NSW · Wollongong Council
Lake Heights, NSW, 2502
Desirability index
#680 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Lake Heights is a smaller suburban community in the Wollongong area, home to around 4,105 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 1,726 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with rising year-on-year trends (+14%), roughly 420.5 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $598 (flats $500, houses $650), 1 school and preschool site 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.
Population
- Population
- 4,105
- Median age
- 36
- Median household income / week
- $1,356
- Dwelling vacancy
- 6.9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 111 of 1,610
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,950
- Employment rate
- 50.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 106 / 88 / 168
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)
- $500
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $650
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $598
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 80
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)
- 1,726
- Against the person
- 340
- Against property
- 695
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 420.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 12 residents
- State safety percentile
- 22.7th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- +13.6%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order111
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment121
- Malicious Damage To Property126
- Steal From Retail Store176
- Transport Regulatory Offences131
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
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 941
- Lake Heights Public 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
69 public transport stops in this suburb
- 388 Northcliffe Dr
- Gloria Cres At Lake Heights Rd
- Lakes Heights Public School, Northcliffe Dr
- Northcliffe Dr At Lake Heights Rd
- Northcliffe Dr Before Lake Heights Rd
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).
155 planning-related records
2026· 11 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure35 WERINGA AVENUE LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Under Assessment
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation23 TREVOR AVENUE LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
May 2026
- Home business; Hours of operation and trading16 HINGSTON CLOSE LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
April 2026
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support34 CANBERRA ROAD LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
March 2026
- Subdivision89 WHIMBREL AVENUE LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah18 BUENA VISTA AVENUE LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space44 ST CLOUD CRESCENT LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
February 2026
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure314 FLAGSTAFF ROAD LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Additional Information Requested
- Subdivision10 AITKIN PLACE LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
- Subdivision88 BARINA AVENUE LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Under Assessment
January 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure; Residential Accommodation6 KARRABAH CRESCENT LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
2025· 22 proposals
December 2025
- Place of public worship; Subdivision; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Early Education and Care Facility; Centre-based child care78 DENISE STREET LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
November 2025
- Subdivision10 AITKIN PLACE LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
October 2025
- Demolition; Supporting Development302 NORTHCLIFFE DRIVE LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure314 FLAGSTAFF ROAD LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation54 MIRRABOOKA ROAD LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure8 JACANA PLACE LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
September 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool18 CANBERRA ROAD LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation18 NOBLE PARADE LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure6 LAKE HEIGHTS ROAD LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
August 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space8 LAKE HEIGHTS ROAD LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 134 SHEARWATER DRIVE LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
June 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation42 GRAND VIEW PARADE LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
May 2025
- Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Food and drink premise; Take away food and drink14-26 WERINGA AVENUE LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure314 FLAGSTAFF ROAD LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)25 NORTHCLIFFE DRIVE LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
April 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure35 WERINGA AVENUE LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
March 2025
- Dwelling house; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia262 NORTHCLIFFE DRIVE LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Driveways and hard stand spaces161 NORTHCLIFFE DRIVE LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
- Multi-dwelling housing; Erection of a new structure1-3 CLAREMONT AVENUE LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Operational consent requested
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support34 CANBERRA ROAD LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
January 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure109 WERINGA AVENUE LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure286 NORTHCLIFFE DRIVE LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
2024· 16 proposals
December 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space8 LAKE HEIGHTS ROAD LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
October 2024
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah18 BUENA VISTA AVENUE LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure40 LAKE HEIGHTS ROAD LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
September 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Carport; Driveways and hard stand spaces161 NORTHCLIFFE DRIVE LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
August 2024
- Secondary dwelling; Demolition; Erection of a new structure163 NORTHCLIFFE DRIVE LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)33 KINGSLEY DRIVE LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation14 RANCHBY AVENUE LAKE HEIGHTS 2502Determined
2023· 19 proposals
19 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 35 proposals
35 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 40 proposals
40 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2020· 12 proposals
12 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
23 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- Bench (7)
- 151 Northcliffe DrBus stop
- 388 Northcliffe DrBus stop
- Lakes Heights Public School, Northcliffe DrBus stop
- Northcliffe Dr at Lake Heights RdBus stop
- Northcliffe Dr at St Cloud CresBus stop
- Northcliffe Dr before Lake Heights RdBus stop
- Northcliffe Dr opp Buena Vista AveBus stop
- Northcliffe Dr opp Lake Heights Public SchoolBus stop
- Northcliffe Dr opp Lake Heights RdBus 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
5 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Barnes ParkPark
- Lake Heights ReservePark
- Ranchby Avenue ParkPark
- Von Guerard ParkPark
- Wollamai ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 3/10
- 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
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)
- 7
- Parks (OSM)
- 7
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
- 8.2/100
- Cohort rank
- #680 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- 388 Northcliffe Drtransport
- Gloria Cres At Lake Heights Rdtransport
- Lakes Heights Public School, Northcliffe Drtransport
- Northcliffe Dr At Lake Heights Rdtransport
- Northcliffe Dr Before Lake Heights Rdtransport
- Barnes Parkgovernmentpark
- Lake Heights Reservegovernmentpark
- Ranchby Avenue Parkgovernmentpark
- Von Guerard Parkgovernmentpark
- Wollamai Parkgovernmentpark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Updated on site
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
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