Flood Risk in Monterey, NSW: 2026 Assessment
Flood Risk Score
6.5/10Monterey faces a moderate risk of flooding due to its proximity to Botany Bay and low-lying areas. Intense rainfall events can lead to stormwater runoff and potential inundation.
Key Facts
- Flood Risk
- Monterey faces a moderate risk of flooding due to its proximity to Botany Bay and low-lying areas. Intense rainfall events can lead to stormwater runoff and potential inundation.
- Trend
- increasing
- Suburb
- Monterey, NSW
- Overall Risk
- Medium
- Postcode
- 2217
- Highest high-risk exposure
- 13% of land (surface flood)
Flood Risk Analysis
Monterey, 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.
Several properties in Monterey are located within identified flood zones and may be subject to specific building regulations.
Monterey faces a moderate risk of flooding due to its proximity to Botany Bay and low-lying areas. Intense rainfall events can lead to stormwater runoff and potential inundation.
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.
Monterey sits within ClimateNest's suburb-level hazard model for flood risk. 7.3% of the suburb's land area is mapped in high-risk flood zones and 70.2% 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 Monterey.
Monterey (postcode 2217) 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 surface flood (13% of land in high-risk zones), bushfire (12.2% of land in high-risk zones), riverine flood (7.3% of land in high-risk zones). Exposure is not uniform across Monterey โ 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
Historical Events
Heavy rainfall caused localized flooding in low-lying areas of Monterey, affecting several residential properties.
Significant flooding impacted Monterey, causing damage to homes and businesses near Botany Bay after a period of intense rainfall.
Adaptation & Mitigation Actions
Improve stormwater drainage
Near-termUpgrade stormwater drainage infrastructure to reduce the risk of flooding during heavy rainfall events.
Est. cost: Medium
Increase green space
Near-termPlant more trees and create green spaces to reduce the urban heat island effect and provide shade during heatwaves.
Est. cost: Medium
Strengthen coastal defenses
Long-termImplement coastal protection measures, such as seawalls and beach nourishment, to reduce the risk of coastal erosion and inundation.
Est. cost: High
Develop a heatwave response plan
ImmediateCreate a community heatwave response plan to protect vulnerable residents during extreme heat events.
Est. cost: Low
Raise awareness of climate risks
ImmediateEducate residents about the risks of climate change and how to prepare for extreme weather events.
Est. cost: Low
Council & Emergency Services
Explore Monterey Risk Reports
View other climate risk assessments for Monterey:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Monterey at risk of flooding?
Based on available data, Monterey has a notable flood risk profile. Flood risk varies by address โ check your specific property for precise flood zone mapping and elevation data with ClimateNest.
What flood insurance costs can I expect in Monterey?
Insurance costs for flood cover in Monterey 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 Monterey?
Yes, flood risk can affect property values in Monterey. 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 Monterey?
Elevation is a critical factor in flood risk. Properties at higher elevations within Monterey 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 share of Monterey is exposed to high surface flood risk?
ClimateNest's hazard overlay maps 13% of Monterey in high-risk zones for surface flood, with a further 76.6% 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 Monterey Safe from Climate Risk?
Enter your address below for an instant climate risk assessment for Monterey, New South Wales, covering flood, bushfire, sea level rise and more.
What A$69 could save you from
*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