Flood Risk in Borroloola, NT: 2026 Assessment

Borroloola, Northern Territory· UNKNOWN
Borroloola is highly susceptible to flooding due to its low-lying location near the McArthur River and coastal proximity. Intense rainfall events and riverine flooding pose significant risks to properties and infrastructure.Updated 8 Mar 2026

Flood Risk Score

8.5/10

Borroloola is highly susceptible to flooding due to its low-lying location near the McArthur River and coastal proximity. Intense rainfall events and riverine flooding pose significant risks to properties and infrastructure.

Key Facts

Flood Risk
Borroloola is highly susceptible to flooding due to its low-lying location near the McArthur River and coastal proximity. Intense rainfall events and riverine flooding pose significant risks to properties and infrastructure.
Trend
increasing
Suburb
Borroloola, NT
Overall Risk
High
Postcode
0854
Region
Northern Territory
Median property value
$375,000
Dominant hazard
extreme heat (9/10)
Highest high-risk exposure
13.2% of land (surface flood)

Flood Risk Analysis

Borroloola, located in Northern Territory, 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 Northern Territory.

Borroloola is situated on the banks of the McArthur River and is prone to both riverine and coastal flooding. Historical flood events have caused significant damage to properties and infrastructure.

Borroloola is highly susceptible to flooding due to its low-lying location near the McArthur River and coastal proximity. Intense rainfall events and riverine flooding pose significant risks to properties and infrastructure.

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.

Borroloola sits within ClimateNest's suburb-level hazard model for flood risk. 9.8% of the suburb's land area is mapped in high-risk flood zones and 65.5% 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 Borroloola.

On ClimateNest's 0–10 suburb hazard index, Borroloola scores 6 for flood risk — a moderate exposure relative to the Australian suburb range. For comparison, properties in Borroloola can still sit well above or below this suburb average depending on elevation, distance to waterways or vegetation, and local drainage.

Borroloola located in Northern Territory (postcode 0854), is a Northern Territory suburb tracked by ClimateNest. The suburb's median property value is $375,000, and understanding climate exposure is becoming a standard part of due diligence for buyers, lenders and insurers pricing property in Borroloola.

Across the six hazard axes ClimateNest models, the dominant climate risk in Borroloola is extreme heat (score 9/10), with elevated exposure. Insurance signals for the suburb point to premiums rising sharply (+90% by 2030). These suburb-level signals help prioritise which properties need the closest look — the actual risk of any single home can only be confirmed with an address-level report.

Whether you are buying, selling or renovating in Borroloola, extreme heat is the hazard to weigh first. Local council planning controls, state hazard mapping and lender climate policies each reference this kind of suburb-level signal, and property decisions in Borroloola are increasingly made with an address-level climate report in hand.

Local Hazard Evidence

Nearest WaterwayMcArthur River
Elevation Range0-10 meters
Flood Zone ClassificationCoastal and Riverine Flood Zones

Historical Events

2020
Major

A major flood event occurred in Borroloola, causing widespread damage to properties and infrastructure. The McArthur River reached record levels, inundating large areas of the town.

2012
Moderate

Heavy rainfall caused the McArthur River to flood, inundating parts of Borroloola and disrupting transportation.

Adaptation & Mitigation Actions

Upgrade Flood Defenses

Immediate

Invest in flood defenses, such as levees and drainage systems, to protect properties and infrastructure from flooding.

Est. cost: High

Improve Building Codes

Near-term

Update building codes to require new buildings to be more resilient to flooding, bushfires, and heatwaves.

Est. cost: Medium

Implement Early Warning Systems

Immediate

Develop and implement early warning systems for flooding, bushfires, and heatwaves to provide timely alerts to the community.

Est. cost: Medium

Relocate Vulnerable Infrastructure

Long-term

Relocate critical infrastructure, such as hospitals and power plants, away from flood-prone or coastal areas.

Est. cost: Very High

Community Education Programs

Near-term

Implement community education programs to raise awareness about climate change risks and adaptation measures.

Est. cost: Low

Council & Emergency Services

Roper Gulf Regional Council
Emergency Services

Data last updated: 8 March 2026

Explore Borroloola Risk Reports

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Borroloola at risk of flooding?

Based on available data, Borroloola has a notable flood risk profile. Flood risk varies by address — check your specific property for precise flood zone mapping and elevation data with ClimateNest.

What flood insurance costs can I expect in Borroloola?

Insurance costs for flood cover in Borroloola 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 Borroloola?

Yes, flood risk can affect property values in Borroloola. 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 Borroloola?

Elevation is a critical factor in flood risk. Properties at higher elevations within Borroloola 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 are the main climate risks in Borroloola?

ClimateNest's suburb model rates Borroloola's dominant climate risk as extreme heat at 9/10 on a 0–10 index, followed by damaging wind (8/10) and severe storm (8/10). These are suburb-level averages — an address-level report is needed to confirm the risk of a specific property in Borroloola.

What share of Borroloola is exposed to high surface flood risk?

ClimateNest's hazard overlay maps 13.2% of Borroloola in high-risk zones for surface flood, with a further 69.6% 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 Borroloola Safe from Climate Risk?

Enter your address below for an instant climate risk assessment for Borroloola, Northern Territory, covering flood, bushfire, sea level rise and more.

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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