๐Ÿ“ฎ Townsville postcode: 4810

Bushfire Risk in Townsville, QLD: 2026 Assessment

Townsville, Queenslandยท Townsville City Councilยท 4810
Bushfire risk in Townsville is moderate, with areas of bushland surrounding the city posing a potential threat. Hot, dry conditions during the dry season can increase the risk of bushfires.Updated 2 Apr 2026

Bushfire Risk Score

3.2/10

Bushfire risk in Townsville is moderate, with areas of bushland surrounding the city posing a potential threat. Hot, dry conditions during the dry season can increase the risk of bushfires.

Key Facts

Bushfire Risk
Bushfire risk in Townsville is moderate, with areas of bushland surrounding the city posing a potential threat. Hot, dry conditions during the dry season can increase the risk of bushfires.
Trend
stable
Suburb
Townsville, QLD
Overall Risk
Medium
Postcode
4810
Region
North Queensland
Median property value
$550,000
Dominant hazard
extreme heat (8/10)
Highest high-risk exposure
15.9% of land (riverine flood)

Bushfire Risk Analysis

Townsville, Queensland, has a bushfire risk in townsville is moderate, with areas of bushland surrounding the city posing a potential threat. hot, dry conditions during the dry season 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 Queensland fire authority maps bushfire-prone areas and assigns BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) ratings.

Properties near bushland areas are advised to maintain fire breaks and have a bushfire survival plan.

CSIRO research indicates climate change is extending fire seasons and increasing the number of severe fire weather days across southern and eastern Australia. For Townsville, 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 Townsville including BAL zone assessment, evacuation route mapping, and property-specific risk mitigation recommendations.

Townsville sits within ClimateNest's suburb-level hazard model for bushfire risk. 11.2% of the suburb's land area is mapped in high-risk bushfire zones and 60.1% 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 Townsville.

On ClimateNest's 0โ€“10 suburb hazard index, Townsville scores 5 for bushfire risk โ€” a moderate exposure relative to the Australian suburb range. For comparison, properties in Townsville can still sit well above or below this suburb average depending on elevation, distance to waterways or vegetation, and local drainage.

Townsville located in North Queensland (postcode 4810), is a Queensland suburb tracked by ClimateNest. The suburb's median property value is $550,000, and understanding climate exposure is becoming a standard part of due diligence for buyers, lenders and insurers pricing property in Townsville.

Across the six hazard axes ClimateNest models, the dominant climate risk in Townsville is extreme heat (score 8/10), with elevated exposure. Insurance signals for the suburb point to premiums rising moderately (+25% by 2030). These suburb-level signals help prioritise which properties need the closest look โ€” the actual risk of any single home can only be confirmed with an address-level report.

Whether you are buying, selling or renovating in Townsville, 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 Townsville are increasingly made with an address-level climate report in hand.

Local Hazard Evidence

Distance to BushlandWithin 5km of Mount Stuart and other surrounding bushland areas.
BAL Overlay / ZoneRefer to the Queensland Bushfire Prone Area map.
Bushfire Prone AreaYes

Adaptation & Mitigation Actions

Upgrade drainage infrastructure

Immediate

Invest in upgrading drainage infrastructure to improve the city's capacity to manage floodwaters.

Est. cost: High

Develop a heatwave management plan

Near-term

Develop a comprehensive heatwave management plan to protect vulnerable populations during extreme heat events.

Est. cost: Medium

Implement coastal protection measures

Long-term

Implement coastal protection measures such as seawalls and beach nourishment to protect coastal areas from sea level rise and erosion.

Est. cost: Very High

Promote water conservation

Near-term

Promote water conservation measures to reduce water demand and improve the city's resilience to drought.

Est. cost: Low

Council & Emergency Services

Townsville City Council
Emergency Services

Data last updated: 2 April 2026

Explore Townsville Risk Reports

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Townsville in a bushfire prone area?

Parts of Townsville may be designated as bushfire prone land. Based on available data, Townsville 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 Townsville?

BAL ratings in Townsville 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 Townsville?

Yes, properties in bushfire-prone parts of Townsville 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 Townsville?

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 Queensland fire authority for property-specific guidance.

What are the main climate risks in Townsville?

ClimateNest's suburb model rates Townsville's dominant climate risk as extreme heat at 8/10 on a 0โ€“10 index, followed by damaging wind (7/10) and severe storm (7/10). These are suburb-level averages โ€” an address-level report is needed to confirm the risk of a specific property in Townsville.

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

ClimateNest's hazard overlay maps 15.9% of Townsville in high-risk zones for riverine flood, with a further 77.5% in moderate-risk zones. Suburb-level exposure is not uniform โ€” individual properties can differ from these averages, so an address-level check is recommended.

Is Townsville Safe from Climate Risk?

Enter your address below for an instant climate risk assessment for Townsville, Queensland, 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 ยท Australian addresses only ยท 8 hazard scores ยท Insurance trajectory ยท 2030 & 2050 projections