NSW · Port Stephens Council
Duns Creek, NSW, 2321
Desirability index
#183 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Duns Creek is a small locality in the Port Stephens area, home to around 582 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 1,048 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with rising year-on-year trends (+9%), roughly 1800.7 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $650 (flats $520, houses $680), strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a quieter amenity profile than busier neighbouring suburbs, 1 active roadworks or transport incidents on nearby routes, and notable planning and development activity on record. Use the sections below for detailed population, safety, schools, and local activity data.
Population
- Population
- 582
- Median age
- 42
- Median household income / week
- $2,236
- Dwelling vacancy
- 3.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 7 of 195
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,167
- Employment rate
- 63.8%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 9 / 0 / 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.
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $520
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $680
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $650
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 293
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
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)
- 1,048
- Against the person
- 440
- Against property
- 380
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 1,800.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 1 residents
- State safety percentile
- 43.1th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- +8.6%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order76
- Domestic Violence Related Assault132
- Fraud62
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment151
- Malicious Damage To Property99
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
37 public transport stops in this suburb
- Butterwick Rd At Duns Creek Rd
- Duns Creek Rd After Forest Rd
- Duns Creek Rd At Wallaby Cl
- Paterson Rd At Duns Creek Rd
- Paterson Rd Opp Orange Grove Rd
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Roadworks & transport
1 active roadworks / incidents
- Reduce your speed. Expect delays. Exercise caution. Gravel resheet.Forest Road, Duns Creek Road21 Jun 2026 – 07 Jul 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 NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
61 planning-related records
2026· 5 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation124A DUNS CREEK ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Under Assessment
May 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1245 PATERSON ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Determined
March 2026
- Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Hot water systems; Rainwater tanks660 DUNS CREEK ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Additional Information Requested
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool163 DUNS CREEK ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Determined
February 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool; Supporting Development494 BUTTERWICK ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Determined
2025· 10 proposals
December 2025
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure; Awnings, blinds and canopies; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Carport; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Letterboxes; Swimming pool8 WOODVILLE STREET DUNS CREEK 2321Determined
November 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 FOREST ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structureUFFINGTON ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Additional Information Requested
October 2025
- Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure550 DUNS CREEK ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Determined
July 2025
- Farm buildings; Shed; Erection of a new structure20 WALLABY CLOSE DUNS CREEK 2321Determined
May 2025
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure9 WALLABY CLOSE DUNS CREEK 2321Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool673 DUNS CREEK ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Determined
April 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool641 DUNS CREEK ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Determined
February 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure44 FOREST ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure20 WALLABY CLOSE DUNS CREEK 2321Withdrawn
2024· 10 proposals
December 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure373 DUNS CREEK ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Determined
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)118 DUNS CREEK ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Determined
October 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool4 UFFINGTON ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure1245 Paterson Road Duns Creek NSW 2321Determined
- Subdivision25A FOREST ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Withdrawn
September 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming pool647 DUNS CREEK ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Determined
August 2024
- Shed; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure611 DUNS CREEK ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Determined
June 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure1245 Paterson Road Duns Creek NSW 2321Determined
March 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)25 DUNS CREEK ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure538 DUNS CREEK ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Determined
2023· 8 proposals
December 2023
- Shed; Erection of a new structure588 DUNS CREEK ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)1368 PATERSON ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Determined
November 2023
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool1356 PATERSON ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Determined
September 2023
- Dual occupancy; Pools / decks / fencing; Retaining walls, protection of trees; Garages, carports and car parking spaces; Shed525 DUNS CREEK ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Determined
August 2023
- Farm buildings1245A PATERSON ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Determined
April 2023
- Shed118 DUNS CREEK ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Determined
March 2023
- Dwelling6A FOREST ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Determined
February 2023
- Shed91 DUNS CREEK ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Determined
2022· 10 proposals
November 2022
- Dwelling653 DUNS CREEK ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Determined
September 2022
- Dwelling6A FOREST ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Withdrawn
- Dwelling1359 PATERSON ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Determined
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development143 DUNS CREEK ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Determined
June 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing9 REYNOLDS CLOSE DUNS CREEK 2321Determined
- Pools / decks / fencing44 DUNS CREEK ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Determined
May 2022
- Dwelling10 WIVELISCOMBE CLOSE DUNS CREEK 2321Determined
2021· 15 proposals
15 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2020· 3 proposals
3 proposals lodged in 2020. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Period: 2020; 2020–2026; 2021… · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
1 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Duns Creek Rd at Wallaby ClBus stop
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
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 8/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 9/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
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.
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 3
- Parks (OSM)
- 0
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
- 60.0/100
- Cohort rank
- #183 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
- Butterwick Rd At Duns Creek Rdtransport
- Duns Creek Rd After Forest Rdtransport
- Duns Creek Rd At Wallaby Cltransport
- Paterson Rd At Duns Creek Rdtransport
- Paterson Rd Opp Orange Grove Rdtransport
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Swimming poolplanning4 UFFINGTON ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Lodged 25 Oct 2024 · Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Swimming poolplanning647 DUNS CREEK ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Lodged 17 Sep 2024 · Determined
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential developmentplanning143 DUNS CREEK ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Lodged 06 Sep 2022 · Determined
- Demolition; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Garage, carport or carparking space; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)planning118 DUNS CREEK ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Lodged 03 Dec 2024 · Determined
- Demolition; Erection of a new structure; Swimming poolplanning163 DUNS CREEK ROAD DUNS CREEK 2321Lodged 23 Mar 2026 · Determined
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
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