๐Ÿ“ฎ Goonellabah postcode: 2480

Bushfire Risk in Goonellabah, NSW: 2026 Assessment

Goonellabah, New South Walesยท Lismoreยท 2480
The risk of bushfire in Goonellabah is moderate, influenced by nearby bushland and dry conditions during certain times of the year. Changes in temperature and rainfall patterns could exacerbate this risk.Updated 21 May 2026

Bushfire Risk Score

4.2/10

The risk of bushfire in Goonellabah is moderate, influenced by nearby bushland and dry conditions during certain times of the year. Changes in temperature and rainfall patterns could exacerbate this risk.

Key Facts

Bushfire Risk
The risk of bushfire in Goonellabah is moderate, influenced by nearby bushland and dry conditions during certain times of the year. Changes in temperature and rainfall patterns could exacerbate this risk.
Trend
increasing
Suburb
Goonellabah, NSW
Overall Risk
Medium
Postcode
2480
Region
Regional
Median property value
$500,000
Dominant hazard
extreme heat (5/10)
Highest high-risk exposure
14.2% of land (bushfire)

Bushfire Risk Analysis

Goonellabah, New South Wales, has a the risk of bushfire in goonellabah is moderate, influenced by nearby bushland and dry conditions during certain times of the year. changes in temperature and rainfall patterns could exacerbate this risk. 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.

Parts of Goonellabah are identified as bushfire prone areas.

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

Goonellabah sits within ClimateNest's suburb-level hazard model for bushfire risk. 14.2% of the suburb's land area is mapped in high-risk bushfire zones and 59.8% 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 Goonellabah.

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

Goonellabah located in Regional (postcode 2480), is a New South Wales 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 Goonellabah.

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

Local Hazard Evidence

Distance to BushlandAdjacent
BAL Overlay / Zonehttps://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/plan-and-prepare/bush-fire-prone-land
Bushfire Prone AreaYes

Historical Events

2019
Moderate

Bushfires impacted the region, with smoke haze affecting air quality in Goonellabah.

Adaptation & Mitigation Actions

Improve Flood Defenses

Immediate

Invest in flood mitigation infrastructure, such as levees and improved drainage systems, to protect properties from flood damage.

Est. cost: High

Enhance Bushfire Preparedness

Near-term

Implement bushfire risk reduction measures, such as clearing vegetation around properties and developing community evacuation plans.

Est. cost: Medium

Develop a Heatwave Management Plan

Immediate

Create a plan to protect vulnerable populations during heatwaves, including establishing cooling centers and providing public awareness campaigns.

Est. cost: Low

Promote Water Conservation

Long-term

Encourage water conservation measures to reduce water stress during droughts and heatwaves.

Est. cost: Low

Council & Emergency Services

Lismore City Council
Emergency Services

Data last updated: 21 May 2026

Explore Goonellabah Risk Reports

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Goonellabah in a bushfire prone area?

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

BAL ratings in Goonellabah 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 Goonellabah?

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

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 Goonellabah?

ClimateNest's suburb model rates Goonellabah'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 Goonellabah.

What share of Goonellabah is exposed to high bushfire risk?

ClimateNest's hazard overlay maps 14.2% of Goonellabah in high-risk zones for bushfire, with a further 59.8% 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 Goonellabah Safe from Climate Risk?

Enter your address below for an instant climate risk assessment for Goonellabah, 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 ยท Australian addresses only ยท 8 hazard scores ยท Insurance trajectory ยท 2030 & 2050 projections