Climate Risk in Macksville, NSW

Macksville, New South Wales· Nambucca Valley· 2447
Updated Apr 2026

Macksville is a town in New South Wales that faces moderate climate risks, primarily from flooding, bushfires, heatwaves and coastal hazards. Climate change is expected to exacerbate these risks, potentially impacting property values and community well-being. Residents should prepare for more frequent and intense extreme weather events.

Is Macksville Safe from Climate Risk?

Enter your address below for an instant climate risk assessment for Macksville, New South Wales, covering flood, bushfire, sea level rise and more.

Free instant previewCSIRO-powered data

What A$49 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$49 · Australian addresses only · 8 hazard scores · Insurance trajectory · 2030 & 2050 projections

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Overall Risk Score

Address-level

Hazard Breakdown

Flood, bushfire, heat, coastal and storm exposure are all assessed in this area. The score that matters is the property's own: a ClimateNest report scores the address across eight hazards, with insurance and value projections to 2050.

Climate Hazard Breakdown for Macksville

Flood

Macksville faces a notable risk of flooding due to its proximity to the Nambucca River and low-lying areas. Climate change is expected to increase rainfall intensity, exacerbating flood risk.

Key drivers:

  • ·Increased rainfall intensity
  • ·Sea level rise

Bushfire

Bushfire risk in Macksville is moderate, with surrounding bushland posing a threat during dry periods. Climate change is projected to increase the frequency and intensity of bushfires.

Key drivers:

  • ·Increased temperatures
  • ·Drier conditions

Heat

Macksville experiences moderate heat risk, with increasing average temperatures and more frequent heatwaves projected. This can impact vulnerable populations and infrastructure.

Key drivers:

  • ·Rising average temperatures
  • ·Increased frequency of heatwaves

Coastal

Macksville faces a moderate coastal risk due to its proximity to the coast and the Nambucca River estuary. Sea level rise and increased storm surge can lead to coastal erosion and inundation.

Key drivers:

  • ·Sea level rise
  • ·Increased storm surge

Wind

Data being compiled

Storm

Data being compiled

Social

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Energy

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In-Depth Climate Risk Guides for Macksville

Detailed Hazard Analysis

heat Risk

Macksville experiences moderate heat risk, with increasing average temperatures and more frequent heatwaves projected. This can impact vulnerable populations and infrastructure.

Primary Drivers

  • ·Rising average temperatures
  • ·Increased frequency of heatwaves
  • ·Urban heat island effect
Data source

flood Risk

Macksville faces a notable risk of flooding due to its proximity to the Nambucca River and low-lying areas. Climate change is expected to increase rainfall intensity, exacerbating flood risk.

Primary Drivers

  • ·Increased rainfall intensity
  • ·Sea level rise
  • ·Riverine flooding
Data source

coastal Risk

Macksville faces a moderate coastal risk due to its proximity to the coast and the Nambucca River estuary. Sea level rise and increased storm surge can lead to coastal erosion and inundation.

Primary Drivers

  • ·Sea level rise
  • ·Increased storm surge
  • ·Coastal erosion
Data source

bushfire Risk

Bushfire risk in Macksville is moderate, with surrounding bushland posing a threat during dry periods. Climate change is projected to increase the frequency and intensity of bushfires.

Primary Drivers

  • ·Increased temperatures
  • ·Drier conditions
  • ·Vegetation dryness
Data source

What This Means for Property Owners

Insurance Outlook

Premiums are likely to increase due to increased flood and bushfire risk.

Price Impact

Properties in high-risk areas may experience a decrease in value.

Buyer Checklist

  • 1.Check flood maps and bushfire prone area designations.
  • 2.Assess property's vulnerability to heatwaves.
  • 3.Inquire about past flood or bushfire events.
  • 4.Review insurance options and costs.
  • 5.Consider long-term climate risks when making property decisions.

How the region's climate is projected to change

Regional projections, not a forecast for this street. Figures are from the WA Department of Water and Environmental Regulation's climate projections for the South Western Flatlands region, which draws on CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology modelling.

