Bundaberg Flood Map Explained: Flood Zones, Risk Levels and What to Do
Flooding shapes life in Bundaberg more than most people realise. When the Burnett River rises, or when heavy coastal rain hits at the wrong time, entire streets can change within hours. That’s why the Bundaberg flood map matters — it’s one of the few tools that shows how water behaves across the region and how close it may come to where you live. This guide breaks down where to find the official map, how to read it properly and how to use that knowledge to plan ahead with confidence.
Where to Find the Official Bundaberg Flood Map
If you’re looking for the official bundaberg flood map, there are credible public sources you should go to.
Here are the key platforms.
Bundaberg Regional Council Flood Information Portal
The Bundaberg Regional Council provides a clear, centralised Flood Information and Mapping portal where you can access interactive maps, flood-study data and historical records for the lower Burnett River floodplain. The map allows you to search your property and switch between flood-depth or likelihood layers. You can also view modelled inundation based on the council’s latest flood studies.
You can also download PDF maps and planning reports if you need documents for insurance or property assessments. The portal includes verified flood history—such as the January 2013 Burnett River peak—which helps you understand local behaviour during major events and assess real flood exposure for your area.
Queensland Government FloodCheck
FloodCheck Queensland offers a statewide perspective that complements the Bundaberg council map. The platform lets you view historic flood-lines from major past events, explore modelled flood-plain extents, and access technical flood-study documents covering the wider catchment. Its interactive layers help you understand how upstream rainfall or regional river systems may influence flooding in Bundaberg, providing context that local maps alone may not show.
If you want a broader flood map of Bundaberg with surrounding catchment behaviour included, FloodCheck is the most reliable statewide tool to compare risk, identify patterns, and verify local flood information.
Other Third-Party Tools
Sites like FloodMap.net provide Bundaberg flood map style visualisations showing elevation, inundation extents, and sea level rise overlays. Note: these aren’t the official source and may not reflect the regulatory zones.
Therefore, always cross-check with the Council or State data.
How to Use the Bundaberg Flood Map: Step-by-Step
Next, let’s go through how to use the map effectively — not just look at it, but interpret and act on it.
1. Identify Your Property Location
Open the interactive map on the Council site (or FloodCheck). Use the search bar to enter your lot/plan number, street address, or suburb. Zoom in until you see your property boundaries clearly.
2. Select Relevant Flood Layers
Most online map tools will give you layers such as “Flood Hazard Area”, “Modelled Extent”, “Historic Floodlines (2013)”, or “Defined Flood Levels”. For example, BRC lists a “Flood Hazard Area Resolution 1/2024” overlay. Turn ON the layer marked “Flood Hazard Area” or “Inundation extent”.
If using FloodCheck, select the dropdown for your study area and use the depth slider to view different flood depths.
3. Check Property-Specific Data
On the Council’s interactive mapping system you can generate a Flood Planning Control Property Report. This will show flood water levels for the range of flood events that make up the Flood Hazard Area, the minimum habitable floor level (if data available) and any known existing floor height.
4. Download or Print Your Map/Report
For record and planning purposes it’s wise to download a PDF version of the map or report. For example, the Burnett River flood information page provides a high-resolution PDF of the 2013 flood extent.
5. Interpret Results in a Practical Way
Once you’ve located your property and applied the layers, ask questions such as:
Am I within a “Flood Hazard Area”?
What flood depth/level is indicated for my location?
What are the minimum floor heights and how does my building compare?
Are there evacuation routes or access issues shown?
6. Take Appropriate Action
If your property appears in a high-risk zone, you might need to adjust insurance, building approvals, mitigation strategies. (Later section.)
By following these steps you’ll harness the bundaberg flood map today data and make informed property decisions.
How to Interpret Flood Zones & Colours
The Bundaberg Flood mapping layers give you more than just “yes/no flood risk”. Here’s how to interpret them.
Flood Hazard Area vs Inundation Extent
Flood Hazard Area is a zoning overlay indicating areas studied and subject to building code restrictions. (The Council’s new resolution took effect 20 December 2024.)
Inundation extent refers to the actual mapped footprint of past flood events or modelled events (e.g., the January 2013 flood of the Burnett River), showing exactly how far the water spread across the floodplain during that event.
Colour/Depth Indicators
Maps often use colours or shading to show depth or velocity of floodwaters. Darker or deeper colours = higher water depth or velocity. Lighter = lesser. When you see two properties adjacent and one is shaded deeper, you know the flood impact will differ.
Minimum Habitable Floor Level
Reports may include MHFL – the minimum level prescribed for dwellings in that zone. If your building’s floor is below the MHFL, you may face higher risk or building compliance issues.
Historic vs Modelled
Historic floodlines show what actually happened, such as the 2013 Burnett River flood. Modelled flood extents show what could happen, based on probability (for example, a 1% AEP or “1-in-100-year” event). The map isn’t a guarantee of what will happen — it’s a guide.
Evacuation & Access
Some maps and Council documents highlight evacuation routes or areas where access may be lost during major flooding. This helps you identify which streets may become cut off early, and which routes typically remain usable for longer during rising water.
If your property sits in a light-shaded flood hazard zone and above the MHFL, your risk might be manageable. If it’s in a deep zone, near the river or coast, and below MHFL — then you’ve got to act.
