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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
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ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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Lakes Creek has an estimated 5,037 residents, up from 4,880 at the 2021 Census — a change of 157 people, or 3.2%. That puts 300 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to investigations by AreaSearch, the population of Lakes Creek stands at approximately 5,037 as of May 2026. This represents an addition of 157 people (3.2%) compared to the 4,880 people recorded in the 2021 Census. This shift is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 5,037 along with 73 validated new addresses identified since the Census. Such a population size results in a density of 299 persons per square kilometer, which offers plenty of space per inhabitant and opportunities for future expansion. Overseas migration was the primary driver of this growth, accounting for about 50.9% of the total population increases in recent times.
AreaSearch utilizes ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 region, which were published in 2024 using 2022 as the baseline. For any SA2 regions lacking this dataset, as well as for all years after 2032, projections from the Queensland State Government released in 2023 (based on 2021 statistics) are used. Because these state-level projections lack breakdowns by age, AreaSearch distributes growth across age cohorts using proportional weightings derived from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections (which use 2022 baseline data). Based on these anticipated demographic transitions, population growth is projected to be slightly below the national median for regional areas, with the locality expected to add 280 residents by 2041 compared to the most recent annual ERP statistics, representing a overall rise of 5.6% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Residential building activity in Lakes Creek is very limited, averaging 3 dwelling approvals annually, or 19 dwellings over the five-year period. This minimal development rate reflects the rural character of the district, where construction is generally sparked by specific local housing requirements rather than broad market momentum. Because the volume of approvals is so low, single development schemes can have a disproportionate effect on annual growth rates and comparative trends. Lakes Creek exhibits far less construction volume than Rest of Qld. This pace of building is also lower than national averages.
Furthermore, recent additions have consisted solely of detached dwellings, aligning with the rural layout of the area where spacious properties are common. The ratio of 2834 people in the district for each dwelling approval highlights the quiet and low-intensity nature of local building activity. Demographic projections suggest Lakes Creek will add 280 residents through to 2041, based on the most recent quarterly estimates from AreaSearch. If building activity remains at its current low levels, the supply of housing may not keep pace with population growth, which could increase buyer rivalry and support upward pressure on prices.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Lakes Creek
Loading development applications…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 4 current infrastructure and development projects inside Lakes Creek, worth an estimated $3 million. A further 61 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $6.99 billion. 20 are already under construction and 17 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans communities, residential development and transport & logistics. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Changes to local infrastructure, major developments, and urban planning decisions can greatly affect local performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 14 projects expected to influence the district. Key works include the Dual Occupancy Development at 259 Rockonia Road, the installation of traffic signals at the intersection of Thozet Road and Rockonia Road, alterations and additions to the abattoir at 484 Lakes Creek Road, and the creation of a land-based recreational fishing platform at Donovan Park, with details on the most significant initiatives provided below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Dual Occupancy Development at 259 Rockonia Road
Development permit for a dual occupancy, providing two residential dwellings on the site.
Thozet Road - Rockonia Road Traffic Signals Installation
Installation of traffic signals with pedestrian crossing facilities to improve safety at the intersection. The signals will include a right-turn lane and a designated right-turn arrow for the Richardson Road western approach, and a left-turn lane for the Richardson Road eastern approach. The project is intended to ease congestion and reduce accidents, and was funded by the Australian Government's Black Spot Program.
Abattoir Alterations and Additions at 484 Lakes Creek Road
Alterations and additions to the existing high impact abattoir facilities at 484 Lakes Creek Road. The property is owned by Teys Australia. There is also a JBS abattoir in the Rockhampton region.
Land Based Recreational Fishing Platform - Donovan Park
The Donovan Park Land Based Recreational Fishing Platform is one of four new platforms in the Rockhampton Region built as a result of the Recreational Fishing Development Strategy. The platform features an undercover area and a picnic table with natural shade. The platforms formalize existing fishing areas and help protect the riverbanks from erosion. Works were also underway on disabled access paths associated with the platform.
Anaconda Large Format Retail Development Rockhampton
Spotlight Group large format retail development beside the existing Spotlight store near Moores Creek Road and Yaamba Road. The current approved scheme includes a 2500 sqm stand-alone Anaconda anchor store, additional large format retail tenancies, loading areas, signage, landscaping, bicycle parking and more than 230 car spaces. Rockhampton Regional Council approved amended plans in 2025, tenders were called in mid-2025, and Paynters was reported as the builder with construction expected to commence in early 2026.
