What the mapping shows for Cardwell

  • Part of Cardwell is mapped as subject to coastal inundation.

    4.9% of Cardwell is mapped as part of the Queensland coastal management district (coastal management district declared under the Coastal Management Act 2016)

Queensland Coastal Management District, State of Queensland (Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation), Creative Commons Attribution 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-23

This is a share of the suburb's land area from a published state dataset, not an assessment of any property. A ClimateNest report scores the individual address across eight hazards, with insurance and value projections to 2050.

Check an address in Cardwell →

Bushfire Risk in Cardwell, QLD: 2026 Assessment

Cardwell, Queensland· UNKNOWN
The risk of bushfires in Cardwell is moderate, with bushland areas surrounding the town. Drier conditions and higher temperatures can increase the likelihood of bushfires.Updated 7 Mar 2026

4.9% of Cardwell is mapped as part of the Queensland coastal management district (coastal management district declared under the Coastal Management Act 2016)

That figure covers the suburb. Check whether your address is inside it - address-level, sourced, A$49.

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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Bushfire Risk Score

Not assessed

The risk of bushfires in Cardwell is moderate, with bushland areas surrounding the town. Drier conditions and higher temperatures can increase the likelihood of bushfires.

Key Facts

Bushfire Risk
The risk of bushfires in Cardwell is moderate, with bushland areas surrounding the town. Drier conditions and higher temperatures can increase the likelihood of bushfires.
Trend
increasing
Suburb
Cardwell, QLD
Overall Risk
Medium
Postcode
4849
Region
Regional QLD
Median property value
$450,000
Dominant hazard
extreme heat

Bushfire Risk Analysis

Cardwell, Queensland, has a the risk of bushfires in cardwell is moderate, with bushland areas surrounding the town. drier conditions and higher temperatures can increase the likelihood 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.

Areas to the west and south of Cardwell are designated as bushfire prone.

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

Cardwell located in Regional QLD (postcode 4849), is a Queensland suburb tracked by ClimateNest. The suburb's median property value is $450,000, and understanding climate exposure is becoming a standard part of due diligence for buyers, lenders and insurers pricing property in Cardwell.

Across the six hazard axes ClimateNest models, the dominant climate risk for Cardwell in this type is extreme heat. Insurance signals for the suburb point to premiums rising moderately (+35% by 2030). The actual risk of any single home can only be confirmed with an address-level report.

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

Local Hazard Evidence

Distance to BushlandAdjacent to town
BAL Overlay / ZoneQueensland Bushfire Prone Area Map
Bushfire Prone AreaYes

Adaptation & Mitigation Actions

Improve drainage infrastructure

Near-term

Upgrade drainage systems to reduce the risk of flooding from heavy rainfall.

Est. cost: High

Strengthen coastal defenses

Long-term

Construct seawalls and other coastal defenses to protect against sea level rise and storm surge.

Est. cost: Very High

Develop a heatwave management plan

Immediate

Implement a plan to protect vulnerable populations during heatwaves, including cooling centers and public awareness campaigns.

Est. cost: Medium

Bushfire mitigation

Near-term

Undertake controlled burns and vegetation management to reduce the risk of bushfires.

Est. cost: Medium

Council & Emergency Services

Cassowary Coast Regional Council
Emergency Services

Data last updated: 7 March 2026

Explore Cardwell Risk Reports

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cardwell in a bushfire prone area?

Parts of Cardwell may be designated as bushfire prone land. Based on available data, Cardwell has a location-specific bushfire risk. Check your specific property for BAL ratings through ClimateNest or your local council.

What BAL rating applies to properties in Cardwell?

BAL ratings in Cardwell 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 Cardwell?

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

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.

Is Cardwell Safe from Climate Risk?

Enter your address below for an instant climate risk assessment for Cardwell, Queensland, 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