Climate Risk Profile: Upper Orara, NSW
Upper Orara faces moderate risks from flooding, bushfires, and heatwaves, which are expected to increase with climate change. The suburb's inland location mitigates coastal risks. Residents should prepare for more frequent extreme weather events.
Is Upper Orara Safe from Climate Risk?
Enter your address below for an instant climate risk assessment for Upper Orara, New South Wales, covering flood, bushfire, sea level rise and more.
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Overall Risk Score
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 Upper Orara
Flood
Upper Orara faces a moderate risk of flooding due to its proximity to waterways and rainfall patterns. Climate change is expected to increase the intensity of rainfall events, potentially exacerbating flood risk.
Key drivers:
- ·Increased rainfall intensity
- ·Proximity to Orara River
Bushfire
Upper Orara has a high bushfire risk due to the surrounding bushland. Drier conditions and higher temperatures are expected to increase the frequency and intensity of bushfires.
Key drivers:
- ·Dry vegetation
- ·High temperatures
Heat
Upper Orara 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
Upper Orara is not directly exposed to coastal risks such as sea level rise and coastal erosion due to its inland location.
Key drivers:
- ·Inland location
Wind
Data being compiled
Storm
Data being compiled
Social
Data being compiled
Energy
Data being compiled
In-Depth Climate Risk Guides for Upper Orara
Property buying guide with climate risk assessment
Flood zone mapping, historical events, and projections
BAL assessment, vegetation proximity, and fire history
Multi-hazard safety assessment to 2050
Severe weather, hail, and wind risk analysis
Extreme heat days, urban heat island, and cooling costs
Premium estimates and insurance availability
Climate-adjusted property investment analysis
Detailed Hazard Analysis
heat Risk
Upper Orara 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
- ·Climate change
flood Risk
Upper Orara faces a moderate risk of flooding due to its proximity to waterways and rainfall patterns. Climate change is expected to increase the intensity of rainfall events, potentially exacerbating flood risk.
Primary Drivers
- ·Increased rainfall intensity
- ·Proximity to Orara River
- ·Climate change
coastal Risk
Upper Orara is not directly exposed to coastal risks such as sea level rise and coastal erosion due to its inland location.
Primary Drivers
- ·Inland location
bushfire Risk
Upper Orara has a high bushfire risk due to the surrounding bushland. Drier conditions and higher temperatures are expected to increase the frequency and intensity of bushfires.
Primary Drivers
- ·Dry vegetation
- ·High temperatures
- ·Strong winds
- ·Climate change
What This Means for Property Owners
Insurance Outlook
Premiums may increase due to flood and bushfire risks.
Price Impact
Property values may be affected by increasing climate risks.
Buyer Checklist
- 1.Check flood maps and bushfire prone areas.
- 2.Assess property's vulnerability to heatwaves.
- 3.Review insurance options and costs.
- 4.Consider long-term climate change projections.
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
Improve Flood Defenses
Near-termConstruct levees and improve drainage systems to mitigate flood risk.
Est. cost: High
Learn moreBushfire Mitigation
ImmediateImplement vegetation management programs and create firebreaks to reduce bushfire hazards.
Est. cost: Medium
Learn moreHeatwave Preparedness
Near-termEstablish cooling centers and provide public awareness campaigns on heatwave safety.
Est. cost: Low
Learn moreCommunity Education
Long-termEducate residents about climate change risks and adaptation strategies.
Est. cost: Low
Learn moreStrengthen Building Codes
Long-termUpdate building codes to ensure new constructions are resilient to climate change impacts.
Est. cost: Medium
Learn moreAbout Upper Orara's Climate Risk Profile
Upper Orara, located in New South Wales, is susceptible to a range of climate-related risks. The primary concerns are flooding due to its proximity to the Orara River, bushfires due to the surrounding bushland, and increasing heatwaves.
Climate change projections indicate that rainfall intensity will increase, leading to a higher risk of flooding. The drier conditions and higher temperatures will also exacerbate the bushfire risk. Heatwaves are expected to become more frequent and intense, posing a threat to vulnerable populations.
While Upper Orara is not directly exposed to coastal risks, the broader impacts of climate change, such as disruptions to supply chains and increased demand for resources, could indirectly affect the suburb.
Residents and property owners should take proactive measures to mitigate these risks, including preparing for extreme weather events, maintaining their properties to reduce bushfire hazards, and staying informed about climate change projections and adaptation strategies. Local authorities are also working to develop and implement climate resilience plans to protect the community.
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
Coffs Harbour City Council
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main climate change risks in Upper Orara?
The main climate change risks in Upper Orara are flooding, bushfires, and heatwaves. These risks are expected to increase in the future due to climate change.
How will climate change affect property values in Upper Orara?
Climate change may negatively affect property values in Upper Orara due to increased risks of flooding, bushfires, and heatwaves. Properties in high-risk areas may experience a greater impact.
What can I do to protect my property from bushfires?
To protect your property from bushfires, you should maintain your property by clearing vegetation, creating firebreaks, and ensuring you have a bushfire survival plan.
Where can I find information about flood risks in Upper Orara?
You can find information about flood risks in Upper Orara on the Coffs Harbour City Council website and the NSW State Emergency Service website.
How can I prepare for a heatwave in Upper Orara?
To prepare for a heatwave, stay hydrated, stay indoors in air-conditioned environments, and check on vulnerable neighbors and family members.
Is Upper Orara likely to experience more droughts in the future?
Climate projections suggest that the region may experience more prolonged periods of drought in the future, which could exacerbate bushfire risks and impact water resources.
Get your property's risk report
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What A$49 could save you from
*Industry sources: ICA, APRA, RBA
Full report from A$49 · Australian addresses only · 8 hazard scores · Insurance trajectory · 2030 & 2050 projections