VIC · Cardinia Council
Iona, 3815
Current weather
11°CDense drizzle
90% humidity · 28.7 km/h wind · 12.5° / 10° today · 19.9 mm rain
Desirability score
Suburb snapshot
Iona is a small locality in the Cardinia area, home to around 240 residents (2021 Census). Available data shows 4 offences in 2026 with falling year-on-year trends (-60%), roughly 16.7 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
- 240
- Median age
- 47
- Median household income / week
- $1,924
- Dwelling vacancy
- 14.9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 14 of 94
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,140
- Employment rate
- 61.1%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 3 / 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.
Crime & safety
- Total offences (2026)
- 4
- Against the person
- 0
- Against property
- 4
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 16.7
- State safety percentile
- 10.3th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -60%
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- B21 Criminal Damage1
- B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle1
- B53 Obtain Benefit By Deception2
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 · 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).
10 planning-related records
2021· 6 proposals
August 2021
- Use and Development of the Land for a Dwelling650 BUNYIP-MODELLA ROAD IONA 3815Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2021
- Buildings and works associated with an agricultural building245 SIMPSON ROAD IONA 3815Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2021
- Use and development of the land for a dwelling and use and development of the land for animal husbandry145 CARSES ROAD IONA 3815Withdrawn
- Buildings and works associated with a dwelling extension.320 PITT ROAD IONA 3815Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2021
- Use and development of the land for a dwelling, outbuilding (garage), agricultural shed and associated works670 BUNYIP-MODELLA ROAD IONA 3815NOD issued by a delegate
February 2021
- Buildings and works associated with a horticultural buildingLittle RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 4 proposals
October 2020
- Buildings and works associated with agriculture135 Temby RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
August 2020
- Use and development of the land for a dwelling350 Bunyip-Modella RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
April 2020
- Amendment to Planning Permit T190475 to amend the plans (alter dwelling and shed location), associated earthworks and the construction of a dam95 TEMBY ROAD IONA 3815Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2020
- Development of the land for buildings associated with crop raising (Temporary seasonal worker accommodation)Murray 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 · 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 · Weekly refresh
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 6/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 6/10
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 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
Desirability index
- Desirability score
- 39.5/100
- National rank
- 3368th in Australia
- State rank
- 671st in VIC
- Peer rank
- #98 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #259 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 52%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- B21 Criminal Damagecrime1
- B42 Steal From A Motor Vehiclecrime1
- B53 Obtain Benefit By Deceptioncrime2
- Amendment to Planning Permit T190475 to amend the plans (alter dwelling and shed location), associated earthworks and the construction of a damplanning95 TEMBY ROAD IONA 3815Lodged 06 Apr 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and works associated with a dwelling extension.planning320 PITT ROAD IONA 3815Lodged 05 May 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and works associated with a horticultural buildingplanningLittle RoadLodged 08 Feb 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and works associated with agricultureplanning135 Temby RoadLodged 11 Oct 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Buildings and works associated with an agricultural buildingplanning245 SIMPSON ROAD IONA 3815Lodged 29 Jun 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Development of the land for buildings associated with crop raising (Temporary seasonal worker accommodation)planningMurray RoadLodged 16 Mar 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Use and Development of the Land for a Dwellingplanning650 BUNYIP-MODELLA ROAD IONA 3815Lodged 24 Aug 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Data sources & freshness
- Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · Updated on site · Year ending March release
- PPARS planning permit activity (statewide) — Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · Updated on site · Public MapServer last updated Feb 2024 — applications through FY 2022–23 only; newer PPARS data requires council/API access
Similar suburbs
Suburbs with a similar population, SEIFA decile and location.