suburb.guide

VIC · Greater Geelong Council

Waurn Ponds, VIC, 3216

Current weather

13.3°CDense drizzle

81% humidity · 21.5 km/h wind · 16.7° / 9.4° today · 5.2 mm rain

Desirability index

88.2/100

#29 among Coastal & beach suburbs

How this score is calculated

Suburb snapshot

Waurn Ponds is a smaller suburban community in the Greater Geelong area, home to around 4,956 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 269 offences in 2026 with relatively stable year-on-year trends (-5%), roughly 54.3 offences per 1,000 residents, strong public transport coverage with many Public Transport Victoria stops, a higher concentration of local shops, services, and recreation amenities, 8 active roadworks or transport incidents on nearby routes, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb and hospitals or GP clinics within the suburb.

Population

Population
4,956
Median age
27
Median household income / week
$2,286
Dwelling vacancy
5.2%
Unoccupied private dwellings
71 of 1,363
Median monthly mortgage
$1,755
Employment rate
64.7%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
92 / 31 / 0

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)
269
Against the person
39
Against property
174
Rate per 1,000 residents
54.3
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 127 residents
State safety percentile
50.7th (lower crime is better)
Year-on-year change
-4.6%

Most common offence types

  • B41 Motor Vehicle Theft19
  • B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle39
  • B43 Steal From A Retail Store28
  • B49 Other Theft24
  • B53 Obtain Benefit By Deception30

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

18 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Brentwood Way/Ghazeepore Rd
  • Deakin University/Alfred Deakin Dr
  • Grange Park Dr/Ghazeepore Rd
  • Oakwood Cres/Ghazeepore Rd
  • Waurn Ponds Railway Station

Data sources & freshness

Roadworks & transport

8 active roadworks / incidents

  • Maintenance Works activities occurring between 17/06/2026 and 30/09/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM, Weekends 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed westbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.GEELONG RING ROAD, GEELONG RING OUT-PRINCES RAMP OF16 Jun 2026 – 29 Sep 2026
  • Maintenance Works activities occurring between 17/06/2026 and 30/09/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM, Weekends 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed westbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.PRINCES-GEELONG RING OUT RAMP ON, COLAC ROAD16 Jun 2026 – 29 Sep 2026
  • Maintenance Works activities occurring between 17/06/2026 and 30/09/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM, Weekends 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed westbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.COLAC ROAD, WAURN PONDS DRIVE16 Jun 2026 – 29 Sep 2026
  • Maintenance Works activities occurring between 17/06/2026 and 30/09/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM, Weekends 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed westbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.WAURN PONDS DRIVE, COLAC ROAD16 Jun 2026 – 29 Sep 2026
  • Maintenance Works activities occurring between 17/06/2026 and 30/09/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM, Weekends 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed westbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.WAURN PONDS DRIVE, COLAC ROAD16 Jun 2026 – 29 Sep 2026
  • Maintenance Works activities occurring between 17/06/2026 and 30/09/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM, Weekends 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed westbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.COLAC ROAD, PRINCES-GEELONG RING OUT RAMP ON16 Jun 2026 – 29 Sep 2026
  • Maintenance Works activities occurring between 17/06/2026 and 30/09/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM, Weekends 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed westbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.PRINCES-GEELONG RING OUT RAMP ON, COLAC ROAD16 Jun 2026 – 29 Sep 2026
  • Maintenance Works activities occurring between 17/06/2026 and 30/09/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM, Weekends 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed westbound. Altered speed limit during operation will be 40 and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.COLAC ROAD, WAURN PONDS DRIVE16 Jun 2026 – 29 Sep 2026

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

30 planning-related records

2021· 12 proposals

  • September 2021

  • Construction of an Agricultural Research and Education Facility and Removal of Vegetation
    73 PIGDONS ROAD WAURN PONDS 3216In progress
  • Removal of Restriction on Lot 84 PS337755
    4 ELM COURT WAURN PONDS 3216Refusal issued by the Resp. Authority
  • Construction of a Dwelling
    500 PRINCES HIGHWAY WAURN PONDS 3216NOD issued by a delegate

  • August 2021

  • Alteration to Facade and Floodlit Business Identification Signage
    4/213-215 COLAC ROAD WAURN PONDS 3216Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2021

  • DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF THE LAND FOR A WINERY, FUNCTION CENTRE, RESTAURANT, MARKET, ON PREMISES LIQUOR LICENCE AND GROUP ACCOMMODATION
    65 PETTAVEL ROAD WAURN PONDS 3216Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • May 2021

  • Change of Use to Winery, Associated Buildings and Works, Display of Signage and Variation to Existing Liquor Licence 32604119
    33 Waurn Ponds DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Alteration to Liquor License Red Line Plan
    35 Waurn Ponds DriveWithdrawn

