NSW · Coffs Harbour Council
Sandy Beach, 2456
Current weather
18.2°CClear sky
79% humidity · 12.5 km/h wind · 20.7° / 14.2° today · 1.4 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
In Coffs Harbour, Sandy Beach keeps a rural calm, a mid-sized suburb with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. A strong local centre anchors daily routines, while the surrounding region adds variety for weekends away. Open skies and rolling countryside set a calm backdrop to everyday routines.
Families and commuters make up much of the community, with family life visible on every street. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name. Buses and nearby services make commuting and cross-suburb trips straightforward.
Homes here are sought-after, with many people drawn to the lifestyle the area offers. Construction and infill projects are noticeably reshaping parts of the area.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities and parks and green space lag similar regional towns, despite relative strength in housing affordability and growth momentum. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 2,913
- Median age
- 35
- Median household income / week
- $1,567
- Dwelling vacancy
- 6.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 68 of 1,100
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,810
- Employment rate
- 58.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 103 / 18 / 3
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)
- $545
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $700
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $665
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 124
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)
- 199
- Against the person
- 53
- Against property
- 78
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 68.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 55 residents
- State safety percentile
- 46.9th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +14%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order88
- Breach Bail Conditions76
- Domestic Violence Related Assault88
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment113
- Malicious Damage To Property102
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
- 973
- Sandy Beach 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
67 public transport stops in this suburb
- Sandy Beach Dr After Ironbark Av
- Sandy Beach Dr At Blue Gum Av
- Sandy Beach Dr Opp Acacia Av
- Sandy Beach Public School, Saye Cl
- Sandy Beach Rural Fire Brigade, Turpentine 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).
177 planning-related records
2026· 12 proposals
May 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation47 BLUE GUM AVENUE SANDY BEACH 2456Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23 DIAMOND HEAD DRIVE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space39 IRONBARK AVENUE SANDY BEACH 2456Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure84 IRONBARK AVENUE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure21 IRONBARK AVENUE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
April 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure30 TI-TREE ROAD SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool1 SEACREST BOULEVARD SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
March 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 TURPENTINE AVENUE SANDY BEACH 2456Additional Information Requested
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool9 BLUE GUM AVENUE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool91 DIAMOND HEAD DRIVE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure38 JOHNSONS ROAD SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external); Privacy screens; Skylights, roof windows and ventilators; Stairway; Residential Accommodation98 SANDYS BEACH DRIVE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
2025· 16 proposals
November 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space39 BLACKBUTT AVENUE SANDY BEACH 2456Additional Information Requested
September 2025
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure6 CHESTNUT AVENUE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23 DIAMOND HEAD DRIVE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)20 SANDYS BEACH DRIVE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure86 SANDYS BEACH DRIVE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Agriculture89-91 HOLLOWAYS ROAD SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)119 CONDONS ROAD SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
June 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Carport30 PINE CRESCENT SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
May 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool39 SOMERVALE ROAD SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
April 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation20 CORAL DRIVE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool12 REDBOX CRESCENT SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure1380 SOLITARY ISLANDS WAY SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
March 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Carport34 IRONBARK AVENUE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 REDBOX CRESCENT SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia128 DIAMOND HEAD DRIVE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
January 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure102 DIAMOND HEAD DRIVE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
2024· 12 proposals
November 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool154-156 HOLLOWAYS ROAD SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure30 IRONBARK AVENUE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure22 BLUE GUM AVENUE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool17 ZENITH AVENUE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Subdivision15 PINE CRESCENT SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 OAK CLOSE SANDY BEACH NSW 2456Determined
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Pathways and paving2B-2C MORGANS ROAD SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
September 2024
- Temporary building, structure or use; Swimming pool6 ROCKPOOL AVENUE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural supportMORGANS ROAD SANDY BEACH 2456Withdrawn
August 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure22 DIAMOND HEAD DRIVE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure47 MAPLE ROAD SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure81 DIAMOND HEAD DRIVE SANDY BEACH 2456Determined
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
5 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Parking (2)
- Playground (2)
- Sports field
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
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Waterways ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 4/10
- 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
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Bangalee Early Learning CentreDiamond Head Drivekindergarten
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
- 38.5/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 3724th in Australia
- State rank
- 1168th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #65 among Country & regional · Growth area suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #392 among Country & regional 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
- Parkingamenitiesparking
- Parkingamenitiesparking
- Playgroundamenitiesplayground
- Playgroundamenitiesplayground
- Sports fieldamenitiespitch
- Breach Apprehended Violence Ordercrime88
- Breach Bail Conditionscrime76
- Domestic Violence Related Assaultcrime88
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassmentcrime113
- Malicious Damage To Propertycrime102
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 Coffs Harbour Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.