Marlow flood map & planning overlays

A planning-constraint profile of Marlow (Central Coast, NSW) - 1.48 km², mapped from live council and state overlay data. This suburb is highly constrained.

Elevation hillshade with street names, clipped to Marlow's boundary, with the flood, bushfire and environmental overlays drawn on top. It shows where constraints fall; the interactive map shows them on your exact address.

Marlow at a glance

Parcels 48 Median lot 950 m²

How Marlow is zoned

Environmental Conservation 76%
Recreational Waterways 23%
National Parks and Nature Reserves 1%
Natural Waterways 0%
Public Recreation 0%

Buying in Marlow? The zoning, flood and bushfire lines on the section 10.7 certificate attached to the contract are mapped controls - see our s10.7 certificate guide.

Across its 1.48 km², Marlow is highly constrained by planning overlays. Flood mapping covers the suburb and none of it falls within a mapped flood overlay, and 83% is flagged bushfire-prone. There are 2 heritage-listed sites on record, and the dominant land-use zone is Environmental Conservation. The median lot measures about 950 m² across 48 parcels. These figures are suburb-wide - the overlays that actually apply to a given lot can differ block to block, which is what a property-level check tells you.

Who lives in Marlow

Census 2021 figures published by the ABS for the Marlow suburb boundary itself, not a wider region.

Population
35
usual residents, 2021

Socio-economic standing

ABS SEIFA 2021 ranks every Australian suburb. Decile 1 is the most disadvantaged tenth of the country, decile 10 the least.

Advantage and disadvantage (IRSAD) Decile 6
most disadvantagedleast disadvantaged

Score 991, and decile 5 within New South Wales. The national average is 1000.

Relative disadvantage (IRSD) Decile 5
most disadvantagedleast disadvantaged

Population trend, 2001 to 2025

Estimated resident population of Calga - Kulnura, the wider ABS statistical area containing Marlow. There is no annual population series published at suburb level, so this describes the surrounding area rather than Marlow itself.

4,793 in 2001 to 4,678 in 2025, down 2%.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics. Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) and SEIFA 2021, both published at the Suburbs and Localities level; Regional Population (estimated resident population) at Statistical Area Level 2. Used under CC BY 4.0. Census counts of small populations are randomly adjusted by the ABS to protect confidentiality, so figures for small suburbs are indicative.

Marlow data sources and coverage

Every figure below is an aggregate for the suburb boundary. “Not mapped” means LayeredGeo does not hold a source layer covering this suburb; it is never an all-clear for a particular property.

DatasetCoveragePublisher
Flood mappingMappedNSW Government spatial services, NSW ePlanning and published council flood studies
Bushfire-prone mappingMappedNSW Government spatial services, NSW ePlanning and published council flood studies
ZoningMappedNSW Government spatial services, NSW ePlanning and published council flood studies
Heritage and environmentMapped where publishedNSW Government spatial services, NSW ePlanning and published council flood studies
DemographicsAvailableAustralian Bureau of Statistics (2021 Census and SEIFA)

Profile last materially updated 5 August 2026. See the methodology and full source list. Source data changes over time and critical decisions should be checked with the responsible authority.

Check a specific Marlow address

See exactly which overlays touch a single property - the interactive map is free. Need it on paper? A full planning PDF is just $9.

See what's in the $9 report →

Marlow planning - frequently asked

Where can I see a flood map of Marlow?

The schematic on this page is a Marlow flood map: the mapped flood overlays drawn over the suburb's terrain and street grid. Flood lines vary block to block, so for a specific property use the free interactive map - search any Marlow address and it shows the flood, zoning and bushfire mapping on the exact lot boundary.

Is Marlow flood-prone?

Flood mapping covers Marlow and none of the suburb falls within a mapped flood overlay. Flood overlays vary block to block, so whether a particular lot is affected needs a property-level check.

Is Marlow bushfire-prone?

Yes - around 83% of Marlow is mapped as bushfire-prone, compared with a Central Coast average of 69%. A bushfire-prone designation can trigger additional building requirements, so check the specific address.

What is the zoning in Marlow?

The dominant planning zone in Marlow is Environmental Conservation, though the suburb also includes Recreational Waterways and National Parks and Nature Reserves. Zoning sets what you can build and do on a site, and can differ lot by lot.

Does Marlow have heritage-listed places?

Marlow has 2 heritage-listed places on record. Heritage listing affects what you can alter or demolish, so confirm whether a specific property is listed or near a heritage place.

What is the typical lot size in Marlow?

Across 48 surveyed parcels in Marlow, the median lot size is about 950 m².

Is Marlow an advantaged suburb?

On the ABS SEIFA 2021 index of relative socio-economic advantage and disadvantage (IRSAD), Marlow scores 991 and sits in decile 6 of 10 nationally and decile 5 within New South Wales - decile 1 being the most disadvantaged tenth of Australian suburbs and decile 10 the least. The national average score is 1000. SEIFA summarises income, education, occupation and housing across the whole suburb, so it describes the area, not any particular household in it.

Do I need a planning report for a Marlow property?

A Marlow planning report pulls every overlay - zoning, flood, bushfire, heritage and environmental - that touches a single lot, on live council and state data. The interactive map preview is free; a full PDF report is $9.

Compare nearby suburbs

Nearby suburbDistanceFlood mappedBushfire-prone
Wendoree Park 1.4 km 0% 80%
Mount White 3.1 km 0% 95%
Bar Point 3.6 km 0% 74%
Spencer 4.3 km 0% 87%
Mooney Mooney Creek 4.9 km 0% 93%
Milsons Passage
Hornsby
5.3 km 0% 44%
Cheero Point 5.5 km 0% 94%
Glenworth Valley 6.6 km Not mapped 94%
Mooney Mooney 7.5 km 0% 31%
Wondabyne 7.6 km 0% 90%

See all Central Coast suburb profiles →