📮 Forestville postcode: 2087

Bushfire Risk in Forestville, SA: 2026 Assessment

Forestville, South Australia· Northern Beaches· 2087
Forestville has a high bushfire risk due to its proximity to Garigal National Park and other bushland areas. Hot, dry conditions and strong winds exacerbate the risk during bushfire season.Updated 29 May 2026

Bushfire Risk Score

6.8/10

Forestville has a high bushfire risk due to its proximity to Garigal National Park and other bushland areas. Hot, dry conditions and strong winds exacerbate the risk during bushfire season.

Key Facts

Bushfire Risk
Forestville has a high bushfire risk due to its proximity to Garigal National Park and other bushland areas. Hot, dry conditions and strong winds exacerbate the risk during bushfire season.
Trend
stable
Suburb
Forestville, SA
Overall Risk
Medium
Postcode
5035
Highest high-risk exposure
5.8% of land (bushfire)

Bushfire Risk Analysis

Forestville, South Australia, has a forestville has a high bushfire risk due to its proximity to garigal national park and other bushland areas. hot, dry conditions and strong winds exacerbate the risk during bushfire season. bushfire risk profile. Key factors include distance to classified bushland, vegetation type, slope, and historical bushfire activity in the region. The South Australia fire authority maps bushfire-prone areas and assigns BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) ratings.

Residents should maintain firebreaks 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 Forestville, 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 Forestville including BAL zone assessment, evacuation route mapping, and property-specific risk mitigation recommendations.

Forestville sits within ClimateNest's suburb-level hazard model for bushfire risk. 5.8% of the suburb's land area is mapped in high-risk bushfire zones and 71.5% 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 Forestville.

Forestville (postcode 5035) 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 (5.8% of land in high-risk zones), extreme wind (5.4% of land in high-risk zones), surface flood (5.1% of land in high-risk zones). Exposure is not uniform across Forestville — 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 Garigal National Park
BAL Overlay / ZoneNSW RFS Bush Fire Prone Land Map
Bushfire Prone AreaYes

Historical Events

2013
Minor

A bushfire near Garigal National Park threatened properties in Forestville.

1994
Moderate

Bushfires impacted areas near Forestville, causing property damage and evacuations.

Adaptation & Mitigation Actions

Improve Bushfire Preparedness

Immediate

Implement comprehensive bushfire management strategies, including vegetation clearing, firebreak maintenance, and community education programs.

Est. cost: Medium

Enhance Flood Mitigation Infrastructure

Near-term

Upgrade drainage systems and implement flood control measures to reduce the risk of flooding during heavy rainfall events.

Est. cost: High

Implement Urban Greening Initiatives

Near-term

Increase tree canopy cover and create green spaces to mitigate the urban heat island effect and reduce heat stress during heatwaves.

Est. cost: Medium

Develop a Heatwave Response Plan

Immediate

Establish a heatwave response plan to protect vulnerable populations during extreme heat events, including cooling centers and community outreach programs.

Est. cost: Low

Council & Emergency Services

Northern Beaches Council
Emergency Services

Data last updated: 29 May 2026

Explore Forestville Risk Reports

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Forestville in a bushfire prone area?

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

BAL ratings in Forestville 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 Forestville?

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

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 South Australia fire authority for property-specific guidance.

What share of Forestville is exposed to high bushfire risk?

ClimateNest's hazard overlay maps 5.8% of Forestville in high-risk zones for bushfire, with a further 71.5% 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 Forestville Safe from Climate Risk?

Enter your address below for an instant climate risk assessment for Forestville, South Australia, 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