196 Mason Street Residential Subdivision
The project involves reconfiguring one lot into four residential lots at 196 Mason Street, Berserker, to support low-density residential development with single detached dwellings and dual occupancies. The site, spanning 3,129 square meters in the Low Density Residential Zone, was approved by Rockhampton Regional Council on February 11, 2025, subject to conditions for access, sewerage, water, stormwater, and other infrastructure works.
Rockhampton Large Format Retail Centre (Anaconda anchor)
A large format retail development on the corner of Yaamba Road (Bruce Highway) and Moores Creek Road in Park Avenue, anchored by a 2,500 square metre Anaconda showroom. Following an approved change application in March 2025, the project now comprises six showroom tenancies plus advertising signage, with the previously proposed shopping centre, smaller shops and 24-hour service station components removed. The site provides 258 car parking spaces and is owned by the Spotlight Retail Group through SPG Developments.The development brings additional outdoor, lifestyle and homewares retail to the northern Rockhampton retail strip on the Bruce Highway.
The Gardens Estate Norman Gardens
A residential housing development in Norman Gardens featuring modern family homes and community facilities. The development includes landscaped parklands, walking trails, and sustainable design principles.
2,565 residents of Lakes Creek are employed, from a labour force of 2,711. Unemployment sits at 5.4%, with participation at 67.3%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.6% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 4,213, about 84% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Lakes Creek possesses a mixed labor force of both white and blue collar workers, with a notable concentration in industrial and manufacturing fields, alongside an unemployment rate of 5.4%. As of March 2026, there are 2,565 employed residents, and the unemployment rate sits 1.5% higher than the Regional Qld level of 3.9%, while labor force participation is relatively typical (67.3% compared to 64.3% in Regional Qld). Census records show that a minor 4.2% of the workforce worked from home, though this may reflect temporary Covid-19 lockdown conditions. The top employment sectors for local workers are health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and retail trade.
The region exhibits a distinct economic concentration in manufacturing, where the employment share is 2.5 times the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing represents a minor fraction of local jobs at 0.7% compared to 4.5% across the region. Comparing the Census count of local jobs to the resident workforce suggests that local employment opportunities are somewhat scarce. AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics indicates that during the 12 months ending March 2026, the local labor force contracted by 5.0% and total employment fell by 2.3%, leading to a decrease in the unemployment rate of 2.6 percentage points. Over the same timeframe, Regional Qld experienced employment expansion of 0.1%, labor force growth of 0.3%, and a rise in unemployment of 0.1 percentage points. National job forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia published in May-25 offer additional context regarding future employment trends in Lakes Creek. These five and ten-year projections have been applied to the local workforce structure to model potential growth. Nationally, employment is projected to rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though these rates vary greatly by industry. Applying these sectoral trends to the local industry mix suggests employment in Lakes Creek could grow by 5.6% over five years and 12.5% over ten years, though this is a basic weighted projection for comparison and excludes local population dynamics.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Lakes Creek is $1,374 a week (about $71,000 a year), with median personal income at $734 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $52,921 a year against an average of $62,280. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
Tax data from the ATO compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 indicates that income levels in the Lakes Creek SA2 are below the national average. The median income for taxpayers in the Lakes Creek SA2 is $52,921 and the average income is $62,280, compared to $53,146 and $66,593 in Regional Qld. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, current figures are estimated at roughly $58,933 (median) and $69,355 (average) as of March 2026. In the 2021 Census, household, family, and individual incomes in Lakes Creek all ranked in the modest 25th to 35th percentile range.