  • April 2021

  • Buildings and Works associated with the construction of a Dwelling and Shed
    154-160 MCPHERSON ROAD WAURN PONDS 3216Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2021

  • Removal of Native Vegetation
    129-135 Pigdons RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Building and Works Associated with a Carpark
    129-135 Pigdons RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of an Access Road in a Public Acquisition Overlay and Removal of Native Vegetation
    255 Reservoir RoadNo permit required

  • January 2021

  • Earthworks for Land Rehabilitation and Four (4) Lot Subdivision (Boundary Realignment)
    110 LEMINS ROAD WAURN PONDS 3216In progress
2020· 18 proposals

  • December 2020

  • Buildings and Works Associated with the Construction of a Takeaway Food Premises and Construct and Display an Internally Illuminated Signage
    2-26 Rossack DriveNOD issued by a delegate
  • Use and Development of a Community Care Accommodation and Creation of Access to a Transport Zone 2
    100-120 WAURN PONDS DRIVE WAURN PONDS 3216In progress
  • Use and Development of a Dwelling
    160 Waurn Ponds DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and Works Associated with the Construction of a Shed in a Significant Landscape Overlay
    160 Waurn Ponds DriveWithdrawn
  • Two (2) Lot Subdivision
    10 Bourbon WayPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • November 2020

  • Buildings and Works Associated with an Education Centre (Student Accommodation Building)
    145 Pigdons RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and Works for the Construction of a Dwelling and Outbuilding
    180-200 McPherson RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • October 2020

  • Use and Development for a Research and Development Centre, Reduction to the Standard Car Parking Requirement for Industry and Removal of Vegetation.
    73 PIGDONS ROAD WAURN PONDS 3216Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Buildings and Works Associated with an Extension to an Existing Dwelling in a Farming Zone
    235 Cochranes RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • September 2020

  • Building and Works to Existing Building and Change of Use associated with an additional 11 gaming machines
    217-227 Colac RoadNOD issued by a delegate

  • May 2020

  • Building and Works Associated with an Education Centre
    129-135 Pigdons RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • April 2020

  • Construction of a Shed
    235 Cochranes RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • March 2020

  • Buildings and Works associated with the Construction of Three (3) Awnings to the Existing Hotel
    217-227 Colac RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and Development of a Dwelling
    160 Waurn Ponds DrivePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of a Childcare Centre and a Three (3) Lot Subdivision
    1-3 Ghazeepore RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • February 2020

  • Buildings and Works Associated with an Existing Education Centre
    129-135 Pigdons RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of an Outbuilding in a Significant Landscape Overlay
    135 Lemins RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • January 2020

  • Buildings and Works associated with an Extension to Existing Dwelling
    70 Lemins RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA

Data sources & freshness

  • PPARS planning permit activity (statewide) — Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · Period: 2020; 2020–2022; 2021 · Updated on site · Public MapServer last updated Feb 2024 — applications through FY 2022–23 only; newer PPARS data requires council/API access

Amenities

49 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

  • Bench (38)
  • Bicycle Parking
  • Parking (3)
  • Picnic Table (4)
  • Waurn Pds Tennis ClubPlayground
  • Water Point (2)

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Parks & reserves

5 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Baum ParkPark
  • Malbec Loop ReservePark
  • Waurn Ponds Memorial ReservePark
  • Waurn Ponds ParklandPark
  • Waurn Ponds ReservePark

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Hospitals & GP clinics
2
Emergency department
On site
  • Dove DentalColac Roaddentist
  • Epworth Geelonghospital

Data sources & freshness

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.

Data sources & freshness

Heritage

2 state heritage places

  • BRIDGE OVER WAURN PONDS CREEKNH1104
  • LIME-BURNING KILNNH0866

Data sources & freshness

  • State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site

Childcare

2 childcare services from OpenStreetMap

  • HEI Schoolskindergarten
  • Next Steps Early Learning Centrekindergarten

Data sources & freshness

  • Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
No overlay at centroid

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Victorian Bushfire Management Overlay mapping.

Data sources & freshness

  • Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
31
Parks (OSM)
6

OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh

Desirability index

Desirability score
88.2/100
Cohort rank
#29 among Coastal & beach suburbs

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics

Recent changes

  • HEI Schoolschildcarekindergarten
  • Next Steps Early Learning Centrechildcarekindergarten
  • BRIDGE OVER WAURN PONDS CREEKheritageNH1104
  • LIME-BURNING KILNheritageNH0866
  • Dove DentalhealthColac Roaddentist
  • Epworth Geelonghealthhospital
  • Baum Parkgovernmentpark
  • Malbec Loop Reservegovernmentpark
  • Waurn Ponds Memorial Reservegovernmentpark
  • Waurn Ponds Parklandgovernmentpark

Data sources & freshness

Similar suburbs

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