VIC · South Gippsland Council

Bena, 3946

Current weather

9.4°CRain showers

95% humidity · 29.6 km/h wind · 11.3° / 8.3° today · 22.1 mm rain

Desirability score

33.4/100

4487th in Australia

62% data confidence

How this score is calculated

Last updated 2 July 2026 at 6:15 pm AEST

Suburb snapshot

Bena is a small locality in the South Gippsland area, home to around 303 residents (2021 Census). Available data shows 5 offences in 2026 with rising year-on-year trends (+150%), roughly 16.5 offences per 1,000 residents, and notable planning and development activity on record. See the sections below for population, safety, schools and local activity.

Population

Population: 303
Median age: 51
Median household income / week: $1,687
Dwelling vacancy: 18%
Unoccupied private dwellings: 25 of 139
Median monthly mortgage: $1,733
Employment rate: 60.6%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats): 5 / 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 1 July 2026 at 5:05 pm AEST · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Crime & safety

Total offences (2026): 5
Against the person: 1
Against property: 4
Rate per 1,000 residents: 16.5
Person-crime prevalence: About 1 in 303 residents
State safety percentile: 10.1th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate): +150%

Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.

Reported offences by period

Most common offence types

B11 Cause Damage By Fire1
B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle2
B45 Receiving Or Handling Stolen Goods1
Other Crimes Against The Person1

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · Period: 2025 · Updated on site 2 July 2026 at 12:14 pm AEST · Year ending March release

Planning & development

Development applications from PPARS statewide register (lodged 2020–2022). Free public PPARS MapServer — applications through ~2022 (service last updated Feb 2024).

13 planning-related records

2021· 4 proposals

September 2021
Develop land with a dwelling. Use of land for group accommodation.27 Sep 2021
492 BENA-KONGWAK ROAD BENA 3946Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
August 2021
Development of land associated with agriculture (Shed)02 Aug 2021
465 ANDERSONS INLET ROAD BENA 3946Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2021
Development of single dwelling - Amend Permit allows03 Jun 2021
20 Johnston CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
January 2021
Development of a dwelling and shed28 Jan 2021
812 Andersons Inlet RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

2020· 9 proposals

November 2020
Develop land with habitable outbuilding (pool house and deck) - amend endorsed plans18 Nov 2020
805 Bena-Kongwak RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Two (2) lot subdivision. Use and development land with a dwelling.16 Nov 2020
1045 Bena-Kongwak RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
October 2020
Develop land with an agricultural outbuilding23 Oct 2020
1030 Bena-Kongwak RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Develop land with an extension to an existing dwelling13 Oct 2020
805 Bena-Kongwak RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Develop land with a domestic outbuilding12 Oct 2020
46 Cochranes RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2020
Develop land with a domestic outbuilding10 Jul 2020
485 Andersons Inlet RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2020
Develop land with an extension to an existing dwelling22 Jun 2020
17 Tyers RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2020
Develop land with an agricultural outbuilding16 Mar 2020
150 Bass Valley RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
January 2020
Development of land for an outbuilding30 Jan 2020
445 Bena-Kongwak RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

PPARS planning permit activity (statewide) — Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · Period: 2020–2022 · Updated on site 1 July 2026 at 5:31 pm AEST · Public MapServer last updated Feb 2024 — applications through FY 2022–23 only; newer PPARS data requires council/API access

Amenities

No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site 1 July 2026 at 5:15 pm AEST · Weekly refresh

Socio-economic (SEIFA)

IRSAD decile (2021): 7/10
IRSD decile (2021): 8/10

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 1 July 2026 at 5:05 pm AEST · 2021 SEIFA release

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone: No overlay at centroid

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Victorian Bushfire Management Overlay 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 1 July 2026 at 6:14 pm AEST

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM): 32
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 1 July 2026 at 5:16 pm AEST · Weekly refresh

Desirability index

Desirability score: 33.4/100
National rank: 4487th in Australia
State rank: 886th in VIC
Peer rank: #191 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank: #424 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence: 62%

Data sources & freshness

Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site 2 July 2026 at 6:10 pm AEST · Derived from source metrics

Recent changes

B11 Cause Damage By Firecrime1
B42 Steal From A Motor Vehiclecrime2
B45 Receiving Or Handling Stolen Goodscrime1
Other Crimes Against The Personcrime1
Develop land with a domestic outbuildingplanning46 Cochranes RoadLodged 12 Oct 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Develop land with a domestic outbuildingplanning485 Andersons Inlet RoadLodged 10 Jul 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Develop land with a dwelling. Use of land for group accommodation.planning492 BENA-KONGWAK ROAD BENA 3946Lodged 27 Sep 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Develop land with an agricultural outbuildingplanning1030 Bena-Kongwak RoadLodged 23 Oct 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Develop land with an agricultural outbuildingplanning150 Bass Valley RoadLodged 16 Mar 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Develop land with an extension to an existing dwellingplanning805 Bena-Kongwak RoadLodged 13 Oct 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

Data sources & freshness

Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · Updated on site 2 July 2026 at 12:13 pm AEST · Year ending March release
PPARS planning permit activity (statewide) — Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · Updated on site 1 July 2026 at 5:31 pm AEST · Public MapServer last updated Feb 2024 — applications through FY 2022–23 only; newer PPARS data requires council/API access

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