NSW · Ballina Council
Tintenbar, 2478
Current weather
18.5°COvercast
86% humidity · 6.2 km/h wind · 21.1° / 15.2° today · 0.1 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
Tintenbar is a quieter smaller community in Ballina, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. The community is self-contained in the best sense. Local life comes first, with the region opening up beyond. Open skies and rolling countryside set a calm backdrop to everyday routines.
Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with family life visible on every street. The pace is unhurried, with local businesses and community spots doing the heavy lifting. Strong public transport connections keep the wider area accessible.
Housing carries a premium, but residents tend to feel the lifestyle justifies the commitment. A busy pipeline of new development is gradually changing the look and feel of the streets.
The desirability score is below average, weighed down by weaker local dining and lifestyle amenities and safety against similar regional towns, even with housing affordability and community and employment holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 618
- Median age
- 46
- Median household income / week
- $1,896
- Dwelling vacancy
- 7.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 16 of 223
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,000
- Employment rate
- 60%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 7 / 0 / 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
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $595
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $850
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $755
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 236
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)
- 58
- Against the person
- 11
- Against property
- 31
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 93.9
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 56 residents
- State safety percentile
- 66.1th (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 Bail Conditions342
- Fraud335
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment155
- Malicious Damage To Property240
- Steal From Retail Store305
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
- 1,057
- Teven-Tintenbar 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
33 public transport stops in this suburb
- Fredericks Lane After Tintenbar Rd
- Friday Hut Rd At Killen Falls Dr
- Friday Hut Road Opp Killen Falls Dr
- Tamarind Dr Before Hill St
- Tintenbar Gully, Tamarind Dr
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)
Roadworks & transport
1 active roadworks / incidents
- Check signage. Exercise caution. <strong>New load limit.</strong> A gross load limit of 19 Tonne is now in place on Houghlahans Creek Road causeway. Heavy vehicles please use an alternative route.Houghlahans Creek Road08 Sep 2025 – 01 Sep 2027
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · Hourly refresh where supported
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
37 planning-related records
2026· 4 proposals
May 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure52 HILLCREST DRIVE TINTENBAR 2478Additional Information Requested
- Secondary dwelling; Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Carport; Manufactured home1073 TAMARIND DRIVE TINTENBAR 2478Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation100 FREDERICKS LANE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
January 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Carport; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Rainwater tanks48 BENTWING PLACE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
2025· 8 proposals
November 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)225 FRIDAY HUT ROAD TINTENBAR 2478Determined
August 2025
- Shed; Dwelling house; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Dual occupancy (detached); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support186 HOUGHLAHANS CREEK ROAD TINTENBAR 2478Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation24 Hillcrest Drive, TintenbarDetermined
June 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Supporting Development30 HILLCREST DRIVE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Carport; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Rainwater tanks48 BENTWING PLACE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
April 2025
- Restaurant or cafe; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure5 FERNLEIGH ROAD TINTENBAR 2478Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure24B FERNLEIGH ROAD TINTENBAR 2478Determined
February 2025
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Supporting Development30 HILLCREST DRIVE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
2024· 5 proposals
November 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Air-conditioning units; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Clothes hoists and clothes lines; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space; Hot water systems; Pathways and paving; Rainwater tanks1029 TAMARIND DRIVE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
August 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Carport; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool13 BENTWING PLACE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
April 2024
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport; Manufactured home; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation37 BENTWING PLACE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
February 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure14 HILLCREST DRIVE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
January 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Tourist and visitor accommodation192 FRIDAY HUT ROAD TINTENBAR 2478Determined
2023· 6 proposals
November 2023
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation24 Hillcrest Drive, TintenbarDetermined
September 2023
- Demolition; Earthworks / change in levels; Farm buildings8 KILLEN FALLS DRIVE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
- Dual occupancy; Change of use25 FRIDAY HUT ROAD TINTENBAR 2478Determined
August 2023
- Earthworks / change in levels; Farm buildings34 KILLEN FALLS DRIVE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
June 2023
- Shed70 HILLCREST DRIVE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
February 2023
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Alterations and additions to commercial development5 FERNLEIGH ROAD TINTENBAR 2478Operational consent issued
2022· 5 proposals
December 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Shed8 BENTWING PLACE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
October 2022
- Earthworks / change in levels; Garages, carports and car parking spaces; Shed; Other96 FERNLEIGH ROAD TINTENBAR 2478Operational consent issued
August 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development76 HILLCREST DRIVE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
July 2022
- Subdivision of land808 TAMARIND DRIVE TINTENBAR 2478Withdrawn
January 2022
- Dual occupancy; Earthworks / change in levels25 PHOENIX DRIVE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
2021· 9 proposals
December 2021
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing; Demolition; Earthworks / change in levels; Retaining walls, protection of trees37 BENTWING PLACE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
November 2021
- Subdivision of land962 TAMARIND DRIVE TINTENBAR 2478Withdrawn
- Subdivision of land188 FERNLEIGH ROAD TINTENBAR 2478Determined
October 2021
- DwellingPACIFIC HIGHWAY TINTENBAR 2478Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Home business38 HILLCREST DRIVE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
September 2021
- Pools / decks / fencing; Alterations and additions to residential development97 FREDERICKS LANE TINTENBAR 2478Determined
- OtherHS 2 19 FERNLEIGH ROAD TINTENBAR 2478Withdrawn
August 2021
- Other192 FRIDAY HUT ROAD TINTENBAR 2478Determined
- Subdivision of land808 TAMARIND DRIVE TINTENBAR 2478Withdrawn
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
9 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Tamarind Dr before Hill StBus stop
- Tintenbar General Store, Tintenbar RdBus stop
- Tintenbar Gully, Tamarind DrBus stop
- Tintenbar Hall, George StBus stop
- Tintenbar HallCommunity centre
- Tintenbar General StoreGeneral
- Tintenbar Medical CentreMedical clinic
- LibertyPetrol station
- Tintenbar LPOPost office
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
- Killen Falls Public ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 1
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- Tintenbar Medical Centredoctor
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)
- 9/10
- 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
- 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
- 34.2/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4538th in Australia
- State rank
- 1453rd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #271 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #575 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 82%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Libertyamenitiesfuel
- Tamarind Dr before Hill Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Tintenbar General Storeamenitiesgeneral
- Tintenbar General Store, Tintenbar Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Tintenbar Gully, Tamarind Dramenitiesbus_stop
- Tintenbar Hallamenitiescommunity_centre
- Tintenbar Hall, George Stamenitiesbus_stop
- Tintenbar LPOamenitiespost_office
- Tintenbar Medical Centreamenitiesdoctors
- Breach Bail Conditionscrime342
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 Ballina Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.