Climate Risk Profile: Tannum Sands, QLD

Tannum Sands, Queensland· Gladstone· 4680
Updated Apr 2026

Tannum Sands faces moderate climate risks, primarily from flooding, heatwaves, and coastal hazards. Climate change is expected to exacerbate these risks, increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. Residents should prepare for potential impacts and take steps to adapt to a changing climate.

Is Tannum Sands Safe from Climate Risk?

Enter your address below for an instant climate risk assessment for Tannum Sands, 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 Tannum Sands

  • Part of Tannum Sands is mapped as subject to coastal inundation.

    71.1% of Tannum Sands 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 Tannum Sands →

Climate Hazard Breakdown for Tannum Sands

Flood

Tannum Sands faces a moderate risk of flooding, primarily from heavy rainfall events and proximity to waterways. Climate change is expected to increase the intensity of rainfall, exacerbating flood risk.

Key drivers:

  • ·Increased rainfall intensity
  • ·Sea level rise

Bushfire

Bushfire risk in Tannum Sands is moderate due to the presence of surrounding bushland. Hot, dry conditions increase the likelihood of bushfires, particularly during the summer months.

Key drivers:

  • ·Increased temperatures
  • ·Drier conditions

Heat

Tannum Sands experiences high temperatures during summer, leading to heat stress risk for vulnerable populations. Climate change is projected to increase the frequency and intensity of heatwaves.

Key drivers:

  • ·Rising average temperatures
  • ·Increased frequency of heatwaves

Coastal

Tannum Sands faces a moderate risk from coastal hazards, including sea level rise and storm surges. Low-lying areas are particularly vulnerable to inundation and erosion.

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 Tannum Sands

Detailed Hazard Analysis

heat Risk

Tannum Sands experiences high temperatures during summer, leading to heat stress risk for vulnerable populations. Climate change is projected to increase the frequency and intensity of heatwaves.

Primary Drivers

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

flood Risk

Tannum Sands faces a moderate risk of flooding, primarily from heavy rainfall events and proximity to waterways. Climate change is expected to increase the intensity of rainfall, exacerbating flood risk.

Primary Drivers

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

coastal Risk

Tannum Sands faces a moderate risk from coastal hazards, including sea level rise and storm surges. Low-lying areas are particularly vulnerable to inundation and erosion.

Primary Drivers

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

bushfire Risk

Bushfire risk in Tannum Sands is moderate due to the presence of surrounding bushland. Hot, dry conditions increase the likelihood of bushfires, particularly during the summer months.

Primary Drivers

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

What This Means for Property Owners

Insurance Outlook

Insurance premiums may increase due to climate-related risks.

Price Impact

Properties in high-risk areas may experience price stagnation or decline.

Buyer Checklist

  • 1.Check flood maps and historical flood data.
  • 2.Assess bushfire risk and implement mitigation measures.
  • 3.Consider the potential impacts of sea level rise.
  • 4.Evaluate the property's energy efficiency and cooling options.

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-term

Construct levees and improve drainage systems to protect low-lying areas from flooding.

Est. cost: High

Learn more

Implement Bushfire Management

Near-term

Conduct controlled burns and clear vegetation around properties to reduce bushfire risk.

Est. cost: Medium

Learn more

Develop Heat Action Plan

Immediate

Establish cooling centers and provide public awareness campaigns to protect vulnerable populations during heatwaves.

Est. cost: Low

Learn more

Enhance Coastal Protection

Long-term

Implement coastal erosion management strategies, such as beach nourishment and seawall construction.

Est. cost: High

Learn more

Promote Water Conservation

Near-term

Encourage water-efficient landscaping and rainwater harvesting to reduce water demand during droughts.

Est. cost: Low

Learn more

About Tannum Sands's Climate Risk Profile

Tannum Sands, a coastal suburb in Queensland, is increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The region faces a combination of risks, including flooding from heavy rainfall and storm surges, bushfire risk due to surrounding vegetation, heatwaves during the summer months, and coastal erosion from rising sea levels.

Flooding is a significant concern, with low-lying areas particularly susceptible to inundation. Climate change is projected to increase rainfall intensity, leading to more frequent and severe flood events. The proximity to waterways further elevates the risk.

Bushfire risk is also present, especially during dry periods. Hot, dry conditions can quickly escalate the threat of bushfires, posing a danger to properties and residents. The surrounding bushland provides fuel for potential fires.

Heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense, placing vulnerable populations at risk of heat stress. Rising average temperatures and the urban heat island effect contribute to this hazard. Coastal erosion is another concern, with sea level rise threatening to erode beaches and damage infrastructure.

Addressing these climate risks requires a multi-faceted approach, including adaptation measures to reduce vulnerability and mitigation efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Residents, businesses, and local authorities must work together to build a more resilient 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

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main climate risks facing Tannum Sands?

Tannum Sands faces risks from flooding, bushfires, heatwaves, and coastal erosion, all of which are expected to worsen with climate change.

How is the local council addressing climate change?

The Gladstone Regional Council is developing and implementing climate adaptation strategies to reduce the community's vulnerability to climate risks.

What can residents do to prepare for flooding?

Residents can check flood maps, elevate their homes, and develop a flood emergency plan.

How can I protect my property from bushfires?

Clear vegetation around your property, install firebreaks, and have a bushfire survival plan.

What resources are available to help me cope with heatwaves?

Local cooling centers are available during heatwaves, and residents should stay hydrated and avoid strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day.

Is Tannum Sands a good place to invest in property given climate change?

While Tannum Sands offers a desirable coastal lifestyle, potential investors should carefully consider the climate risks and potential impacts on property values.

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 Tannum Sands, 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