VIC · South Gippsland Council
Bena, VIC, 3946
Current weather
13.1°COvercast
71% humidity · 19 km/h wind · 15.4° / 10.2° today · 5.2 mm rain
Desirability index
#60 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Bena is a small locality in the South Gippsland area, home to around 303 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show 5 offences in 2026 with rising year-on-year trends (+150%), roughly 16.5 offences per 1,000 residents, and notable planning and development activity on record. Use the sections below for detailed population, safety, schools, and local activity data.
Population
- Population
- 303
- Median age
- 51
- Median household income / week
- $1,687
- Dwelling vacancy
- 18%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 25 of 139
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,733
- Employment rate
- 60.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 5 / 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.
Crime & safety
- Total offences (2026)
- 5
- Against the person
- 1
- Against property
- 4
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 16.5
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 303 residents
- State safety percentile
- 10th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- +150%
Most common offence types
- B11 Cause Damage By Fire1
- B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle2
- B45 Receiving Or Handling Stolen Goods1
- Other Crimes Against The Person1
Data sources & freshness
- Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Year ending March release
Planning & development
Development applications from PPARS statewide register (lodged 2020–2022). Free public PPARS MapServer — applications through ~2022 (service last updated Feb 2024).
13 planning-related records
2021· 4 proposals
September 2021
- Develop land with a dwelling. Use of land for group accommodation.492 BENA-KONGWAK ROAD BENA 3946Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
August 2021
- Development of land associated with agriculture (Shed)465 ANDERSONS INLET ROAD BENA 3946Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2021
- Development of single dwelling - Amend Permit allows20 Johnston CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
January 2021
- Development of a dwelling and shed812 Andersons Inlet RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 9 proposals
November 2020
- Develop land with habitable outbuilding (pool house and deck) - amend endorsed plans805 Bena-Kongwak RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Two (2) lot subdivision. Use and development land with a dwelling.1045 Bena-Kongwak RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
October 2020
- Develop land with an agricultural outbuilding1030 Bena-Kongwak RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Develop land with an extension to an existing dwelling805 Bena-Kongwak RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Develop land with a domestic outbuilding46 Cochranes RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2020
- Develop land with a domestic outbuilding485 Andersons Inlet RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2020
- Develop land with an extension to an existing dwelling17 Tyers RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2020
- Develop land with an agricultural outbuilding150 Bass Valley RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
January 2020
- Development of land for an outbuilding445 Bena-Kongwak 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
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 7/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 8/10
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 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)
- 32
- 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
- 76.4/100
- Cohort rank
- #60 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
- Develop land with a domestic outbuildingplanning46 Cochranes RoadLodged 12 Oct 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Develop land with a domestic outbuildingplanning485 Andersons Inlet RoadLodged 10 Jul 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Develop land with a dwelling. Use of land for group accommodation.planning492 BENA-KONGWAK ROAD BENA 3946Lodged 27 Sep 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Develop land with an agricultural outbuildingplanning1030 Bena-Kongwak RoadLodged 23 Oct 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Develop land with an agricultural outbuildingplanning150 Bass Valley RoadLodged 16 Mar 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Develop land with an extension to an existing dwellingplanning805 Bena-Kongwak RoadLodged 13 Oct 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Develop land with an extension to an existing dwellingplanning17 Tyers RoadLodged 22 Jun 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Develop land with habitable outbuilding (pool house and deck) - amend endorsed plansplanning805 Bena-Kongwak RoadLodged 18 Nov 2020 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Development of a dwelling and shedplanning812 Andersons Inlet RoadLodged 28 Jan 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Development of land associated with agriculture (Shed)planning465 ANDERSONS INLET ROAD BENA 3946Lodged 02 Aug 2021 · Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
Data sources & freshness
- PPARS planning permit activity (statewide) — Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · Updated on site · Public MapServer last updated Feb 2024 — applications through FY 2022–23 only; newer PPARS data requires council/API access
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