NSW · Port Stephens Council
Salt Ash, 2318
Current weather
19.8°CClear sky
59% humidity · 14.4 km/h wind · 22.4° / 16.8° today · 1.2 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Coastal
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Life in Salt Ash revolves around the coast, with the feel of a smaller community 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. Salt air and open horizons give the suburb a relaxed, outdoor feel year-round.
Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Strong public transport connections keep the wider area accessible. Homes are relatively affordable, which helps families and first-time residents put down roots.
Active development is adding new homes and refreshed pockets throughout the suburb.
The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker parks and green space and local dining and lifestyle amenities against similar coastal suburbs, even with housing affordability and transport and access holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 1,103
- Median age
- 46
- Median household income / week
- $1,461
- Dwelling vacancy
- 8.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 35 of 406
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,950
- Employment rate
- 51.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 32 / 9 / 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)
- $700
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 63
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)
- 51
- Against the person
- 19
- Against property
- 21
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 46.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 58 residents
- State safety percentile
- 23.2th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -10.3%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order36
- Domestic Violence Related Assault72
- Fraud93
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment92
- 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
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 904
- Salt Ash 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
70 public transport stops in this suburb
- 2396 Nelson Bay Rd
- Nelson Bay Rd After Oakvale Dr
- Nelson Bay Rd After Richardson Rd
- Nelson Bay Rd After Sansom Rd
- Nelson Bay Rd Opp Salt Ash Av
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).
86 planning-related records
2026· 6 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure126 LEMON TREE PASSAGE ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
May 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool14 MICHAEL DRIVE SALT ASH 2318Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure25 SHADY AVENUE SALT ASH 2318Determined
March 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development171 LEMON TREE PASSAGE ROAD SALT ASH 2318Under Assessment
February 2026
- Temporary building, structure or use; Function centre182 LEMON TREE PASSAGE ROAD SALT ASH 2318Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure232 LEMON TREE PASSAGE ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
2025· 17 proposals
December 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space20 OAKFIELD ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure420 LEMON TREE PASSAGE ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
November 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool11 SALT ASH AVENUE SALT ASH 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool113 LEMON TREE PASSAGE ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Eco-tourist facility27 Stockton Bight Track, Fullerton Cove 2318 NSWDetermined
September 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure2886 NELSON BAY ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah2697 NELSON BAY ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
August 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool468 LEMON TREE PASSAGE ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
July 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool88 MARSH ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
June 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool21 DAVID DRIVE SALT ASH 2318Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure420 LEMON TREE PASSAGE ROAD SALT ASH 2318Withdrawn
- Shed; Erection of a new structure32 TONIA AVENUE SALT ASH 2318Determined
- Farm buildings; Temporary building, structure or use; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool; Supporting Development2875 NELSON BAY ROAD SALT ASH 2318Under Assessment
April 2025
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)18 BROWNES ROAD SALT ASH 2318Withdrawn
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Rainwater tanks371 LEMON TREE PASSAGE ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport5 RECLUSE PLACE SALT ASH 2318Determined
January 2025
- Home business; Hours of operation and trading2886 NELSON BAY ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
2024· 14 proposals
November 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool1 RECLUSE PLACE SALT ASH 2318Determined
September 2024
- Farm buildings; Shed; Erection of a new structure4 OAKVALE DRIVE SALT ASH 2318Determined
August 2024
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation41 LEMON TREE PASSAGE ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation62 ROOKES ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
July 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure182 LEMON TREE PASSAGE ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool13 OAKFIELD ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
May 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool14 BROWNES ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure361 LEMON TREE PASSAGE ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Service station2842 NELSON BAY ROAD SALT ASH 2318Withdrawn
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Carport3 RECLUSE PLACE SALT ASH 2318Determined
March 2024
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation41 LEMON TREE PASSAGE ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support161 LEMON TREE PASSAGE ROAD SALT ASH 2318Withdrawn
February 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure378 LEMON TREE PASSAGE ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
January 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure361 LEMON TREE PASSAGE ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
2023· 3 proposals
November 2023
- Subdivision; Agriculture11 JANET PARADE SALT ASH 2318Determined
October 2023
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)5 ROOKES ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
September 2023
- Temporary building, structure or use; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool2697 NELSON BAY ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
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
23 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- 157 Lemon Tree Passage RdBus stop
- 2741 Nelson Bay RdBus stop
- 2760 Nelson Bay RdBus stop
- 2875 Nelson Bay RdBus stop
- Church of Christ, Nelson Bay RdBus stop
- Lemon Tree Passage Rd after Nelson Bay RdBus stop
- Lemon Tree Passage Rd at Michael DrBus stop
- Lemon Tree Passage Rd before Nelson Bay RdBus stop
- Lemon Tree Passage Rd opp 157Bus stop
- Lemon Tree Passage Rd opp Michael DrBus 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
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 3/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 3/10
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
2 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
- Go Kindy Salt Ashkindergarten
- 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
- 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)
- 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
- 42.1/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 47% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 3115th in Australia
- State rank
- 990th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #41 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #105 among Coastal & beach suburbs
- Data confidence
- 85%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- 157 Lemon Tree Passage Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- 2741 Nelson Bay Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- 2760 Nelson Bay Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- 2875 Nelson Bay Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Ampol Salt Ashamenitiesfuel
- BPamenitiesfuel
- Church of Christ, Nelson Bay Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Dave's Tucker Stopamenitiesrestaurant
- Go Kindy Salt Ashamenitieskindergarten
- Lemon Tree Passage Rd after Nelson Bay Rdamenitiesbus_stop
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Port Stephens Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.