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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 demographic evaluations by AreaSearch, the resident population of Lakes Creek stands at approximately 5,037 as of Aug 2026. This represents an expansion of 157 people (3.2%) compared to the 2021 Census count of 4,880 people. Such growth has been determined by combining the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 5,037 with 74 validated new addresses added following the census. With a population density of 299 persons per square kilometer, the locality offers abundant living room and substantial capacity for additional expansion. Inbound overseas migration served as the primary growth catalyst, generating roughly 50.9% of total demographic additions in recent times.
Projections developed by the ABS and Geoscience Australia, published in 2024 using 2022 as a baseline, form the primary basis of AreaSearch's SA2 modeling. For timeframes following 2032 or locations omitted from that release, projections issued by the Queensland State Government in 2023 (utilizing 2021 figures) are implemented instead. Because state-level datasets lack detailed age breakdowns, proportional distribution models aligned with the ABS Greater Capital Region forecasts (published in 2023 from 2022 benchmarks) are applied across individual age groups. These demographic trajectories indicate that future population growth will track slightly beneath the national regional median, expanding by 281 persons to 2041 according to current annual ERP figures, translating to an overall rise of 5.6% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
22 new dwellings have been approved in Lakes Creek over the past five years, an average of 4 a year. That is 0.9 approvals per 1,000 residents. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Residential construction authorizations in Lakes Creek have averaged roughly 4 new homes annually, totaling 22 homes approved across the preceding 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26). Because local growth averaged 3.5 new residents per year arriving per dwelling constructed over the past 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26), housing requirements significantly exceed additions, creating upward price momentum and heightened purchaser competition. Concurrently, newly approved dwellings show an average expected construction cost of $349,000—below broader regional benchmarks—suggesting more attainable building costs for buyers. Furthermore, commercial approvals totaling $4.8 million were recorded during this financial year, pointing to restrained non-residential building activity.
When evaluated against Rest of Qld, residential construction in Lakes Creek is substantially subdued, sitting 78.0% below regional average per person. Even though building approvals have picked up pace recently, this constrained supply pipeline typically intensifies buyer interest and supports values across established homes. Activity levels also lag behind nationwide benchmarks, demonstrating market maturity alongside possible development hurdles. Furthermore, recent building approvals have consisted entirely of detached dwellings, preserving a traditional low-density neighborhood fabric well-suited to households seeking spacious living. A metric of 819 people in the area per dwelling approval highlights the subdued pace of local construction. Moving forward, projections from the most recent AreaSearch quarterly estimate indicate that Lakes Creek will expand by 281 residents through to 2041. Should current construction patterns persist, new dwelling creation could fall short of demographic expansion, likely intensifying market competition and underpinning property values.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Lakes Creek
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
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
Local capital expenditure, major developments, and civil infrastructure delivery exert a major influence on regional growth dynamics. AreaSearch has pinpointed 14 projects positioned to influence the surrounding district. Notable works include Dual Occupancy Development at 259 Rockonia Road, Thozet Road - Rockonia Road Traffic Signals Installation, Abattoir Alterations and Additions at 484 Lakes Creek Road, and Land Based Recreational Fishing Platform - Donovan Park, with key details summarized below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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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 67.5%. 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
The local labour market in Lakes Creek encompasses a diverse mix of blue-collar and white-collar occupations, featuring strong representation across industrial operations and manufacturing, alongside an unemployment rate of 5.4%. As of March 2026, 2,565 residents are employed, with the local jobless rate sitting 1.5% above Regional Qld's rate of 3.9%. Meanwhile, the labour force participation rate is relatively typical at 67.5% compared to Regional Qld's 64.2%. Census figures also indicated that a modest 4.2% of workers operated from home, though historical pandemic restrictions may have influenced these findings. Local workforce participation is heavily clustered within retail trade, manufacturing, and health care & social assistance.
Manufacturing represents a clear area of specialization, capturing an employment share 2.5 times the regional level. By contrast, agriculture, forestry & fishing accounts for only 0.7% of local employment, well below the 4.5% seen across the wider region. An assessment of Census resident workers versus local workplace jobs suggests that nearby commercial employment positions remain limited within the immediate boundary. Analysis by AreaSearch utilizing ABS and SALM metrics indicates that in the year to March 2026, the local workforce contracted by 5.0% while working numbers fell by 2.3%, leading to an unemployment rate fall by 2.6 percentage points. Over the identical timeframe, Regional Qld experienced an employment increase of 0.1%, labour pool growth of 0.3%, and an unemployment rise of 0.1 percentage points. Broader employment outlooks published by Jobs and Skills Australia in Mar-26 provide additional context regarding future labour demand in Lakes Creek across five-year and ten-year horizons. Nationally, employment is projected to rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though trajectories vary widely by industry. Weighting these sectoral expectations against the existing local industry profile points to potential employment gains in Lakes Creek of 5.6% over five years and 12.5% over ten years (calculated as an illustrative baseline without adjusting for local population changes).
