NSW · Sutherland Shire Council
Sylvania Waters, 2224
Current weather
17°CClear sky
58% humidity · 15.5 km/h wind · 21.4° / 13.9° today · 2.1 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Green suburb
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Sutherland Shire, Sylvania Waters is a settled mid-sized suburb with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. Connections to the wider metro area are straightforward, with neighbouring communities close at hand. Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with family life visible on every street.
Local shops and services cover the basics well, with more choice a short trip into neighbouring suburbs. Local parks and tree cover add a welcome outdoor dimension to suburban life. Buses and trains connect the area to surrounding suburbs, keeping the wider city within easy reach.
Housing carries a premium, but residents tend to feel the lifestyle justifies the commitment. Active development is adding new homes and refreshed pockets throughout the suburb.
The desirability score is around average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities against similar metro suburbs, even with community and employment and transport and access holding up better.
Population
- Population
- 3,200
- Median age
- 43
- Median household income / week
- $2,371
- Dwelling vacancy
- 6.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 70 of 1,136
- Median monthly mortgage
- $3,000
- Employment rate
- 57.9%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 55 / 111 / 98
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)
- $730
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $1,200
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $1,050
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 65
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)
- 107
- Against the person
- 36
- Against property
- 42
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 33.4
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 89 residents
- State safety percentile
- 9.8th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +8.4%
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Domestic Violence Related Assault42
- Fraud36
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment59
- Malicious Damage To Property45
- Non-Domestic Violence Related Assault30
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
41 public transport stops in this suburb
- Belgrave Esp At Bogan Av
- Belgrave Esp At Hampton Rd
- Belgrave Esp Opp Macintyre Cres
- Box Rd At Belgrave Esp
- Port Hacking Rd Opp Holt Rd
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).
163 planning-related records
2026· 11 proposals
June 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure6 CLARENCE CRESCENT SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Under Assessment
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure31 MURRAY ISLAND SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Water recreation structure10 ROPER CRESCENT SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Under Assessment
May 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure4 SHOALHAVEN ROAD SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Additional Information Requested
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure10 ROPER CRESCENT SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation3 DARLING PLACE SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure8 SNOWY PLACE SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Additional Information Requested
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Stairway; Supporting Development215 BELGRAVE ESPLANADE SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Under Assessment
March 2026
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure12 MACINTYRE CRESCENT SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure13 LACHLAN AVENUE SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure20 GOULBURN PENINSULA SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Determined
2025· 18 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support9 HAWKESBURY ESPLANADE SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Determined
November 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure9 MURRAY ISLAND SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Determined
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure56 ROPER CRESCENT SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 GOULBURN PENINSULA SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Determined
September 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure18 MACINTYRE CRESCENT SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Determined
August 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure3 CASTLEREAGH CRESCENT SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Withdrawn
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure13 LACHLAN AVENUE SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Determined
June 2025
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure12 MACINTYRE CRESCENT SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Jetty13 HAWKESBURY ESPLANADE SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support9 HAWKESBURY ESPLANADE SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool13 JAMES COOK ISLAND SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Determined
April 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure36 CASTLEREAGH CRESCENT SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Determined
March 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Water recreation structure17 MURRAY ISLAND SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Water recreation structure2 BARCOO ISLAND SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Determined
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure32 ROPER CRESCENT SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Determined
January 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure32 ROPER CRESCENT SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Rejected
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure55 HAWKESBURY ESPLANADE SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool2 JAMES COOK ISLAND SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Determined
2024· 11 proposals
December 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure126 BELGRAVE ESPLANADE SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Determined
November 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure198 BELGRAVE ESPLANADE SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Operational consent issued
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure6 LACHLAN AVENUE SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Determined
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 RICHMOND AVENUE SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Water recreation structure40 JAMES COOK ISLAND SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Water recreation structure8 ROPER CRESCENT SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Determined
September 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure17 HAWKESBURY ESPLANADE SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure10 GOULBURN PENINSULA SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Water recreation structure; Water Infrastructure17 MURRAY ISLAND SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Water recreation structure42 CASTLEREAGH CRESCENT SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Determined
August 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure9 MURRAY ISLAND SYLVANIA WATERS 2224Determined
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
74 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Corkscrew CellarsAlcohol
- Ness's PatisserieBakery
- Bbq
- Royal Nails & WaxingBeauty salon
- Bench (14)
- Belgrave Esp after Clarence CresBus stop
- Belgrave Esp after Richmond AvBus stop
- Belgrave Esp at Bogan AvBus stop
- Belgrave Esp at Clarence CresBus stop
- Belgrave Esp at Darling PlBus 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
1 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Hawkesbury ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 2
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Sydney Laser Dental Caredentist
- Sylvania Waters 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)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 9/10
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)
- 4
- Parks (OSM)
- 4
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
- 51.5/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 27% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 1753rd in Australia
- State rank
- 560th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #204 among Metro Sydney · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #389 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 74%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Antonio's PizzeriaamenitiesUnit 3 217 Belgrave Esplanade, Sylvania Watersfast_food
- Barber Craftsmenamenitieshairdresser
- Bbqamenitiesbbq
- Belgrave Esp after Clarence Cresamenitiesbus_stop
- Belgrave Esp after Richmond Avamenitiesbus_stop
- Belgrave Esp at Bogan Avamenitiesbus_stop
- Belgrave Esp at Clarence Cresamenitiesbus_stop
- Belgrave Esp at Darling Plamenitiesbus_stop
- Belgrave Esp at Hampton Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Belgrave Esp at Macintyre Cresamenitiesbus_stop
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Sutherland Shire Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.