Bushfire Risk in Dunsborough, WA: 2026 Assessment
Bushfire Risk Score
6.0/10Dunsborough has a high bushfire risk due to its proximity to bushland and dry vegetation. Hot, dry summers and strong winds exacerbate the risk.
Key Facts
- Bushfire Risk
- Dunsborough has a high bushfire risk due to its proximity to bushland and dry vegetation. Hot, dry summers and strong winds exacerbate the risk.
- Trend
- increasing
- Suburb
- Dunsborough, WA
- Overall Risk
- Medium
- Postcode
- 6281
- Region
- Coastal WA
- Median property value
- $575,000
- Dominant hazard
- extreme heat (5/10)
- Highest high-risk exposure
- 14.2% of land (bushfire)
Bushfire Risk Analysis
Dunsborough, Western Australia, has a dunsborough has a high bushfire risk due to its proximity to bushland and dry vegetation. hot, dry summers and strong winds exacerbate the risk. bushfire risk profile. Key factors include distance to classified bushland, vegetation type, slope, and historical bushfire activity in the region. The Western Australia fire authority maps bushfire-prone areas and assigns BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) ratings.
Much of Dunsborough is designated as a bushfire-prone area.
CSIRO research indicates climate change is extending fire seasons and increasing the number of severe fire weather days across southern and eastern Australia. For Dunsborough, 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 Dunsborough including BAL zone assessment, evacuation route mapping, and property-specific risk mitigation recommendations.
Dunsborough sits within ClimateNest's suburb-level hazard model for bushfire risk. 14.2% of the suburb's land area is mapped in high-risk bushfire zones and 75.7% 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 Dunsborough.
On ClimateNest's 0–10 suburb hazard index, Dunsborough scores 4 for bushfire risk — a moderate exposure relative to the Australian suburb range. For comparison, properties in Dunsborough can still sit well above or below this suburb average depending on elevation, distance to waterways or vegetation, and local drainage.
Dunsborough located in Coastal WA (postcode 6281), is a Western Australia suburb tracked by ClimateNest. The suburb's median property value is $575,000, and understanding climate exposure is becoming a standard part of due diligence for buyers, lenders and insurers pricing property in Dunsborough.
Across the six hazard axes ClimateNest models, the dominant climate risk in Dunsborough is extreme heat (score 5/10), with moderate 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 — the actual risk of any single home can only be confirmed with an address-level report.
Whether you are buying, selling or renovating in Dunsborough, 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 Dunsborough are increasingly made with an address-level climate report in hand.
Local Hazard Evidence
Historical Events
A bushfire near Dunsborough threatened properties and required evacuations.
Adaptation & Mitigation Actions
Develop a comprehensive bushfire management plan
ImmediateImplement strategies to reduce bushfire risk, including vegetation management, fire breaks, and community education programs.
Est. cost: High
Upgrade infrastructure to withstand extreme heat
Near-termImprove the resilience of power grids, water supply systems, and transportation networks to cope with more frequent and intense heatwaves.
Est. cost: Very High
Implement coastal protection measures
Near-termConstruct sea walls, restore dunes, and implement other strategies to protect coastal areas from erosion and inundation.
Est. cost: High
Improve flood management infrastructure
Long-termUpgrade drainage systems and build flood levees to reduce the risk of flooding from heavy rainfall events.
Est. cost: Very High
Promote water conservation
Long-termEncourage residents and businesses to adopt water-saving measures to reduce water demand during droughts.
Est. cost: Low
Council & Emergency Services
Explore Dunsborough Risk Reports
View other climate risk assessments for Dunsborough:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dunsborough in a bushfire prone area?
Parts of Dunsborough may be designated as bushfire prone land. Based on available data, Dunsborough 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 Dunsborough?
BAL ratings in Dunsborough 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 Dunsborough?
Yes, properties in bushfire-prone parts of Dunsborough 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 Dunsborough?
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 Western Australia fire authority for property-specific guidance.
What are the main climate risks in Dunsborough?
ClimateNest's suburb model rates Dunsborough's dominant climate risk as extreme heat at 5/10 on a 0–10 index, followed by damaging wind (5/10) and bushfire (4/10). These are suburb-level averages — an address-level report is needed to confirm the risk of a specific property in Dunsborough.
What share of Dunsborough is exposed to high bushfire risk?
ClimateNest's hazard overlay maps 14.2% of Dunsborough in high-risk zones for bushfire, with a further 75.7% 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 Dunsborough Safe from Climate Risk?
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