Is Ashby Island, NSW Climate Safe? 2026 Assessment

Ashby Island, New South Wales· UNKNOWN
Moderate climate risk — address-specificUpdated 4 May 2026

Climate Safety Score

5.5/10

Moderate climate risk — address-specific

Key Facts

Climate Safety
Medium
Flood
Ashby Island is at a high risk of flooding due to its low elevation and proximity to the Clarence River. Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of heavy rainfall events, exacerbating the risk.
Bushfire
The risk of bushfire in Ashby Island is relatively low compared to other areas in NSW, but it's not negligible. The presence of vegetation and dry conditions during summer months can increase the risk.
Heat
Ashby Island is expected to experience more frequent and intense heatwaves due to climate change. This can pose a significant risk to vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and those with chronic health conditions.
Storm
Moderate storm risk — East Coast Lows bring severe weather including hail and damaging winds
Postcode
2463
Region
Coastal NSW
Median property value
$925,000
Dominant hazard
extreme heat (5/10)
Highest high-risk exposure
12.9% of land (bushfire)

Climate Safety Analysis

Ashby Island in New South Wales has an overall climate safety rating of Medium. This multi-hazard assessment combines flood, bushfire, heat, coastal, and storm risk data with climate projections to 2050 from CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology.

Key factors affecting Ashby Island's climate safety include heat, flood, coastal. Each hazard is assessed independently and combined for an overall picture. Australia has warmed by approximately 1.5 °C since 1910, with flow-on effects to fire weather, extreme rainfall, and heatwave frequency.

Climate safety for property in Ashby Island is not uniform — it varies by address. Factors such as elevation, distance to waterways, proximity to bushland, and local drainage all influence actual risk at a specific property. Two nearby properties can have materially different risk profiles.

For a complete property-specific climate safety report for Ashby Island including address-level hazard mapping, insurance outlook, and adaptation recommendations, use the ClimateNest full analysis tool.

Ashby Island located in Coastal NSW (postcode 2463), is a New South Wales suburb tracked by ClimateNest. The suburb's median property value is $925,000, and understanding climate exposure is becoming a standard part of due diligence for buyers, lenders and insurers pricing property in Ashby Island.

Across the six hazard axes ClimateNest models, the dominant climate risk in Ashby Island is extreme heat (score 5/10), with moderate exposure. Insurance signals for the suburb point to premiums rising moderately (+30% by 2030). These suburb-level signals help prioritise which properties need the closest look — the actual risk of any single home can only be confirmed with an address-level report.

Whether you are buying, selling or renovating in Ashby Island, 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 Ashby Island are increasingly made with an address-level climate report in hand.

Local Hazard Evidence

Distance to Bushland500m
BAL OverlayRFS Bush Fire Prone Land
Nearest WaterwayClarence River
Flood ZoneHigh Risk
Avg January Max31.5 °C

Historical Events

2020
Moderate

Heavy rainfall led to flash flooding and riverine flooding on Ashby Island.

2019
Minor

Bushfires in the surrounding region caused smoke haze and increased fire risk on the island.

2017
Moderate

Prolonged heatwave conditions impacted vulnerable residents.

2013
Moderate

Major flooding of the Clarence River caused widespread inundation on Ashby Island.

Adaptation & Mitigation Actions

Improve Flood Defenses

Immediate

Invest in levees, seawalls, and improved drainage systems to protect against flooding.

Est. cost: High

Develop Heat Action Plan

Near-term

Implement a heat action plan to protect vulnerable populations during heatwaves, including cooling centers and public awareness campaigns.

Est. cost: Medium

Strengthen Bushfire Preparedness

Near-term

Implement bushfire mitigation measures, such as vegetation management and community education programs.

Est. cost: Medium

Plan for Coastal Retreat

Long-term

Develop a long-term plan for managed retreat from areas at high risk of coastal erosion and inundation.

Est. cost: Very High

Council & Emergency Services

Clarence Valley Council
Emergency Services

Data last updated: 4 May 2026

Explore Ashby Island Risk Reports

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ashby Island safe from climate change?

No location in Australia is entirely immune to climate change impacts. Ashby Island has an overall Medium climate risk rating. Understanding the specific hazards at your property address — not just the suburb average — provides the most reliable risk picture.

Which climate hazard poses the biggest risk in Ashby Island?

The dominant hazard for Ashby Island depends on geography and local environment. Proximity to waterways elevates flood risk, while proximity to bushland increases bushfire risk. ClimateNest's multi-hazard analysis identifies the highest-risk hazards for any specific address.

How does Ashby Island compare to nearby suburbs for climate safety?

Nearby suburbs may have different climate risk profiles depending on elevation, vegetation cover, drainage patterns, and land use. ClimateNest allows comparison of climate safety scores across New South Wales suburbs.

Should I be concerned about buying property in Ashby Island?

Climate risk should be one factor in your decision, alongside price, location, and amenity. An informed buyer understands the specific risks at a property address and factors insurance costs and climate projections into their assessment of long-term value.

What climate projections should I know for Ashby Island?

Key projections for New South Wales from CSIRO include increased average temperatures, more frequent hot days, changes in rainfall seasonality, longer fire seasons, and potential increases in extreme rainfall intensity. These trends inform the long-term outlook for Ashby Island.

What are the main climate risks in Ashby Island?

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

What share of Ashby Island is exposed to high bushfire risk?

ClimateNest's hazard overlay maps 12.9% of Ashby Island in high-risk zones for bushfire, with a further 79.8% in moderate-risk zones. Suburb-level exposure is not uniform — individual properties can differ from these averages, so an address-level check is recommended.

Is Ashby Island Safe from Climate Risk?

Enter your address below for an instant climate risk assessment for Ashby Island, New South Wales, 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 · Australian addresses only · 8 hazard scores · Insurance trajectory · 2030 & 2050 projections