Temperature

+0.5 to 1.1°C by 2030

Above the 1986–2005 climate, on all emissions scenarios. By 2090, 1.2 to 2.0°C under intermediate emissions or 2.6 to 4.0°C under high emissions.

Rainfall

Winter rain down up to 15% by 2030

The South West has been drying since 1970, and the decline has been larger than anywhere else in Australia. Heavy rainfall events are projected to become more intense even as totals fall.

Fire weather

Harsher, magnitude uncertain

High confidence that fire weather becomes harsher, low confidence in the size of the change, because it depends heavily on summer rainfall.

Sea level

+0.12 m by 2030

At the Fremantle gauge, range 0.07 to 0.16 m. Very high confidence that sea levels continue to rise through the century.

Source: Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (WA), Western Australian climate projections: summary, September 2021, South Western Flatlands chapter. Read the projections →

Adaptation Recommendations

Upgrade Flood Defenses

Near-term

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

Est. cost: High

Learn more

Implement Bushfire Management Plans

Near-term

Develop and implement comprehensive bushfire management plans, including vegetation management, fire breaks, and community education programs.

Est. cost: Medium

Learn more

Develop Heatwave Response Plan

Immediate

Establish a heatwave response plan to protect vulnerable populations during extreme heat events, including cooling centers and public awareness campaigns.

Est. cost: Low

Learn more

Coastal Erosion Mitigation

Long-term

Implement coastal erosion mitigation measures, such as seawalls and beach nourishment, to protect properties and infrastructure from sea level rise and storm surge.

Est. cost: High

Learn more

Improve Building Codes

Near-term

Update building codes to ensure new construction is resilient to climate change impacts, including flood, bushfire, and heat risks.

Est. cost: Medium

Learn more

About Macksville's Climate Risk Profile

Macksville, located in the Nambucca Valley of New South Wales, is increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The town's proximity to the Nambucca River makes it particularly susceptible to flooding, with climate change projected to increase rainfall intensity and riverine flooding events. This poses a significant threat to residential and commercial properties, as well as critical infrastructure.

Bushfire risk is also a concern for Macksville, with surrounding bushland creating a potential fire hazard during dry periods. Rising temperatures and drier conditions are expected to increase the frequency and intensity of bushfires, potentially impacting the town and its residents.

Heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense in Macksville, posing a risk to vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and those with chronic health conditions. The urban heat island effect can further exacerbate heat stress in built-up areas.

Finally, Macksville's coastal location exposes it to the impacts of sea level rise and increased storm surge. Coastal erosion and inundation can threaten properties and infrastructure along the Nambucca River estuary. Addressing these climate risks requires proactive adaptation measures and community preparedness.

Suburb pages describe the local picture. The address-level assessment, with its data sources and its dollar projections, is in the ClimateNest report.

Local Government Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main climate change risks in Macksville?

Macksville faces significant risks from flooding, bushfires, heatwaves, and coastal erosion due to climate change. These risks are projected to increase in the coming decades.

How will climate change affect property values in Macksville?

Properties in high-risk areas, such as those prone to flooding or bushfires, may experience a decrease in value as climate change impacts become more pronounced.

What is the council doing to address climate change in Macksville?

The Nambucca Valley Council is developing and implementing climate adaptation strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change on the community and infrastructure.

What can residents do to prepare for climate change impacts in Macksville?

Residents can take steps to prepare for climate change impacts by checking flood maps and bushfire prone area designations, assessing their property's vulnerability to heatwaves, and reviewing insurance options.

Where can I find more information about climate change projections for Macksville?

You can find more information about climate change projections for Macksville on the CSIRO website and the NSW Department of Planning and Environment website.

Are there any financial assistance programs available for climate resilience measures?

Check with the Nambucca Valley Council and the NSW government for information on available financial assistance programs for climate resilience measures, such as flood mitigation and bushfire protection.

Get your property's risk report

This suburb assessment covers the area. For a precise address-level climate risk report for any specific property in Macksville, use our analysis tool.

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What A$49 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$49 · Australian addresses only · 8 hazard scores · Insurance trajectory · 2030 & 2050 projections