Bushfire Risk in Fernhill, NSW: 2026 Assessment

Fernhill, New South Wales· Wollongong
Fernhill has a high bushfire risk due to its location near bushland. Dry conditions and strong winds can exacerbate the risk during bushfire season.Updated 30 May 2026

Bushfire Risk Score

8.1/10

Fernhill has a high bushfire risk due to its location near bushland. Dry conditions and strong winds can exacerbate the risk during bushfire season.

Key Facts

Bushfire Risk
Fernhill has a high bushfire risk due to its location near bushland. Dry conditions and strong winds can exacerbate the risk during bushfire season.
Trend
increasing
Suburb
Fernhill, NSW
Overall Risk
High
Postcode
2519
Region
Coastal NSW
Median property value
$925,000
Dominant hazard
extreme heat (5/10)
Highest high-risk exposure
13.7% of land (bushfire)

Bushfire Risk Analysis

Fernhill, New South Wales, has a fernhill has a high bushfire risk due to its location near bushland. dry conditions and strong winds can exacerbate the risk during bushfire season. bushfire risk profile. Key factors include distance to classified bushland, vegetation type, slope, and historical bushfire activity in the region. The New South Wales fire authority maps bushfire-prone areas and assigns BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) ratings.

The suburb is designated as a bushfire prone area, requiring specific building standards for new constructions.

CSIRO research indicates climate change is extending fire seasons and increasing the number of severe fire weather days across southern and eastern Australia. For Fernhill, 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 Fernhill including BAL zone assessment, evacuation route mapping, and property-specific risk mitigation recommendations.

Fernhill sits within ClimateNest's suburb-level hazard model for bushfire risk. 13.7% of the suburb's land area is mapped in high-risk bushfire zones and 76.2% 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 Fernhill.

On ClimateNest's 0–10 suburb hazard index, Fernhill scores 4 for bushfire risk — a moderate exposure relative to the Australian suburb range. For comparison, properties in Fernhill can still sit well above or below this suburb average depending on elevation, distance to waterways or vegetation, and local drainage.

Fernhill located in Coastal NSW (postcode 2519), 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 Fernhill.

Across the six hazard axes ClimateNest models, the dominant climate risk in Fernhill 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 Fernhill, 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 Fernhill are increasingly made with an address-level climate report in hand.

Local Hazard Evidence

Distance to BushlandAdjacent to bushland
BAL Overlay / ZoneBushfire prone area
Bushfire Prone AreaYes

Historical Events

2020
Major

The Black Summer bushfires significantly impacted the region, causing widespread damage and smoke haze.

2013
Moderate

Bushfires in the region threatened properties and required evacuations.

Adaptation & Mitigation Actions

Develop a Bushfire Management Plan

Immediate

Create a comprehensive bushfire management plan for your property, including clearing vegetation, maintaining firebreaks, and having an evacuation plan.

Est. cost: Low

Improve Home Insulation

Near-term

Improve home insulation to reduce heat stress during heatwaves and lower energy consumption for cooling.

Est. cost: Medium

Install Rainwater Tanks

Near-term

Install rainwater tanks to capture and store rainwater for non-potable uses, reducing reliance on mains water during droughts and heavy rainfall events.

Est. cost: Medium

Support Coastal Protection Measures

Long-term

Support local government initiatives to protect coastal areas from erosion and sea level rise, such as beach nourishment and seawall construction.

Est. cost: High

Participate in Community Education Programs

Near-term

Engage in community education programs to learn about climate risks and adaptation strategies, and to build community resilience.

Est. cost: Low

Council & Emergency Services

Wollongong City Council
Emergency Services

Data last updated: 30 May 2026

Explore Fernhill Risk Reports

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fernhill in a bushfire prone area?

Parts of Fernhill may be designated as bushfire prone land. Based on available data, Fernhill 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 Fernhill?

BAL ratings in Fernhill 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 Fernhill?

Yes, properties in bushfire-prone parts of Fernhill 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 Fernhill?

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 New South Wales fire authority for property-specific guidance.

What are the main climate risks in Fernhill?

ClimateNest's suburb model rates Fernhill'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 Fernhill.

What share of Fernhill is exposed to high bushfire risk?

ClimateNest's hazard overlay maps 13.7% of Fernhill in high-risk zones for bushfire, with a further 76.2% 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 Fernhill Safe from Climate Risk?

Enter your address below for an instant climate risk assessment for Fernhill, 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