Bushfire Risk in Great Mackerel Beach, NSW: 2026 Assessment

Great Mackerel Beach, New South Wales· UNKNOWN
The suburb is at high risk of bushfires due to its proximity to dense bushland. Hot, dry conditions and strong winds can exacerbate the risk.Updated 24 May 2026

Bushfire Risk Score

8.0/10

The suburb is at high risk of bushfires due to its proximity to dense bushland. Hot, dry conditions and strong winds can exacerbate the risk.

Key Facts

Bushfire Risk
The suburb is at high risk of bushfires due to its proximity to dense bushland. Hot, dry conditions and strong winds can exacerbate the risk.
Trend
increasing
Suburb
Great Mackerel Beach, NSW
Overall Risk
High
Postcode
2108
Region
Regional
Median property value
$500,000
Dominant hazard
extreme heat (5/10)
Highest high-risk exposure
22% of land (bushfire)

Bushfire Risk Analysis

Great Mackerel Beach, New South Wales, has a the suburb is at high risk of bushfires due to its proximity to dense bushland. hot, dry conditions and strong winds can exacerbate the 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.

The entire suburb is designated as bushfire prone.

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

Great Mackerel Beach sits within ClimateNest's suburb-level hazard model for bushfire risk. 22% of the suburb's land area is mapped in high-risk bushfire zones and 67.6% 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 Great Mackerel Beach.

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

Great Mackerel Beach located in Regional (postcode 2108), 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 Great Mackerel Beach.

Across the six hazard axes ClimateNest models, the dominant climate risk in Great Mackerel Beach 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 — the actual risk of any single home can only be confirmed with an address-level report.

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

Local Hazard Evidence

Distance to BushlandAdjacent
BAL Overlay / ZoneRFS Bush Fire Prone Land
Bushfire Prone AreaYes

Historical Events

2019
Moderate

Bushfires in the surrounding region caused smoke haze and increased fire risk in Great Mackerel Beach.

2013
Moderate

Bushfires in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park threatened the suburb.

Adaptation & Mitigation Actions

Develop a community bushfire plan

Immediate

Create a detailed plan outlining evacuation routes, firebreaks, and community responsibilities during bushfire events.

Est. cost: Low

Implement coastal erosion management strategies

Near-term

Invest in seawalls, beach nourishment, and other measures to protect coastal properties from erosion.

Est. cost: High

Improve flood resilience of buildings

Near-term

Elevate homes, install flood barriers, and improve drainage systems to reduce flood damage.

Est. cost: Medium

Establish a heatwave early warning system

Immediate

Implement a system to alert residents of impending heatwaves and provide guidance on staying safe.

Est. cost: Low

Promote water conservation

Long-term

Encourage residents to conserve water through rainwater harvesting and efficient irrigation practices.

Est. cost: Low

Council & Emergency Services

Northern Beaches Council
Emergency Services

Data last updated: 24 May 2026

Explore Great Mackerel Beach Risk Reports

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Great Mackerel Beach in a bushfire prone area?

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

BAL ratings in Great Mackerel Beach 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 Great Mackerel Beach?

Yes, properties in bushfire-prone parts of Great Mackerel Beach 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 Great Mackerel Beach?

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 Great Mackerel Beach?

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

What share of Great Mackerel Beach is exposed to high bushfire risk?

ClimateNest's hazard overlay maps 22% of Great Mackerel Beach in high-risk zones for bushfire, with a further 67.6% 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 Great Mackerel Beach Safe from Climate Risk?

Enter your address below for an instant climate risk assessment for Great Mackerel Beach, 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