The largest income group contains 32.7% of residents (1,647 people) earning between $1,500 - 2,999, which is comparable to the wider region where 31.7% fall into this bracket. Discretionary income remaining after housing costs stands at 85.3%, placing the area in the 28th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Lakes Creek had 1,813 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 89% detached houses and 5% apartments. 37% are owned with a mortgage, 35% rented and 28% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $260 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,300 a month. Rent absorbs 18.9% of household income here and mortgage repayments 21.8%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the most recent Census, the housing mix in Lakes Creek consisted of 88.9% separate houses and 11.1% other options like townhouses and apartments, compared to 76.4% houses and 23.6% other options in Regional Qld. Home ownership rates in Lakes Creek lagged behind the regional average at 28.1%, with the remaining properties being mortgaged (36.7%) or rented (35.3%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,300 was lower than the Regional Qld average, while the median weekly rent was $260, compared to regional figures of $1,655 and $345. On a national scale, Lakes Creek mortgage costs are notably below the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are much lower than the national average of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Lakes Creek counted 1,813 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.5 people each. 27% are couples with children, against 25% couples without children. 27% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.9 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up the majority of households at 67.7%, consisting of couples with children at 27.0%, couples without children at 24.7%, and single parent households at 14.8%. The remaining 32.3% are non-family households, with single person households accounting for 27.1% and group households representing 5.0% of the total. The median size of local households is 2.5 people, aligning with the Regional Qld average.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
11.4% of adults in Lakes Creek hold a university qualification, including 8.4% with a bachelor degree and 1.6% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 94% of areas nationally. A further 31.4% hold a vocational qualification. 2 schools serve the area, with 702 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 899 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Educational attainment levels in the area show some disparities, with the proportion of residents holding university qualifications (11.4%) sitting well below the national average of 30.4%. This highlights a clear need and opportunity for focused educational programs. Among higher degrees, bachelor qualifications are most common at 8.4%, followed by postgraduate degrees (1.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.4%). Vocational and technical training is widely held, with 38.9% of residents aged 15+ possessing vocational qualifications, including advanced diplomas (7.5%) and certificates (31.4%). Enrolment rates are remarkably high, with 29.5% of the local population actively participating in formal study.
This cohort includes 11.9% attending primary school, 8.8% enrolled in high school, and 3.2% undertaking tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Lakes Creek means driving: households keep an average of 1.4 vehicles, and no scheduled public transport appears in the current timetable feeds. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
65.5% of residents in Lakes Creek report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 85% of areas nationally. 7.3% need daily assistance with core activities, and 50.4% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.2 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Assessments by AreaSearch regarding mortality and chronic illnesses indicate that Lakes Creek faces notable health difficulties, with various medical issues affecting both younger and older demographics, while the proportion of residents with private health insurance is low at roughly 50% of the population (~2,538 people). This compares to a private coverage rate of 52.5% in Regional Qld and a national average of 55.7%. Mental health difficulties and arthritis represent the most prevalent medical issues locally, affecting 10.1 and 8.9% of the population, respectively, while 65.5% of residents reported no chronic health issues, compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld.
Chronic health issues are notably high among the working-age population. Residents aged 65 and over make up 15.7% of the population (788 people), which is lower than the Regional Qld proportion of 20.4%. Health profiles for older residents show some challenges, with national rankings generally matching those of the wider population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Lakes Creek is largely Australian-born, at 86.4% of residents, with 11.0% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (29.6%) and English (28.5%). 7.7% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity measures in Lakes Creek are lower than average, with citizens making up 85.5% of the population, 86.4% born in Australia, and 89.0% speaking only English at home. The predominant religious affiliation is Christianity, chosen by 51.1% of residents, which is similar to the 52.2% recorded across Regional Qld. Looking at ancestral backgrounds, the three largest groups in Lakes Creek are Australian at 29.6% of the population, English at 28.5%, and Australian Aboriginal at 7.7%. There are also distinct variations in other backgrounds: Vietnamese residents are notably overrepresented at 1.2% of the local population (compared to 0.2% across the region), German ancestry stands at 4.4% (compared to 4.7%), and Filipino heritage makes up 1.5% (compared to 0.9%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Lakes Creek is 35, younger than 79% of areas nationally. 27.8% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The median age in Lakes Creek is 35 years, which is much lower than the Regional Qld average of 41 and slightly below the national average of 38. The 25 - 34 age group is highly represented locally at 14.5% compared to the regional average, while seniors aged 75 - 84 are underrepresented at 4.7%. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 65 to 74 grew from 8.1% to 9.0%, whereas the cohort aged 5 to 14 dropped from 14.3% to 13.2%. By 2041, demographic forecasts project major shifts, led by a 16% expansion (119 people) in the 25 to 34 age bracket, growing from 731 to 851, while the 5 to 14 and 15 to 24 cohorts are expected to shrink.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Lakes Creek
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Oct 2025 10 months ago all 4 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Oct 2025. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 73 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (4,880 at the 2021 Census → 5,037 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to May 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (308031211). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.