Is Upper Wilsons Creek, NSW Climate Safe? 2026 Assessment

Upper Wilsons Creek, New South Wales· UNKNOWN
Climate risk is high — address assessment recommendedUpdated 2 May 2026

Climate Safety Score

7.2/10

Climate risk is high — address assessment recommended

Key Facts

Climate Safety
High
Flood
Upper Wilsons Creek is highly susceptible to flooding due to its location in a valley and proximity to Wilsons River tributaries. Heavy rainfall events can cause rapid river rises and inundation of low-lying areas.
Bushfire
The area surrounding Upper Wilsons Creek has a high bushfire risk due to the presence of dense vegetation and eucalyptus forests. Hot, dry conditions and strong winds can exacerbate the risk of bushfires.
Heat
Upper Wilsons Creek is expected to experience more frequent and intense heatwaves in the future. This will increase the risk of heatstroke and other heat-related illnesses, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Storm
Moderate storm risk — East Coast Lows bring severe weather including hail and damaging winds
Postcode
2482
Highest high-risk exposure
12.3% of land (surface flood)

Climate Safety Analysis

Upper Wilsons Creek 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 Upper Wilsons Creek'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 Upper Wilsons Creek 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 Upper Wilsons Creek including address-level hazard mapping, insurance outlook, and adaptation recommendations, use the ClimateNest full analysis tool.

Upper Wilsons Creek (postcode 2482) 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 (12.3% of land in high-risk zones), bushfire (6.1% of land in high-risk zones), riverine flood (5.1% of land in high-risk zones). Exposure is not uniform across Upper Wilsons Creek — 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/plan-and-prepare/bush-fire-prone-land
Nearest WaterwayWilsons River
Flood ZoneYes
Avg January Max30.5 °C

Historical Events

2022
Catastrophic

The Wilsons River experienced record flooding, inundating homes and businesses in Upper Wilsons Creek and surrounding areas. Many residents were evacuated, and significant damage was reported.

2019
Moderate

Bushfires burned through nearby bushland, threatening homes in Upper Wilsons Creek. Residents were advised to evacuate, and firefighters worked to contain the blaze.

2017
Moderate

Heavy rainfall caused the Wilsons River to flood, inundating low-lying areas in Upper Wilsons Creek. Some residents were evacuated, and roads were closed.

2013
Moderate

A prolonged heatwave caused temperatures to soar above 40 degrees Celsius, putting strain on the local infrastructure and increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses.

Adaptation & Mitigation Actions

Improve flood warning systems

Immediate

Invest in more accurate and timely flood warning systems to allow residents to prepare for and evacuate from flood events.

Est. cost: Medium

Strengthen building codes

Near-term

Update building codes to require more resilient construction practices in flood-prone and bushfire-prone areas.

Est. cost: High

Create community evacuation plans

Immediate

Develop and implement community evacuation plans to ensure that residents can safely evacuate during flood and bushfire events.

Est. cost: Low

Restore riparian vegetation

Long-term

Restore riparian vegetation along creeks and rivers to reduce erosion and improve flood mitigation.

Est. cost: Medium

Bushfire hazard reduction

Near-term

Implement regular bushfire hazard reduction programs to reduce the amount of fuel available for bushfires.

Est. cost: Medium

Council & Emergency Services

Lismore City Council
Emergency Services

Data last updated: 2 May 2026

Explore Upper Wilsons Creek Risk Reports

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Upper Wilsons Creek safe from climate change?

No location in Australia is entirely immune to climate change impacts. Upper Wilsons Creek 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 Upper Wilsons Creek?

The dominant hazard for Upper Wilsons Creek 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 Upper Wilsons Creek 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 Upper Wilsons Creek?

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 Upper Wilsons Creek?

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 Upper Wilsons Creek.

What share of Upper Wilsons Creek is exposed to high surface flood risk?

ClimateNest's hazard overlay maps 12.3% of Upper Wilsons Creek in high-risk zones for surface flood, with a further 58.3% 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 Upper Wilsons Creek Safe from Climate Risk?

Enter your address below for an instant climate risk assessment for Upper Wilsons Creek, 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