NSW · Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
West Haven, 2443
Current weather
18.6°CClear sky
79% humidity · 11 km/h wind · 23.1° / 14.3° today · 0.3 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- High desirability
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
In Port Macquarie-Hastings, West Haven keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. The community is self-contained in the best sense. Local life comes first, with the region opening up beyond. The landscape itself is part of the lifestyle: open paddocks, big skies and room to breathe.
Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name. Transport options are solid enough for daily errands and regular trips further afield.
The area offers approachable housing costs alongside a lifestyle that still feels complete. Infill and new builds are slowly updating the area without overwhelming its existing character.
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. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 1,139
- Median age
- 67
- Median household income / week
- $940
- Dwelling vacancy
- 6.9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 38 of 550
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,625
- Employment rate
- 29.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 27 / 153 / 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)
- $600
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 37
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)
- 52
- Against the person
- 16
- Against property
- 21
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 45.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 71 residents
- State safety percentile
- 22.2th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -6.9%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order28
- Domestic Violence Related Assault36
- Fraud29
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment38
- 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
Public transport
15 public transport stops in this suburb
- Ocean Dr At Hoschke Rd
- Ocean Dr At The Gateway
- Ocean Dr Before Captain Cook Bicentennial Dr
- Ocean Dr Opp Hoschke Rd
- Ocean Dr Opp Waterview Cres
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).
30 planning-related records
2026· 5 proposals
May 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support18 HOSCHKE ROAD WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space405 OCEAN DRIVE WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
March 2026
- Residential care facility; Erection of a new structureThe Gateway West Haven 2443Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport10 KOONWARRA STREET WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure11 VICTORIA PLACE WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
2025· 9 proposals
November 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool17 ST ALBANS WAY WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
October 2025
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure11 VICTORIA PLACE WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
July 2025
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure5 KIRMINGTON TERRACE WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation22 WATERVIEW CRESCENT WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool402 OCEAN DRIVE WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space405 OCEAN DRIVE WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
April 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure10 KOONWARRA STREET WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport; Residential Accommodation32 WATERVIEW CRESCENT WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
February 2025
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure23 ST ALBANS WAY WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
2024· 6 proposals
December 2024
- Shed; Temporary building, structure or use61 KOONWARRA STREET WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
November 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure25 LAKE VIEW CRESCENT WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
October 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah43 KOONWARRA STREET WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
August 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool25 LAKE VIEW CRESCENT WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
July 2024
- Subdivision28 KOONWARRA STREET WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
May 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah11 VICTORIA PLACE WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
2023· 4 proposals
December 2023
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport398 OCEAN DRIVE WEST HAVEN 2443Withdrawn
October 2023
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal)21 HOSCHKE ROAD WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
May 2023
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development10 WATERVIEW CRESCENT WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
March 2023
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs17 WATERVIEW CRESCENT WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
2022· 5 proposals
May 2022
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Garages, carports and car parking spaces8 WATERVIEW CRESCENT WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs8 KURNAI CLOSE WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
- Dwelling8 ELOUERA PLACE WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
April 2022
- Retaining walls, protection of trees; Garages, carports and car parking spaces16A ELOUERA PLACE WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
March 2022
- Secondary dwelling413 OCEAN DRIVE WEST HAVEN 2443Withdrawn
2021· 1 proposal
January 2021
- Shed13 BABINDA AVENUE WEST HAVEN 2443Determined
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
10 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bus stop
- Ocean Dr after Waterview CresBus stop
- Ocean Dr at Hoschke RdBus stop
- Ocean Dr at The GatewayBus stop
- Ocean Dr before Captain Cook Bicentennial DrBus stop
- Ocean Dr opp Hoschke RdBus stop
- Ocean Dr opp Waterview CresBus stop
- Australia PostPost Box
- Shelter (2)
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)
- 2/10
- 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
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)
- 0
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
- 30.5/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 5237th in Australia
- State rank
- 1668th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #370 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #719 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 70%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Australia Postamenitiespost_box
- Bus stopamenitiesbus_stop
- Ocean Dr after Waterview Cresamenitiesbus_stop
- Ocean Dr at Hoschke Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Ocean Dr at The Gatewayamenitiesbus_stop
- Ocean Dr before Captain Cook Bicentennial Dramenitiesbus_stop
- Ocean Dr opp Hoschke Rdamenitiesbus_stop
- Ocean Dr opp Waterview Cresamenitiesbus_stop
- Shelteramenitiesshelter
- Shelteramenitiesshelter
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.