Crime & Safety in Tongarra, NSW: 2026 Guide

Tongarra, New South Wales· Shellharbour
Tongarra has moderate crime levels — typical for its regionUpdated 31 May 2026

Safety Score

5.0/10

Tongarra has moderate crime levels — typical for its region

Key Facts

Safety Rating
Tongarra has a medium safety profile
Property Crime Context
Property crime is monitored by BOCSAR — check local data for trends
Suburb
Tongarra, NSW
Home Buyer Consideration
Safety data helps inform your property decision
Postcode
2527
Highest high-risk exposure
12.9% of land (bushfire)

Crime & Safety Analysis

Tongarra in New South Wales provides a medium crime and safety profile for home buyers and residents. Understanding local crime patterns — including property crime, theft from vehicles, and malicious damage — is an important part of property due diligence in any Australian suburb.

Crime rates in Tongarra reflect broader patterns across New South Wales. Property crime including burglary and theft is the most common offence type in Australian suburbs. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports that property crime rates have declined nationally over the past decade, though trends vary by state and region.

For home buyers considering Tongarra, safety considerations extend beyond crime statistics. Factors such as street lighting, neighbourhood watch programs, property fencing and security, and proximity to police stations all contribute to the lived experience of safety. Local council websites often publish community safety initiatives and crime prevention information specific to Tongarra.

Beyond crime and safety, climate risk is an increasingly important factor for property buyers in Tongarra. Check your specific property's climate risk profile including flood, bushfire, and extreme heat exposure using ClimateNest's address-level analysis tool.

Tongarra (postcode 2527) 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 (12.9% of land in high-risk zones), surface flood (7.8% of land in high-risk zones), riverine flood (6.5% of land in high-risk zones). Exposure is not uniform across Tongarra — individual properties can sit well above or below these averages, so an address-level check is recommended before buying, selling or insuring.

Adaptation & Mitigation Actions

Upgrade flood defenses

Near-term

Invest in infrastructure to protect properties from flooding.

Est. cost: High

Improve bushfire management

Near-term

Implement strategies to reduce bushfire risk.

Est. cost: Medium

Develop heatwave response plan

Immediate

Create a plan to protect vulnerable residents during heatwaves.

Est. cost: Low

Protect coastal areas

Long-term

Implement measures to protect coastal properties from erosion and inundation.

Est. cost: High

Council & Emergency Services

Shellharbour City Council
Emergency Services

Data last updated: 31 May 2026

Explore Tongarra Risk Reports

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Tongarra a safe suburb to live in?

Tongarra in New South Wales has a medium overall safety profile. Crime rates vary within suburbs — specific streets or areas may have different safety characteristics. Local police crime mapping tools and neighbourhood reports provide street-level insight. Consider visiting Tongarra at different times of day and talking to local residents for a complete picture.

What is the crime rate in Tongarra?

Crime rates for Tongarra should be sourced from the official crime statistics agency for New South Wales — the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR). These agencies publish annual crime data at suburb and LGA level covering offences including burglary, theft, assault, and malicious damage.

How does Tongarra compare to other suburbs in New South Wales for safety?

Tongarra sits within the broader safety context of New South Wales. Each suburb has unique characteristics that influence crime patterns — population density, proximity to transport hubs, commercial areas, and socioeconomic factors all play a role. The official New South Wales crime statistics agency provides suburb-level data for direct comparison.

What property crime should I be aware of in Tongarra?

Property crime — including burglary, theft from motor vehicles, and malicious damage — is the most common offence type across Australian suburbs, including Tongarra. Property-specific prevention measures such as security screens, sensor lighting, and video doorbells can significantly reduce risk. Check your specific property's climate and crime risk profile with ClimateNest.

What share of Tongarra is exposed to high bushfire risk?

ClimateNest's hazard overlay maps 12.9% of Tongarra in high-risk zones for bushfire, with a further 63.3% 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 Tongarra Safe from Climate Risk?

Enter your address below for an instant climate risk assessment for Tongarra, 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