NSW · Mid-Coast Council
Forster (NSW), NSW, 2428
Desirability index
#330 among Country & regional suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Forster (NSW) is a mid-sized suburb in the Mid-Coast area, home to around 14,187 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 2,246 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with falling year-on-year trends (-6%), roughly 158.3 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $550 (flats $460, houses $650), 3 school and preschool sites in the area, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a solid spread of nearby amenities and everyday services, 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
- 14,187
- Median age
- 57
- Median household income / week
- $1,009
- Dwelling vacancy
- 19.7%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 1,530 of 7,781
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,733
- Employment rate
- 39.2%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 478 / 942 / 1,119
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)
- $460
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $650
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $550
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 207
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)
- 2,246
- Against the person
- 592
- Against property
- 904
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 158.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 24 residents
- State safety percentile
- 13.4th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- -6.3%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order133
- Breach Bail Conditions216
- Domestic Violence Related Assault185
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment205
- Malicious Damage To Property170
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
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 3
- Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
- 936
- Forster Public SchoolPrimary
- Great Lakes College Forster CampusSecondary
- Holy Name Primary SchoolPrimary
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
412 public transport stops in this suburb
- Becker Rd After Churchill Rd
- Becker Rd At Strand St
- Becker Rd Before Churchill Rd
- Forster Coach Terminal, Little St
- Pioneer Dr At Kiola Pl
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
870 planning-related records
2026· 75 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure16 BECKER ROAD FORSTER 2428On Exhibition
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure34 SEAVIEW STREET FORSTER 2428Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Jetty12 ROEBUCK KEY FORSTER 2428On Exhibition
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Garage, carport or carparking space; Residential Accommodation112 BECKER ROAD FORSTER 2428On Exhibition
- Erection of a new structure; Animal boarding or training establishment5 SWEET PEA ROAD FORSTER 2428Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah89 MYALL DRIVE FORSTER 2428Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool3 LOVEDALE WAY FORSTER 2428Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure11 MURRAY AVENUE FORSTER 2428Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home21 CABARITA AVENUE FORSTER 2428Under Assessment
- Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure114 MACINTOSH STREET FORSTER 2428Under Assessment
- Attached dwelling; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation3 ALICE STREET FORSTER 2428Determined
- Dwelling house; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)80 AKALA AVENUE FORSTER 2428Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure168 THE LAKES WAY FORSTER 2428Under Assessment
May 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah23 LAKEVIEW CRESCENT FORSTER 2428Under Assessment
- Demolition; Shop top housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation49-55 WHARF STREET FORSTER NSW 2428Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure12 ELIZABETH PARADE FORSTER 2428Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool44 SUNSET AVENUE FORSTER 2428Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool6 TUMBARUMBA WAY FORSTER 2428Withdrawn
- Medical centre; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia3 BOONA STREET FORSTER 2428Additional Information Requested
April 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah26 BOUNTY KEY FORSTER 2428Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)7 PANORAMA CRESCENT FORSTER 2428Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport23 UNDARA CIRCUIT FORSTER 2428Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure9 GUY AVENUE FORSTER 2428Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation77 PIONEER DRIVE FORSTER 2428Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Electricity generating facility (solar and wind); Other Infrastructure3-17 BREESE PARADE FORSTER 2428Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure2 ILUKA BOULEVARD FORSTER 2428Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure12 MYALL DRIVE FORSTER 2428Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure8 SURFSIDE AVENUE FORSTER 2428Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation4 ILUKA BOULEVARD FORSTER 2428Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport1 PARADISE AVENUE FORSTER 2428Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure4 UNDERWOOD ROAD FORSTER 2428Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool1 TAMAR COURT FORSTER 2428Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Garage, carport or carparking space; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)37 STRAND STREET FORSTER 2428Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure21 SURFSIDE AVENUE FORSTER 2428Determined
March 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Carport2 62 KENROSE STREET FORSTER 2428Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space5 ROSEVILLE CLOSE FORSTER 2428Additional Information Requested
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Health services facility5A SOUTH STREET FORSTER 2428Under Assessment
- Demolition; Commercial development; Advertising and signage; Retail Premise; Specialised Retail Premises8 BREESE PARADE FORSTER 2428Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 PALM ROAD FORSTER 2428Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure16 ELOUERA CRESCENT FORSTER 2428Determined
2025· 122 proposals
122 proposals lodged in 2025. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2024· 192 proposals
192 proposals lodged in 2024. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2023· 138 proposals
138 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 154 proposals
154 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 185 proposals
185 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2020· 4 proposals
4 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
32 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Akala Av at Wamara CresBus stop
- Akala Av opp Undara CctBus stop
- Bali Hai Av at Capri AvBus stop
- Bali Hai Av at Skye CresBus stop
- Bus stop
- Carribean Av after Bali Hai AvBus stop
- Discovery Dr at Victor AvBus stop
- Estia Health Forster, The Southern PwyBus stop
- Gleneon Dr at Mayfair PlBus stop
- Gleneon Dr at Victoria PlBus 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
Parks & reserves
18 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Bennetts Head ReservePark
- Boronia ParkPark
- Dolphin ReservePark
- Elizabeth ReservePark
- Elouera ReservePark
- End and RecoveryPark
- Forster Heights ParkPark
- Friendship ReservePark
- Island ReservePark
- Marcel Terry ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 4
- Emergency department
- On site
- Amcalpharmacy
- Forster Dental CentreWallis Streetdentist
- Forster Private HospitalSouth Streethospital
- Skin Cancer ClinicWest Streetdoctor
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 2/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 2/10
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
Childcare
2 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
- Lillypilly Pre-schoolkindergarten
- kindergartenCross Streetkindergarten
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 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)
- 110
- Parks (OSM)
- 23
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
- 64.5/100
- Cohort rank
- #330 among Country & regional suburbs
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Becker Rd After Churchill Rdtransport
- Becker Rd At Strand Sttransport
- Becker Rd Before Churchill Rdtransport
- Forster Coach Terminal, Little Sttransport
- Pioneer Dr At Kiola Pltransport
- Lillypilly Pre-schoolchildcarekindergarten
- kindergartenchildcareCross Streetkindergarten
- Amcalhealthpharmacy
- Forster Dental CentrehealthWallis Streetdentist
- Forster Private HospitalhealthSouth Streethospital
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Updated on site
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Updated on site
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
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