Is Lake Burrendong, NSW Climate Safe? 2026 Assessment

Lake Burrendong, New South Wales· Mid-Western Regional
Climate risk is high — address assessment recommendedUpdated 29 May 2026

Climate Safety Score

7.2/10

Climate risk is high — address assessment recommended

Key Facts

Climate Safety
High
Flood
Lake Burrendong is at high risk of flooding due to its proximity to the Burrendong Dam and the Macquarie River. Heavy rainfall events can lead to rapid increases in water levels, inundating low-lying areas.
Bushfire
The area surrounding Lake Burrendong is susceptible to bushfires, particularly during hot and dry periods. The presence of extensive bushland increases the risk of fire ignition and spread.
Heat
Lake Burrendong experiences high temperatures during summer, with potential for heatwaves. Climate change is expected to exacerbate these conditions, leading to more frequent and intense heat events.
Storm
Moderate storm risk — East Coast Lows bring severe weather including hail and damaging winds
Postcode
2820
Highest high-risk exposure
16% of land (bushfire)

Climate Safety Analysis

Lake Burrendong in New South Wales has an overall climate safety rating of High. 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 Lake Burrendong's climate safety include heat, flood, bushfire. 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 Lake Burrendong 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 Lake Burrendong including address-level hazard mapping, insurance outlook, and adaptation recommendations, use the ClimateNest full analysis tool.

Lake Burrendong (postcode 2820) is tracked in ClimateNest's suburb hazard model, which maps the share of the suburb's land exposed to each hazard at high and moderate levels. The suburb's highest high-risk exposures are bushfire (16% of land in high-risk zones), surface flood (7% of land in high-risk zones), riverine flood (6.2% of land in high-risk zones). Exposure is not uniform across Lake Burrendong — individual properties can sit well above or below these averages, so an address-level check is recommended before buying, selling or insuring.

Local Hazard Evidence

Distance to BushlandAdjacent to extensive bushland areas
BAL Overlayhttps://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/map
Nearest WaterwayMacquarie River
Flood ZoneAreas adjacent to the Macquarie River and Burrendong Dam
Avg January Max33.5 °C

Historical Events

2023
Moderate

Heavy rainfall caused moderate flooding in low-lying areas around Lake Burrendong.

2019
Major

Severe drought conditions impacted water levels in Lake Burrendong and surrounding agricultural areas.

2017
Moderate

Moderate flooding along the Macquarie River caused minor damage to properties and infrastructure.

2013
Moderate

Bushfires near Lake Burrendong threatened properties and required extensive firefighting efforts.

2010
Major

Major flooding along the Macquarie River impacted Lake Burrendong and surrounding areas, causing significant damage to infrastructure and properties.

Adaptation & Mitigation Actions

Upgrade flood defenses

Near-term

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

Est. cost: High

Implement bushfire management strategies

Immediate

Reduce fuel loads around properties and implement community fire management plans.

Est. cost: Medium

Develop a heatwave response plan

Near-term

Establish cooling centers and provide support to vulnerable populations during heatwaves.

Est. cost: Low

Promote water conservation

Long-term

Implement measures to conserve water resources and manage drought conditions.

Est. cost: Low

Council & Emergency Services

Mid-Western Regional Council
Emergency Services

Data last updated: 29 May 2026

Explore Lake Burrendong Risk Reports

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lake Burrendong safe from climate change?

No location in Australia is entirely immune to climate change impacts. Lake Burrendong has an overall High 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 Lake Burrendong?

The dominant hazard for Lake Burrendong 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 Lake Burrendong 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 Lake Burrendong?

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 Lake Burrendong?

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 Lake Burrendong.

What share of Lake Burrendong is exposed to high bushfire risk?

ClimateNest's hazard overlay maps 16% of Lake Burrendong in high-risk zones for bushfire, with a further 54.5% 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 Lake Burrendong Safe from Climate Risk?

Enter your address below for an instant climate risk assessment for Lake Burrendong, 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