Climate Risk Profile: Scarness, QLD

Scarness, Queensland
Updated Apr 2026

Scarness, QLD, faces moderate climate risks, primarily from flooding, heatwaves, and coastal hazards. Sea level rise and increased rainfall intensity are key drivers of these risks, potentially impacting infrastructure and property values.

Is Scarness Safe from Climate Risk?

Enter your address below for an instant climate risk assessment for Scarness, Queensland, covering flood, bushfire, sea level rise and more.

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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

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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.

What the mapping shows for Scarness

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

    3.9% of Scarness 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 Scarness →

Climate Hazard Breakdown for Scarness

Flood

Scarness faces a moderate risk of flooding due to its low-lying coastal location and proximity to waterways. Intense rainfall events can lead to stormwater runoff and riverine flooding.

Key drivers:

  • ·Sea level rise
  • ·Increased rainfall intensity

Bushfire

The risk of bushfire in Scarness is relatively low due to its coastal location and limited vegetation. However, dry conditions and strong winds can increase the potential for grassfires.

Key drivers:

  • ·Dry vegetation
  • ·Strong winds

Heat

Scarness experiences a moderate risk of heatwaves, particularly during the summer months. Rising temperatures can lead to heat stress and health impacts, especially for vulnerable populations.

Key drivers:

  • ·Rising global temperatures
  • ·Urban heat island effect

Coastal

Scarness is exposed to coastal hazards such as sea level rise and storm surge. Erosion and inundation can impact coastal infrastructure and properties.

Key drivers:

  • ·Sea level rise
  • ·Increased storm intensity

Wind

Data being compiled

Storm

Data being compiled

Social

Data being compiled

Energy

Data being compiled

In-Depth Climate Risk Guides for Scarness

Detailed Hazard Analysis

heat Risk

Scarness experiences a moderate risk of heatwaves, particularly during the summer months. Rising temperatures can lead to heat stress and health impacts, especially for vulnerable populations.

Primary Drivers

  • ·Rising global temperatures
  • ·Urban heat island effect
Data source

flood Risk

Scarness faces a moderate risk of flooding due to its low-lying coastal location and proximity to waterways. Intense rainfall events can lead to stormwater runoff and riverine flooding.

Primary Drivers

  • ·Sea level rise
  • ·Increased rainfall intensity
  • ·Storm surge
Data source

coastal Risk

Scarness is exposed to coastal hazards such as sea level rise and storm surge. Erosion and inundation can impact coastal infrastructure and properties.

Primary Drivers

  • ·Sea level rise
  • ·Increased storm intensity
Data source

bushfire Risk

The risk of bushfire in Scarness is relatively low due to its coastal location and limited vegetation. However, dry conditions and strong winds can increase the potential for grassfires.

Primary Drivers

  • ·Dry vegetation
  • ·Strong winds
  • ·Increased temperatures
Data source

What This Means for Property Owners

Insurance Outlook

Insurance premiums may increase due to flood and coastal risks.

Price Impact

Properties closer to the coast may experience price fluctuations due to climate risks.

Buyer Checklist

  • 1.Check flood maps and insurance costs.
  • 2.Assess property's elevation and proximity to the coast.
  • 3.Inquire about council's climate adaptation plans.

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 Drainage Infrastructure

Near-term

Upgrade stormwater drainage systems to handle increased rainfall intensity and reduce flood risk.

Est. cost: Medium

Learn more

Implement Coastal Protection Measures

Long-term

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

Est. cost: High

Learn more

Develop Heat Action Plan

Immediate

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

Est. cost: Low

Learn more

Raise Awareness of Climate Risks

Near-term

Educate residents about climate risks and adaptation measures through workshops, brochures, and online resources.

Est. cost: Low

Learn more

About Scarness's Climate Risk Profile

Scarness, located in Queensland, is increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The suburb's coastal location makes it susceptible to sea level rise and storm surge, which can lead to inundation and erosion. Rising temperatures are also a concern, increasing the frequency and intensity of heatwaves.

Flooding is a significant risk in Scarness, with intense rainfall events capable of overwhelming drainage systems and causing riverine flooding. The combination of sea level rise and increased rainfall intensity exacerbates this risk, potentially impacting residential and commercial properties.

Bushfire risk is relatively lower compared to other parts of Queensland, but dry conditions and strong winds can still pose a threat. Grassfires can spread rapidly, particularly in areas with dry vegetation.

The local council is developing strategies to mitigate these risks, including improving drainage infrastructure, implementing coastal protection measures, and promoting energy efficiency. Residents are encouraged to take steps to prepare for climate-related events, such as developing emergency plans and maintaining their properties.

Climate projections indicate that these risks will continue to increase in the coming decades. Sea level rise is expected to accelerate, and heatwaves will become more frequent and intense. Adapting to these changes will be crucial to ensuring the long-term sustainability of Scarness.

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 Scarness?

The main climate change risks in Scarness are flooding, heatwaves, and coastal hazards such as sea level rise and storm surge.

How will sea level rise affect Scarness?

Sea level rise can lead to inundation of low-lying areas, increased coastal erosion, and damage to infrastructure and properties.

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

The Fraser Coast Regional Council is developing strategies to mitigate climate risks, including improving drainage infrastructure, implementing coastal protection measures, and promoting energy efficiency.

How can I prepare for a flood in Scarness?

You can prepare for a flood by developing an emergency plan, elevating your property, and purchasing flood insurance.

Where can I find more information about climate change risks in Scarness?

You can find more information about climate change risks in Scarness on the Fraser Coast Regional Council website and the Queensland Government website.

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 Scarness, use our analysis tool.

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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