Blackalls Park vs Fennell Bay: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Blackalls Park and Fennell Bay are both Lake Macquarie rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 19.9 km and 18.4 km from Newcastle CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
Fennell Bay runs $523 a year cheaper than Blackalls Park, driven mostly by the commute. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $5,996.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Blackalls Park
Fennell Bay
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Blackalls Park | Fennell Bay | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,763 | $1,763 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,377 | $1,377 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $5,224 | $4,951 | +$273 |
| Commute (public transport) | $2,400 | $2,400 | - |
| Home insurance | $3,100 | $2,850 | +$250 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $1,800 | $1,800 | - |
| Total (driving) | $11,464 | $10,941 | +$523 |
| Total (public transport) | $8,640 | $8,390 | +$250 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Blackalls Park | Fennell Bay | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,342 | $2,342 | - |
| Unit | $1,909 | $1,909 | - |
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for each suburb's climate zone at 2026-27 regulated prices for each suburb's electricity network, including supply charge (AER Default Market Offer caps, or the QCA price in regional Queensland; unit ≈ 75% of a house). Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.
Cost breakdown chart
Annual cost breakdown — Blackalls Park vs Fennell Bay (2026-27)
What the numbers show
Fennell Bay costs $523 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $5,996 in favour of Fennell Bay.
The biggest single gap is commute costs at $273 per year. Blackalls Park is 19.9 km from Newcastle CBD, which drives higher annual driving costs at the ATO rate of 91c/km.
On public transport the gap is $250 per year, $8,640 from Blackalls Park versus $8,390 from Fennell Bay.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,763 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,377 a year.
- Driving commute favours Fennell Bay by $273 a year, $4,951 against $5,224.
- Building insurance favours Fennell Bay by $250 a year, $2,850 against $3,100.
Both suburbs sit in the same council area, so the rates line is identical and none of the difference between them comes from council. What separates them is commute distance and the insurance band.
Flood risk is rated high in Blackalls Park against medium in Fennell Bay, which feeds the insurance estimate. Fire risk is rated high in Fennell Bay against medium in Blackalls Park, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 5.2 in Blackalls Park against 3.2 in Fennell Bay, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Blackalls Park cumulative | Fennell Bay cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,464 | $10,941 | $523 |
| Year 3 | $35,434 | $33,818 | $1,616 |
| Year 5 | $60,864 | $58,087 | $2,777 |
| Year 10 | $131,422 | $125,426 | $5,996 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Blackalls Park or Fennell Bay cheaper to live in?
Fennell Bay is cheaper to run by car at $10,941 per year versus $11,464 for Blackalls Park, a difference of $523 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Blackalls Park and Fennell Bay?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,763 in Blackalls Park (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG) and $1,763 in Fennell Bay (Lake Macquarie rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,377 in Blackalls Park and $1,377 in Fennell Bay. Both figures are the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by each council's IPART rate peg.
How does the commute cost compare between Blackalls Park and Fennell Bay?
Annual driving commute costs are $5,224 from Blackalls Park and $4,951 from Fennell Bay to Newcastle CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $2,400 from Blackalls Park and $2,400 from Fennell Bay.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Blackalls Park and Fennell Bay?
At 3% annual cost growth, Blackalls Park costs a cumulative $131,422 and Fennell Bay costs $125,426 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $5,996 in favour of Fennell Bay. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Blackalls Park and Fennell Bay is best to actually live in?
You've got the costs. Get the free personalised report for the rest: a clear verdict on which suburb wins, the full flood, fire and crime risk profile, nearest schools, estimated electricity cost by number of occupants, and your own loan or rent stress-tested over 10 years. No spam.
Related comparisons
Sources: Lake Macquarie rates (OLG and Lake Macquarie rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 91c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.