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
According to the latest ATO postcode statistics for financial year 2023 compiled by AreaSearch, tax filers in the Lakes Creek SA2 registered a median taxable income of $52,921 alongside an average of $62,280. These figures sit below nationwide metrics as well as Regional Qld benchmarks of $53,146 (median) and $66,593 (average). Applying an 11.36% increase from the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023 yields updated estimates of roughly $58,933 (median) and $69,355 (average) as of March 2026. In the Census, personal, family, and household earnings all placed in moderate tiers between the 25th and 35th percentiles.
Income distribution metrics show that 32.7% of the local population (1,647 individuals) falls within the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, closely tracking the 31.7% recorded regionally. Residents retain 85.3% of earnings once housing costs are covered, positioning the area at 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
Census records reveal that standalone houses comprised 88.9% of dwellings across Lakes Creek, while 11.1% were categorized as other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with the Regional Qld breakdown of 76.4% separate houses and 23.6% other forms. Fully owned properties accounted for 28.1% of homes, trailing regional averages, while mortgaged properties stood at 36.7% and rental accommodation made up 35.3%. Housing costs remain highly accessible: median monthly mortgage payments stood at $1,300 versus $1,655 across Regional Qld, while weekly rental payments averaged $260 compared to $345 regionally. Relative to nationwide benchmarks, mortgage commitments are markedly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents sit substantially beneath the national standard 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
Family units constitute the predominant living arrangement at 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 residences comprise 32.3% of the total, divided between lone person households at 27.1% and group households at 5.0%. The average household occupancy stands at 2.5 people, perfectly matching the benchmark for Regional Qld.
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 in the district shows lower tertiary completion, with 11.4% of residents holding university qualifications compared to 30.4% across the country. Higher education is led by bachelor degrees at 8.4%, while postgraduate qualifications account for 1.6% and graduate diplomas represent 1.4%. Conversely, technical and trade credentials are widespread: 38.9% of persons aged 15+ have attained vocational qualifications, including certificates (31.4%) and advanced diplomas (7.5%). A substantial proportion of the local population is engaged in study, with 29.5% enrolled in education programs. This cohort is composed of 11.9% in primary education, 8.8% attending secondary schooling, and 3.2% undertaking tertiary studies.
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
AreaSearch evaluations of mortality metrics and long-term illnesses indicate notable health challenges in Lakes Creek, with several conditions impacting both younger residents and older cohorts. Private hospital and health insurance coverage is somewhat limited, held by roughly 50% of the population (~2,538 people). By comparison, coverage reaches 52.5% across Regional Qld and averages 55.7% nationally. Mental health issues (affecting 10.1% of residents) and arthritis (impacting 8.9%) rank as the most widespread diagnosed conditions, while 65.5% of the community reported having no chronic medical ailments, compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld.
Working-age residents experience heightened rates of long-term health issues. Seniors aged 65 and over account for 15.9% of the local population (798 people), below the 20.3% share seen across Regional Qld, with health measures among older residents generally tracking broader national patterns.
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
Measures of cultural diversity in Lakes Creek sit below wider benchmarks, with Australian citizens making up 85.5% of residents, 86.4% born in Australia, and 89.0% using only English in domestic settings. Christianity represents the primary religious affiliation, encompassing 51.1% of the community, which aligns closely with the 52.2% recorded for Regional Qld. Regarding ancestral background based on parental birthplace, the most prevalent identities in Lakes Creek are Australian at 29.6%, English at 28.5%, and Australian Aboriginal at 7.7%. Specific ethnic representations show clear distinctions against wider regional patterns, with Vietnamese background standing at 1.2% locally (versus 0.2% regionally), German heritage at 4.4% (versus 4.7%), and Filipino background comprising 1.5% (versus 0.9%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Lakes Creek is 35, younger than 79% of areas nationally. 27.1% 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
Lakes Creek maintains a comparatively youthful demographic profile. As of August 2026, adults aged 25 - 44 account for 28.8% of the populace, exceeding the 25.5% share in Regional Qld, whereas seniors aged 65+ make up 15.9% compared to 20.4% regionally. The estimated median age remains at 35 as at August 2026, identical to the 2021 Census result and 6 years below the Regional Qld figure of 41 recorded at that time. Since the census, the most pronounced movement has been among retirees and older cohorts, expanding from 14.0% to 15.9%.
By 2041, younger and middle-aged adults will account for the bulk of demographic additions, increasing by 183 residents (13%) to reach 1,634, whereas the count of children and young adults is projected to decline.
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 Oct 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) | Aug 2026 2 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 Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| 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 Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Oct 2025 about a year 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 7 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) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 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 — 74 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 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 Aug 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.