Climate Risk in Augusta, WA
Augusta faces increasing climate risks, particularly from coastal hazards and flooding. Rising temperatures and bushfire risk also pose challenges. Adaptation measures are crucial to protect the community and infrastructure.
Is Augusta Safe from Climate Risk?
Enter your address below for an instant climate risk assessment for Augusta, Western Australia, 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 Augusta
Flood
Augusta faces a moderate risk of flooding due to its proximity to the Blackwood River and coastal areas. Increased rainfall intensity and rising sea levels are expected to exacerbate this risk.
Key drivers:
- ·Increased rainfall intensity
- ·Sea level rise
Bushfire
Augusta has a moderate bushfire risk due to surrounding bushland. Drier conditions and increased temperatures are likely to increase the frequency and intensity of bushfires.
Key drivers:
- ·Increased temperatures
- ·Drier conditions
Heat
Augusta experiences moderate heat risk, with increasing average temperatures and more frequent heatwaves projected. This can impact vulnerable populations and infrastructure.
Key drivers:
- ·Increased average temperatures
- ·More frequent heatwaves
Coastal
Augusta faces a high coastal risk due to sea level rise and coastal erosion. The town's low-lying areas are particularly vulnerable to inundation and storm surges.
Key drivers:
- ·Sea level rise
- ·Storm surges
Wind
Data being compiled
Storm
Data being compiled
Social
Data being compiled
Energy
Data being compiled
In-Depth Climate Risk Guides for Augusta
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
Augusta experiences moderate heat risk, with increasing average temperatures and more frequent heatwaves projected. This can impact vulnerable populations and infrastructure.
Primary Drivers
- ·Increased average temperatures
- ·More frequent heatwaves
- ·Urban heat island effect (minimal)
flood Risk
Augusta faces a moderate risk of flooding due to its proximity to the Blackwood River and coastal areas. Increased rainfall intensity and rising sea levels are expected to exacerbate this risk.
Primary Drivers
- ·Increased rainfall intensity
- ·Sea level rise
- ·River overflow
coastal Risk
Augusta faces a high coastal risk due to sea level rise and coastal erosion. The town's low-lying areas are particularly vulnerable to inundation and storm surges.
Primary Drivers
- ·Sea level rise
- ·Storm surges
- ·Coastal erosion
bushfire Risk
Augusta has a moderate bushfire risk due to surrounding bushland. Drier conditions and increased temperatures are likely to increase the frequency and intensity of bushfires.
Primary Drivers
- ·Increased temperatures
- ·Drier conditions
- ·Fuel load
What This Means for Property Owners
Insurance Outlook
Insurance premiums may increase due to climate risks.
Price Impact
Properties in high-risk areas may experience price reductions.
Buyer Checklist
- 1.Check flood maps and bushfire prone areas.
- 2.Assess coastal erosion risk.
- 3.Consider future climate projections.
- 4.Evaluate property resilience to extreme weather events.
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
Coastal Protection Measures
ImmediateImplement coastal protection measures such as seawalls and dune restoration to protect against sea level rise and erosion.
Est. cost: High
Learn moreFlood Management Strategies
Near-termDevelop and implement flood management strategies, including improved drainage systems and flood-resistant building codes.
Est. cost: Medium
Learn moreBushfire Risk Reduction
Near-termReduce bushfire risk through fuel reduction programs, community education, and improved building standards.
Est. cost: Medium
Learn moreHeatwave Preparedness
Long-termDevelop heatwave preparedness plans and implement measures to protect vulnerable populations during extreme heat events.
Est. cost: Low
Learn moreAbout Augusta's Climate Risk Profile
Augusta, located in the south-west of Western Australia, is increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The town's coastal location makes it particularly susceptible to sea level rise and coastal erosion, threatening infrastructure and natural ecosystems.
Flooding is another significant concern for Augusta, with the Blackwood River and nearby coastal areas posing a risk of inundation. Increased rainfall intensity and storm surges are expected to exacerbate this risk, potentially impacting homes, businesses, and transportation networks.
Rising temperatures and drier conditions are also contributing to an increased bushfire risk in the region. The surrounding bushland provides ample fuel for fires, and hotter, drier weather makes them more likely to ignite and spread rapidly.
While Augusta experiences moderate heat risk compared to other regions, increasing average temperatures and more frequent heatwaves can still impact vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and those with chronic health conditions. It is important to implement strategies to mitigate the effects of heat on public health and infrastructure.
Addressing these climate risks requires a comprehensive approach that includes adaptation measures to protect against the impacts of climate change, as well as mitigation efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By working together, the community can build a more resilient and sustainable future for Augusta.
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
Augusta-Margaret River Shire
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main climate change risks facing Augusta?
Augusta faces significant risks from sea level rise, coastal erosion, flooding, bushfires, and heatwaves due to climate change.
How will sea level rise affect Augusta?
Sea level rise is expected to inundate low-lying areas, damage coastal infrastructure, and increase the risk of storm surges in Augusta.
What can be done to protect Augusta from coastal erosion?
Coastal protection measures such as seawalls, dune restoration, and managed retreat can help protect Augusta from coastal erosion.
How is the local council addressing climate change in Augusta?
The Augusta-Margaret River Shire is developing and implementing climate adaptation and mitigation strategies to address the impacts of climate change.
What can residents do to prepare for climate change impacts in Augusta?
Residents can prepare by checking flood maps, assessing bushfire risk, considering future climate projections, and evaluating property resilience to extreme weather events.
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 Augusta, use our analysis tool.
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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