📮 Wauchope postcode: 2446

Bushfire Risk in Wauchope, NSW: 2026 Assessment

Wauchope, New South Wales· Port Macquarie-Hastings· 2446
Areas surrounding Wauchope are bushfire-prone due to the presence of forests and grasslands. Hot, dry conditions and strong winds can increase the risk of bushfires.Updated 31 Mar 2026

Bushfire Risk Score

4.2/10

Areas surrounding Wauchope are bushfire-prone due to the presence of forests and grasslands. Hot, dry conditions and strong winds can increase the risk of bushfires.

Key Facts

Bushfire Risk
Areas surrounding Wauchope are bushfire-prone due to the presence of forests and grasslands. Hot, dry conditions and strong winds can increase the risk of bushfires.
Trend
increasing
Suburb
Wauchope, NSW
Overall Risk
Medium
Postcode
2446
Highest high-risk exposure
15.4% of land (bushfire)

Bushfire Risk Analysis

Wauchope, New South Wales, has a areas surrounding wauchope are bushfire-prone due to the presence of forests and grasslands. hot, dry conditions and strong winds can increase the risk of bushfires. bushfire risk profile. Key factors include distance to classified bushland, vegetation type, slope, and historical bushfire activity in the region. The New South Wales fire authority maps bushfire-prone areas and assigns BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) ratings.

The Rural Fire Service (RFS) has identified areas around Wauchope as bushfire-prone.

CSIRO research indicates climate change is extending fire seasons and increasing the number of severe fire weather days across southern and eastern Australia. For Wauchope, this may mean shifts in bushfire risk levels over the coming decades, making property-level BAL assessment increasingly important.

Use ClimateNest for a complete address-level bushfire risk report for Wauchope including BAL zone assessment, evacuation route mapping, and property-specific risk mitigation recommendations.

Wauchope sits within ClimateNest's suburb-level hazard model for bushfire risk. 15.4% of the suburb's land area is mapped in high-risk bushfire zones and 74.1% 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 Wauchope.

Wauchope (postcode 2446) 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 (15.4% of land in high-risk zones), surface flood (11.8% of land in high-risk zones), riverine flood (4.4% of land in high-risk zones). Exposure is not uniform across Wauchope — 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 forested areas
BAL Overlay / Zonehttps://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/
Bushfire Prone AreaYes

Historical Events

2019
Moderate

Bushfires impacted areas surrounding Wauchope, causing property damage and evacuations.

Adaptation & Mitigation Actions

Improve flood defenses

Near-term

Invest in infrastructure to protect against flooding, such as levees and drainage systems.

Est. cost: High

Develop a heatwave response plan

Immediate

Implement measures to protect vulnerable populations during heatwaves, such as cooling centers and public awareness campaigns.

Est. cost: Medium

Reduce bushfire risk

Near-term

Implement bushfire mitigation measures, such as fuel reduction and community education programs.

Est. cost: Medium

Promote water conservation

Long-term

Encourage residents and businesses to conserve water to reduce the impact of droughts.

Est. cost: Low

Upgrade building codes

Long-term

Incorporate climate resilience measures into building codes to ensure new buildings are better able to withstand extreme weather events.

Est. cost: Medium

Council & Emergency Services

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
Emergency Services

Data last updated: 31 March 2026

Explore Wauchope Risk Reports

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wauchope in a bushfire prone area?

Parts of Wauchope may be designated as bushfire prone land. Based on available data, Wauchope has a notable bushfire risk. Check your specific property for BAL ratings through ClimateNest or your local council.

What BAL rating applies to properties in Wauchope?

BAL ratings in Wauchope depend on the property's distance from classified vegetation, vegetation type, and slope. A site-specific assessment under AS 3959 is required to determine the exact BAL rating for any property within the suburb.

Does bushfire risk affect insurance in Wauchope?

Yes, properties in bushfire-prone parts of Wauchope may face higher building insurance premiums. Insurers assess bushfire risk based on BAL rating, fire history, and proximity to bushland. Some insurers may restrict cover in very high-risk locations.

What bushfire mitigation measures help protect homes in Wauchope?

Effective bushfire mitigation includes maintaining cleared asset protection zones, using ember-proof mesh on vents, installing metal gutter guards, using non-combustible building materials, and maintaining defendable space. Consult the New South Wales fire authority for property-specific guidance.

What share of Wauchope is exposed to high bushfire risk?

ClimateNest's hazard overlay maps 15.4% of Wauchope in high-risk zones for bushfire, with a further 74.1% 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 Wauchope Safe from Climate Risk?

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