
34.6/100 — Below average
National rank
4459th in Australia
State rank
1421st in NSW
Peer rank
#259 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#552 among Country & regional 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 Ordercrime57
  • Breach Bail Conditionscrime61
  • Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime48
  • Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime94
  • Malicious Damage To Propertycrime67
  • Benny Walfords Crossing, Bill O'Brien Waytransport
  • Nettleton Dr After Pandora Sttransport
  • Nettleton Dr At Rainbow Sttransport
  • Nettleton Dr Before Butterfly Avtransport
  • Nettleton Dr Opp Red Robin Sttransport

Data sources & freshness

More in Walgett Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.