Flood Risk in Cardwell, QLD: 2026 Assessment

Cardwell, Queensland· UNKNOWN
Cardwell is prone to flooding due to its low-lying coastal location and proximity to waterways. Heavy rainfall events can lead to riverine and flash flooding.Updated 7 Mar 2026

Flood Risk Score

6.5/10

Cardwell is prone to flooding due to its low-lying coastal location and proximity to waterways. Heavy rainfall events can lead to riverine and flash flooding.

Key Facts

Flood Risk
Cardwell is prone to flooding due to its low-lying coastal location and proximity to waterways. Heavy rainfall events can lead to riverine and flash flooding.
Trend
increasing
Suburb
Cardwell, QLD
Overall Risk
Medium
Postcode
4849
Region
Regional QLD
Median property value
$450,000
Dominant hazard
extreme heat (7/10)
Highest high-risk exposure
19.7% of land (riverine flood)

Flood Risk Analysis

Cardwell, located in Queensland, 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 Queensland.

Historical flood events have impacted properties along the coast and near Meunga Creek.

Cardwell is prone to flooding due to its low-lying coastal location and proximity to waterways. Heavy rainfall events can lead to riverine and flash flooding.

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.

Cardwell sits within ClimateNest's suburb-level hazard model for flood risk. 19.7% of the suburb's land area is mapped in high-risk flood zones and 73.6% 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 Cardwell.

On ClimateNest's 0–10 suburb hazard index, Cardwell scores 4 for flood risk — a moderate exposure relative to the Australian suburb range. For comparison, properties in Cardwell can still sit well above or below this suburb average depending on elevation, distance to waterways or vegetation, and local drainage.

Cardwell located in Regional QLD (postcode 4849), is a Queensland suburb tracked by ClimateNest. The suburb's median property value is $450,000, and understanding climate exposure is becoming a standard part of due diligence for buyers, lenders and insurers pricing property in Cardwell.

Across the six hazard axes ClimateNest models, the dominant climate risk in Cardwell is extreme heat (score 7/10), with elevated exposure. Insurance signals for the suburb point to premiums rising moderately (+35% 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 Cardwell, 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 Cardwell are increasingly made with an address-level climate report in hand.

Local Hazard Evidence

Nearest WaterwayMeunga Creek
Elevation Range0-10m
Flood Zone ClassificationCoastal Floodplain

Historical Events

2023
Moderate

Heavy rainfall caused flash flooding in Cardwell, impacting local businesses and residences.

2011
Major

Widespread flooding occurred in Cardwell following heavy rainfall associated with Cyclone Yasi.

Adaptation & Mitigation Actions

Improve drainage infrastructure

Near-term

Upgrade drainage systems to reduce the risk of flooding from heavy rainfall.

Est. cost: High

Strengthen coastal defenses

Long-term

Construct seawalls and other coastal defenses to protect against sea level rise and storm surge.

Est. cost: Very High

Develop a heatwave management plan

Immediate

Implement a plan to protect vulnerable populations during heatwaves, including cooling centers and public awareness campaigns.

Est. cost: Medium

Bushfire mitigation

Near-term

Undertake controlled burns and vegetation management to reduce the risk of bushfires.

Est. cost: Medium

Council & Emergency Services

Cassowary Coast Regional Council
Emergency Services

Data last updated: 7 March 2026

Explore Cardwell Risk Reports

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cardwell at risk of flooding?

Based on available data, Cardwell 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 Cardwell?

Insurance costs for flood cover in Cardwell 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 Cardwell?

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

Elevation is a critical factor in flood risk. Properties at higher elevations within Cardwell 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 Cardwell?

ClimateNest's suburb model rates Cardwell's dominant climate risk as extreme heat at 7/10 on a 0–10 index, followed by damaging wind (5/10) and severe storm (5/10). These are suburb-level averages — an address-level report is needed to confirm the risk of a specific property in Cardwell.

What share of Cardwell is exposed to high riverine flood risk?

ClimateNest's hazard overlay maps 19.7% of Cardwell in high-risk zones for riverine flood, with a further 73.6% 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 Cardwell Safe from Climate Risk?

Enter your address below for an instant climate risk assessment for Cardwell, Queensland, 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