📮 Old Erowal Bay postcode: 2540

Is Old Erowal Bay, NSW Climate Safe? 2026 Assessment

Old Erowal Bay, New South Wales· Shoalhaven· 2540
Climate risk is high — address assessment recommendedUpdated 25 May 2026

Climate Safety Score

7.2/10

Climate risk is high — address assessment recommended

Key Facts

Climate Safety
High
Flood
Old Erowal Bay faces a moderate risk of flooding due to its proximity to waterways and low-lying areas. Climate change is expected to increase rainfall intensity, potentially worsening flood events.
Bushfire
The suburb is at high risk of bushfires due to the surrounding bushland. Drier conditions and higher temperatures are expected to exacerbate bushfire risk in the future.
Heat
Old Erowal Bay is likely to experience more frequent and intense heatwaves. This poses a risk to vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions.
Storm
Moderate storm risk — East Coast Lows bring severe weather including hail and damaging winds
Postcode
2540
Highest high-risk exposure
24.4% of land (bushfire)

Climate Safety Analysis

Old Erowal Bay 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 Old Erowal Bay's climate safety include heat, flood, coastal, 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 Old Erowal Bay 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 Old Erowal Bay including address-level hazard mapping, insurance outlook, and adaptation recommendations, use the ClimateNest full analysis tool.

Old Erowal Bay (postcode 2540) 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 (24.4% of land in high-risk zones), riverine flood (6% of land in high-risk zones), surface flood (5.8% of land in high-risk zones). Exposure is not uniform across Old Erowal Bay — 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
BAL Overlayhttps://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/map
Nearest WaterwayErowal Bay
Flood ZoneCoastal floodplain
Avg January Max28.5 °C

Historical Events

2020
Moderate

Heavy rainfall caused flooding in low-lying areas of Old Erowal Bay.

2019
Major

The Currowan bushfire impacted the region, causing widespread damage and evacuations.

2017
Moderate

A severe storm caused damage to homes and infrastructure in Old Erowal Bay.

2013
Moderate

Bushfires threatened properties in the area, requiring firefighting efforts.

Adaptation & Mitigation Actions

Improve coastal defenses

Near-term

Invest in seawalls and other coastal defenses to protect against sea level rise and storm surges.

Est. cost: High

Strengthen bushfire preparedness

Immediate

Implement stricter building codes in bushfire-prone areas and provide residents with resources to prepare for bushfires.

Est. cost: Medium

Develop a heatwave response plan

Near-term

Create a plan to help residents cope with extreme heat, including cooling centers and public awareness campaigns.

Est. cost: Low

Upgrade stormwater drainage

Long-term

Improve stormwater drainage systems to reduce the risk of flooding during heavy rainfall events.

Est. cost: High

Community education programs

Near-term

Educate the community about climate change risks and adaptation measures.

Est. cost: Low

Council & Emergency Services

Shoalhaven City Council
Emergency Services

Data last updated: 25 May 2026

Explore Old Erowal Bay Risk Reports

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Old Erowal Bay safe from climate change?

No location in Australia is entirely immune to climate change impacts. Old Erowal Bay 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 Old Erowal Bay?

The dominant hazard for Old Erowal Bay 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 Old Erowal Bay 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 Old Erowal Bay?

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 Old Erowal Bay?

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 Old Erowal Bay.

What share of Old Erowal Bay is exposed to high bushfire risk?

ClimateNest's hazard overlay maps 24.4% of Old Erowal Bay in high-risk zones for bushfire, with a further 62.4% 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 Old Erowal Bay Safe from Climate Risk?

Enter your address below for an instant climate risk assessment for Old Erowal Bay, 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