📮 Bourke postcode: 2840

Flood Risk in Bourke, NSW: 2026 Assessment

Bourke, New South Wales· Bourke· 2840
Bourke faces a moderate risk of flooding due to its location near the Darling River. Riverine flooding can inundate low-lying areas.Updated 2 May 2026

Flood Risk Score

6.8/10

Bourke faces a moderate risk of flooding due to its location near the Darling River. Riverine flooding can inundate low-lying areas.

Key Facts

Flood Risk
Bourke faces a moderate risk of flooding due to its location near the Darling River. Riverine flooding can inundate low-lying areas.
Trend
increasing
Suburb
Bourke, NSW
Overall Risk
High
Postcode
2840
Region
Regional NSW
Median property value
$550,000
Dominant hazard
extreme heat (6/10)
Highest high-risk exposure
13.8% of land (bushfire)

Flood Risk Analysis

Bourke, located in New South Wales, has a notable flood risk profile based on available data including proximity to waterways, elevation, and historical flood events. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) maintains river height and flood warning data for catchments across New South Wales.

The Darling River has a history of major flooding events in Bourke. Council maintains flood maps and provides information to residents on how to prepare for floods.

Bourke faces a moderate risk of flooding due to its location near the Darling River. Riverine flooding can inundate low-lying areas.

For a comprehensive property-specific flood assessment including address-level elevation data, flood overlay mapping, and insurance cost estimates, use the ClimateNest full analysis tool. General suburb data cannot replace a site-specific evaluation.

Bourke sits within ClimateNest's suburb-level hazard model for flood risk. 7% of the suburb's land area is mapped in high-risk flood zones and 75.6% 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 Bourke.

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

Bourke located in Regional NSW (postcode 2840), is a New South Wales suburb tracked by ClimateNest. The suburb's median property value is $550,000, and understanding climate exposure is becoming a standard part of due diligence for buyers, lenders and insurers pricing property in Bourke.

Across the six hazard axes ClimateNest models, the dominant climate risk in Bourke is extreme heat (score 6/10), 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 — the actual risk of any single home can only be confirmed with an address-level report.

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

Local Hazard Evidence

Nearest WaterwayDarling River
Elevation Range100-110m
Flood Zone ClassificationAreas adjacent to the Darling River are designated as flood zones.

Historical Events

2022
Moderate

Moderate flooding along the Darling River impacted low-lying areas in Bourke.

2010
Major

Major flooding of the Darling River inundated parts of Bourke, causing significant damage to property and infrastructure.

Adaptation & Mitigation Actions

Improve flood defenses

Near-term

Invest in levees and other flood defenses to protect properties from riverine flooding.

Est. cost: High

Develop a heatwave management plan

Immediate

Implement a heatwave management plan to protect vulnerable populations during extreme heat events.

Est. cost: Medium

Enhance bushfire preparedness

Near-term

Implement bushfire mitigation strategies, such as controlled burns and community education programs.

Est. cost: Medium

Upgrade water infrastructure

Long-term

Invest in water infrastructure to ensure a reliable water supply during periods of drought.

Est. cost: High

Council & Emergency Services

Bourke Shire Council
Emergency Services

Data last updated: 2 May 2026

Explore Bourke Risk Reports

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bourke at risk of flooding?

Based on available data, Bourke has a notable flood risk profile. Flood risk varies by address — check your specific property for precise flood zone mapping and elevation data with ClimateNest.

What flood insurance costs can I expect in Bourke?

Insurance costs for flood cover in Bourke depend on the property's flood zone classification, elevation, and proximity to waterways. ClimateNest provides address-level insurance cost estimates based on your property's specific hazard exposure.

Does flood risk affect property values in Bourke?

Yes, flood risk can affect property values in Bourke. Properties in mapped flood zones may experience lower buyer demand, reduced valuations, and higher insurance costs. Lenders increasingly assess flood exposure as part of mortgage risk evaluation.

How does elevation affect flood risk in Bourke?

Elevation is a critical factor in flood risk. Properties at higher elevations within Bourke typically have lower flood exposure than those near waterways or in low-lying areas. Address-level elevation data combined with BOM flood mapping provides the most accurate picture.

What are the main climate risks in Bourke?

ClimateNest's suburb model rates Bourke's dominant climate risk as extreme heat at 6/10 on a 0–10 index, followed by bushfire (5/10) and damaging wind (4/10). These are suburb-level averages — an address-level report is needed to confirm the risk of a specific property in Bourke.

What share of Bourke is exposed to high bushfire risk?

ClimateNest's hazard overlay maps 13.8% of Bourke in high-risk zones for bushfire, with a further 68.9% 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 Bourke Safe from Climate Risk?

Enter your address below for an instant climate risk assessment for Bourke, New South Wales, covering flood, bushfire, sea level rise and more.

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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