Lakes Creek

Lakes Creek has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Lakes Creek's population, as of May 2026, is approximately 5,037 people. This figure represents an increase of 157 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,880 people. The change is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 5,037 as of June 2025 and an additional 73 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 299 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration contributed approximately 50.9% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. These state projections do not provide age category splits; therefore, AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort, released in 2023 using 2022 data. Based on projected demographic shifts, the area is expected to grow by approximately 280 persons to reach a total of 5,317 people by 2041, reflecting an increase of 5.6% over the 16-year period.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Lakes Creek according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Lakes Creek had an average of 3 approvals per year for development activity between 2016 and 2020, with a total of 19 approvals in that period. This low level of development reflects the rural nature of the area, where housing needs drive development rather than market demand. The small number of approvals means individual projects can significantly impact annual growth statistics.

Lakes Creek had less construction activity than Rest of Qld and below national patterns during this time. All recent developments were detached dwellings, reflecting the rural character with larger properties. As of 2021, there are approximately 2826 people per dwelling approval in Lakes Creek. Population forecasts indicate an increase of 280 residents by 2041, based on AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate.

If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

Lakes Creek has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Area infrastructure significantly impacts local performance. AreaSearch identified 14 projects potentially affecting the area. Notable ones are Dual Occupancy Development at 259 Rockonia Road, Thozet Road - Rockonia Road Traffic Signals Installation, Abattoir Alterations and Additions at 484 Lakes Creek Road, Land Based Recreational Fishing Platform - Donovan Park. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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The labour market performance in Lakes Creek lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Lakes Creek has a diverse workforce with both white and blue-collar jobs, heavily represented in manufacturing and industrial sectors. The unemployment rate is 6.0%. As of December 2025, there are 2,577 employed residents, with an unemployment rate of 8.0% compared to Regional Qld's 4.0%.

Workforce participation stands at 68.0%, slightly higher than Regional Qld's 64.5%. According to Census data, only 4.2% work from home. The leading employment industries are health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and retail trade. Manufacturing is particularly prominent with an employment share of 2.5 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 0.7%.

Over the year to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 3.4%, and employment declined by 1.8%, leading to a 1.5 percentage point drop in unemployment. In contrast, Regional Qld saw employment growth of 0.7% and labour force growth of 1.0%, with unemployment rising by 0.3%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project national growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Lakes Creek's industry mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.6% over five years and 12.5% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The Lakes Creek SA2's median income among taxpayers was $52,921 in financial year 2023. The average income stood at $62,280 during the same period. These figures compare to Regional Qld's median and average incomes of $53,146 and $66,593 respectively. By March 2026, estimates based on Wage Price Index growth suggest a median income of approximately $58,933 and an average income of around $69,355 for Lakes Creek SA2. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Lakes Creek rank modestly between the 25th and 35th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows that 32.7% of locals (1,647 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income category. This is similar to the surrounding region where 31.7% occupy this income range. After accounting for housing costs, 85.3% of income remains, ranking at the 28th percentile nationally.

Lakes Creek is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The dwelling structure in Lakes Creek, as per the latest Census, consisted of 88.9% houses and 11.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Regional Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Lakes Creek was at 28.1%, with the rest being mortgaged (36.7%) or rented (35.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, significantly lower than Regional Qld's average of $1,655 and the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent in Lakes Creek was recorded at $260, substantially below Regional Qld's figure of $345 and the national average of $375.

Lakes Creek features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 67.7% of all households, consisting of couples with children (27.0%), couples without children (24.7%), and single parent families (14.8%). Non-family households make up the remaining 32.3%, with lone person households at 27.1% and group households comprising 5.0%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which aligns with the Regional Queensland average.

Lakes Creek faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 11.4%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 8.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.4%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 38.9% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (7.5%) and certificates (31.4%).

Educational participation is high, with 29.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.9% in primary education, 8.8% in secondary education, and 3.2% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Lakes Creek is well below average with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Lakes Creek faces significant health challenges, according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and prevalence of chronic conditions are substantial, affecting both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (around 2,538 people), compared to 52.5% in Regional Qld and the national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common conditions, affecting 10.1% and 8.9% of residents respectively. However, 65.5% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in Regional Qld. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. Lakes Creek has 15.7% of residents aged 65 and over (788 people), lower than the 20.4% in Regional Qld. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly inline with national rankings for the general population.

Lakes Creek ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Lakes Creek, surveyed in June 2016, had a culturally diverse population that was below average. Of its residents, 85.5% were Australian citizens, 86.4% were born in Australia, and 89.0% spoke English at home exclusively. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 51.1% of Lakes Creek's population, compared to 52.2% across Regional Queensland.

The top three ancestry groups, based on parents' country of birth, were Australian (29.6%), English (28.5%), and Australian Aboriginal (7.7%). Notably, Vietnamese residents made up 1.2%, German 4.4%, and Filipino 1.5% of Lakes Creek's population, compared to regional percentages of 0.2%, 4.7%, and 0.9% respectively.

Lakes Creek's population is younger than the national pattern

The median age in Lakes Creek is 35 years, which is lower than Regional Queensland's average of 41 years and also under the national average of 38 years. The 25-34 age group is notably over-represented in Lakes Creek at 14.5%, compared to the Regional Queensland average. Conversely, the 75-84 year-olds are under-represented at 4.7%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 65-74 age group has increased from 8.1% to 9.0% of the population, while the 5-14 age group has declined from 14.3% to 13.2%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in Lakes Creek. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 16%, adding 119 people and reaching a total of 851, compared to the current figure of 731. However, both the 5-14 and 15-24 age groups are forecasted to decrease in number.