NSW · Port Stephens Council
Salt Ash, NSW, 2318
Desirability index
#179 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Salt Ash is a small locality in the Port Stephens area, home to around 1,103 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 635 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 with falling year-on-year trends (-11%), roughly 575.7 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $660, 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. Use the sections below for detailed population, safety, schools, and local activity data.
Population
- Population
- 1,103
- Median age
- 46
- Median household income / week
- $1,461
- Dwelling vacancy
- 8.6%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 35 of 406
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,950
- Employment rate
- 51.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 32 / 9 / 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
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $700
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 63
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)
- 635
- Against the person
- 240
- Against property
- 258
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 575.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 5 residents
- State safety percentile
- 25.9th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- -10.8%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order36
- Domestic Violence Related Assault72
- Fraud93
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment92
- Malicious Damage To Property41
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
- 904
- Salt Ash 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
70 public transport stops in this suburb
- 2396 Nelson Bay Rd
- Nelson Bay Rd After Oakvale Dr
- Nelson Bay Rd After Richardson Rd
- Nelson Bay Rd After Sansom Rd
- Nelson Bay Rd Opp Salt Ash Av
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).
86 planning-related records
2026· 6 proposals
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure126 LEMON TREE PASSAGE ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
May 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool14 MICHAEL DRIVE SALT ASH 2318Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure25 SHADY AVENUE SALT ASH 2318Determined
March 2026
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development171 LEMON TREE PASSAGE ROAD SALT ASH 2318Under Assessment
February 2026
- Temporary building, structure or use; Function centre182 LEMON TREE PASSAGE ROAD SALT ASH 2318Withdrawn
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure232 LEMON TREE PASSAGE ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
2025· 17 proposals
December 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached); Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Garage, carport or carparking space20 OAKFIELD ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure420 LEMON TREE PASSAGE ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
November 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool11 SALT ASH AVENUE SALT ASH 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool113 LEMON TREE PASSAGE ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Eco-tourist facility27 Stockton Bight Track, Fullerton Cove 2318 NSWDetermined
September 2025
- Shed; Erection of a new structure2886 NELSON BAY ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah2697 NELSON BAY ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
August 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool468 LEMON TREE PASSAGE ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
July 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool88 MARSH ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
June 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool21 DAVID DRIVE SALT ASH 2318Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure420 LEMON TREE PASSAGE ROAD SALT ASH 2318Withdrawn
- Shed; Erection of a new structure32 TONIA AVENUE SALT ASH 2318Determined
- Farm buildings; Temporary building, structure or use; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool; Supporting Development2875 NELSON BAY ROAD SALT ASH 2318Under Assessment
April 2025
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)18 BROWNES ROAD SALT ASH 2318Withdrawn
- Shed; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Rainwater tanks371 LEMON TREE PASSAGE ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Carport5 RECLUSE PLACE SALT ASH 2318Determined
January 2025
- Home business; Hours of operation and trading2886 NELSON BAY ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
2024· 14 proposals
November 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool1 RECLUSE PLACE SALT ASH 2318Determined
September 2024
- Farm buildings; Shed; Erection of a new structure4 OAKVALE DRIVE SALT ASH 2318Determined
August 2024
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation41 LEMON TREE PASSAGE ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodation62 ROOKES ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
July 2024
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure182 LEMON TREE PASSAGE ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool13 OAKFIELD ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
May 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool14 BROWNES ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure361 LEMON TREE PASSAGE ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Service station2842 NELSON BAY ROAD SALT ASH 2318Withdrawn
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Carport3 RECLUSE PLACE SALT ASH 2318Determined
March 2024
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation41 LEMON TREE PASSAGE ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support161 LEMON TREE PASSAGE ROAD SALT ASH 2318Withdrawn
February 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure378 LEMON TREE PASSAGE ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
January 2024
- Shed; Erection of a new structure361 LEMON TREE PASSAGE ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
2023· 13 proposals
November 2023
- Subdivision; Agriculture11 JANET PARADE SALT ASH 2318Determined
October 2023
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)5 ROOKES ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
September 2023
- Temporary building, structure or use; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Swimming pool2697 NELSON BAY ROAD SALT ASH 2318Determined
2022· 12 proposals
12 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 23 proposals
23 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2020· 1 proposal
1 proposal 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
- 157 Lemon Tree Passage RdBus stop
- 2741 Nelson Bay RdBus stop
- 2760 Nelson Bay RdBus stop
- 2875 Nelson Bay RdBus stop
- Church of Christ, Nelson Bay RdBus stop
- Lemon Tree Passage Rd after Nelson Bay RdBus stop
- Lemon Tree Passage Rd at Michael DrBus stop
- Lemon Tree Passage Rd before Nelson Bay RdBus stop
- Lemon Tree Passage Rd opp 157Bus stop
- Lemon Tree Passage Rd opp Michael DrBus 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)
- 3/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 3/10
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
- Go Kindy Salt Ashkindergarten
- kindergartenkindergarten
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
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)
- 1
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
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
- 60.8/100
- Cohort rank
- #179 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
- 2396 Nelson Bay Rdtransport
- Nelson Bay Rd After Oakvale Drtransport
- Nelson Bay Rd After Richardson Rdtransport
- Nelson Bay Rd After Sansom Rdtransport
- Nelson Bay Rd Opp Salt Ash Avtransport
- Go Kindy Salt Ashchildcarekindergarten
- kindergartenchildcarekindergarten
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Service stationplanning2842 NELSON BAY ROAD SALT ASH 2318Lodged 20 May 2024 · Withdrawn
- Demolition; Shed; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Swimming pool; Residential Accommodationplanning62 ROOKES ROAD SALT ASH 2318Lodged 01 Aug 2024 · Determined
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodationplanning41 LEMON TREE PASSAGE ROAD SALT ASH 2318Lodged 09 Aug 2024 · Determined
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Updated on site
- 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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