๐Ÿ“ฎ Tharwa postcode: 2620

Bushfire Risk in Tharwa, ACT: 2026 Assessment

Tharwa, Australian Capital Territoryยท UNKNOWNยท 2620
Tharwa has a high bushfire risk due to its location surrounded by bushland. Grassfires and bushfires pose a significant threat during dry periods.Updated 31 Mar 2026

Bushfire Risk Score

7.0/10

Tharwa has a high bushfire risk due to its location surrounded by bushland. Grassfires and bushfires pose a significant threat during dry periods.

Key Facts

Bushfire Risk
Tharwa has a high bushfire risk due to its location surrounded by bushland. Grassfires and bushfires pose a significant threat during dry periods.
Trend
increasing
Suburb
Tharwa, ACT
Overall Risk
Medium
Postcode
2620
Region
Regional
Median property value
$500,000
Dominant hazard
extreme heat (5/10)
Highest high-risk exposure
8.2% of land (bushfire)

Bushfire Risk Analysis

Tharwa, Australian Capital Territory, has a tharwa has a high bushfire risk due to its location surrounded by bushland. grassfires and bushfires pose a significant threat during dry periods. bushfire risk profile. Key factors include distance to classified bushland, vegetation type, slope, and historical bushfire activity in the region. The Australian Capital Territory fire authority maps bushfire-prone areas and assigns BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) ratings.

Tharwa is surrounded by native vegetation, increasing the risk of bushfires. Residents should maintain firebreaks and have a bushfire survival plan.

CSIRO research indicates climate change is extending fire seasons and increasing the number of severe fire weather days across southern and eastern Australia. For Tharwa, this may mean shifts in bushfire risk levels over the coming decades, making property-level BAL assessment increasingly important.

Use ClimateNest for a complete address-level bushfire risk report for Tharwa including BAL zone assessment, evacuation route mapping, and property-specific risk mitigation recommendations.

Tharwa sits within ClimateNest's suburb-level hazard model for bushfire risk. 8.2% of the suburb's land area is mapped in high-risk bushfire zones and 81.1% in moderate-risk zones, based on the national hazard overlay. Exposure at this scale varies street by street, which is why an address-level check matters before you buy or insure a specific property in Tharwa.

On ClimateNest's 0โ€“10 suburb hazard index, Tharwa scores 3 for bushfire risk โ€” a lower exposure relative to the Australian suburb range. For comparison, properties in Tharwa can still sit well above or below this suburb average depending on elevation, distance to waterways or vegetation, and local drainage.

Tharwa located in Regional (postcode 2620), is an Australian Capital Territory suburb tracked by ClimateNest. The suburb's median property value is $500,000, and understanding climate exposure is becoming a standard part of due diligence for buyers, lenders and insurers pricing property in Tharwa.

Across the six hazard axes ClimateNest models, the dominant climate risk in Tharwa is extreme heat (score 5/10), with moderate exposure. Insurance signals for the suburb point to premiums rising moderately (+25% by 2030). These suburb-level signals help prioritise which properties need the closest look โ€” the actual risk of any single home can only be confirmed with an address-level report.

Whether you are buying, selling or renovating in Tharwa, extreme heat is the hazard to weigh first. Local council planning controls, state hazard mapping and lender climate policies each reference this kind of suburb-level signal, and property decisions in Tharwa are increasingly made with an address-level climate report in hand.

Local Hazard Evidence

Distance to BushlandAdjacent
BAL Overlay / ZoneACT Emergency Services Agency Bushfire Prone Area Map
Bushfire Prone AreaYes

Historical Events

2003
Catastrophic

The 2003 Canberra bushfires caused widespread damage in the region, including areas near Tharwa.

Adaptation & Mitigation Actions

Develop a Bushfire Survival Plan

Immediate

Create a detailed plan for evacuating your property in the event of a bushfire. Practice the plan regularly with your family.

Est. cost: Low

Maintain Firebreaks

Near-term

Clear vegetation around your property to create firebreaks. This will help to slow the spread of bushfires.

Est. cost: Low

Invest in Flood Protection Measures

Long-term

Consider installing flood barriers or raising the foundation of your home to protect it from flooding.

Est. cost: High

Improve Home Cooling

Near-term

Install air conditioning or fans to help keep your home cool during heatwaves. Plant trees to provide shade.

Est. cost: Medium

Council & Emergency Services

ACT Government
Emergency Services

Data last updated: 31 March 2026

Explore Tharwa Risk Reports

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Tharwa in a bushfire prone area?

Parts of Tharwa may be designated as bushfire prone land. Based on available data, Tharwa has a notable bushfire risk. Check your specific property for BAL ratings through ClimateNest or your local council.

What BAL rating applies to properties in Tharwa?

BAL ratings in Tharwa depend on the property's distance from classified vegetation, vegetation type, and slope. A site-specific assessment under AS 3959 is required to determine the exact BAL rating for any property within the suburb.

Does bushfire risk affect insurance in Tharwa?

Yes, properties in bushfire-prone parts of Tharwa may face higher building insurance premiums. Insurers assess bushfire risk based on BAL rating, fire history, and proximity to bushland. Some insurers may restrict cover in very high-risk locations.

What bushfire mitigation measures help protect homes in Tharwa?

Effective bushfire mitigation includes maintaining cleared asset protection zones, using ember-proof mesh on vents, installing metal gutter guards, using non-combustible building materials, and maintaining defendable space. Consult the Australian Capital Territory fire authority for property-specific guidance.

What are the main climate risks in Tharwa?

ClimateNest's suburb model rates Tharwa's dominant climate risk as extreme heat at 5/10 on a 0โ€“10 index, followed by damaging wind (4/10) and severe storm (4/10). These are suburb-level averages โ€” an address-level report is needed to confirm the risk of a specific property in Tharwa.

What share of Tharwa is exposed to high bushfire risk?

ClimateNest's hazard overlay maps 8.2% of Tharwa in high-risk zones for bushfire, with a further 81.1% in moderate-risk zones. Suburb-level exposure is not uniform โ€” individual properties can differ from these averages, so an address-level check is recommended.

Is Tharwa Safe from Climate Risk?

Enter your address below for an instant climate risk assessment for Tharwa, Australian Capital Territory, covering flood, bushfire, sea level rise and more.

Free instant previewCSIRO-powered data

What A$69 could save you from

$7.2B
2022 insured disaster losses*
$300B+
climate risk to property by 2050*
30-120%
insurance premium increases in high-risk areas*

*Industry sources: ICA, APRA, RBA

Full report from A$69 ยท Australian addresses only ยท 8 hazard scores ยท Insurance trajectory ยท 2030 & 2050 projections