Local Flood Hazards in Bundaberg
Understanding the specific hazards in the Bundaberg region helps you interpret the map in context. Here’s what to keep in mind.
The Burnett River Floodplain
The Burnett River catchment covers about 33,000 km² and flows into the inlet near Bundaberg. Major flooding can be triggered by heavy rainfall in the catchment, especially when combined with high tides or storm surge. The highest recorded flood at the Bundaberg gauge was 9.53 metres in January 2013.
The lower Burnett River, including its bends and delta areas, is highly vulnerable because of the river’s large catchment and multiple tributaries. When you look at the Bundaberg flooding map, pay particular attention to land near the river, low elevation and probable flow paths.
Coastal Flooding and Storm Surge
While riverine flooding is a dominant concern, Bundaberg’s proximity to the coast means storm surge and tidal inundation may also matter. When the tide is high and rainfall intense, the river mouth and estuarine zones can be impacted.
Low-lying coastal land, salt-water creek outlets and detached islands/peninsulas in the region should be inspected carefully on the map. Even if your property isn’t directly on the river, it may still appear on the flood map of Bundaberg due to secondary wave or surge effects.
New Mapping and Community Input
The region is evolving its flood models. For example, new flood maps of the Burnett River were released for public feedback earlier in 2025, according to Bundaberg Regional Council announcements. This means the bundaberg flood mapping you use may shift as new data comes in and community-based evidence is factored.
If your map appears old, check for “updated mapping” or version numbers on the council page. In short: hazards aren’t static, so keep checking annually or after major storms.
What to Do If Your Property Is in a Flood Zone
If the map shows your property in a high-risk flood zone, you shouldn’t panic — but do act intelligently.
Understand Your Insurance and Building Implications
Contact your insurer and disclose the flood zone information. Being flagged in the Bundaberg flood zone may increase premiums or attract exclusions.
If you’re building or buying, the Council’s flood map directly affects what you’re allowed to build. The Flood Planning Control Property Report even specifies the “Minimum Habitable Floor Level,” meaning your home may need to be elevated above a certain height before it can be approved.
Consider using flood-resistant materials, raising living areas above the predicted depth, or at least ensuring critical services (electrical panels, hot water systems) are above expected water levels.
Prepare Your Emergency and Resilience Plan
Create a family evacuation plan: know the nearest higher ground, access roads, and whether any bridges could be closed during flooding.
Given that flooding often means power disruption, ensure you are ready to prepare for power outage. That might mean investing in a portable power station or backup system.
If you already own equipment like a home backup generator, you should take precautions to protect it.
For example, the EcoFlow DELTA Pro Portable Power Station, make sure it is sited above likely flood depth, protected from water ingress and tested regularly.
The EcoFlow DELTA Pro Portable Power Station
Mitigate Around the Property
Clear gutters, maintain drainage around your home and avoid landscaping that channels water toward your home’s foundation.
If your driveway or property access lies within the flood zone, consider raising it or having alternative access.
Secure or elevate outdoor equipment (AC units, pool pumps, batteries, solar inverters) above the mapped flood depth.
For longer-term resilience you may consider to build home battery backup system that also triggers before a flood event begins—so you have power even if the grid fails under extreme weather.
Review and Revisit Annually
Flood maps are periodically updated. Check back annually or after major storms to see if your property’s risk has changed.
Join local community flood awareness sessions (the Council invites public feedback on mapping).
Keep documentation (map printouts, property report) handy for potential future sale or insurance renewal.
By treating flood risk as part of your home’s resilience strategy — not just something you glance at once — you’ll be better positioned to protect your property, family and investments.
Conclusion
Flood maps won’t tell you everything, but they do reveal how water tends to move through Bundaberg — and where your home sits in that story. Once you understand that, decisions feel less chaotic. You know what to fix, what to monitor, and how to plan before the sky even turns grey. Whether you’re buying, renovating or simply keeping your family safer, using the bundaberg flood map gives you a real edge in a region shaped by the Burnett River and the coast.
And because flooding often brings long, frustrating blackouts, it’s worth thinking about your backup power early on — whether that’s a home power station or even a portable generator for essential devices.
Stay informed, stay prepared, and act before the next storm builds up.
FAQs
Which part of Bundaberg floods?
The low-lying areas along the lower Burnett River floodplain — especially near the river mouth, bends and coastal outlets — are most at risk. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, major events in the Burnett River catchment have impacted Bundaberg City when heavy rainfall coincides with high tides. Even areas not directly on the river can suffer from drainage or storm-surge related flooding. The interactive bundaberg flood map will show zones across the region including coastal, creek, and river-plain areas.
How to check if a property is in a flood area?
Enter your address or lot/plan in an interactive map such as the Bundaberg Regional Council portal or FloodCheck Queensland. Use the drop-down layers to reveal historic floods or modelled 1 % AEP floods. If the result shows your property inside a coloured zone, it's flagged at risk. Download or export the map (e.g., Bundaberg flood map pdf) for your records. For best results, check elevation, proximity to watercourses and local drainage paths too.
How often are flood maps updated?
Updating flood maps is not annual in most cases. In Bundaberg, the latest flood-modelling project for the Burnett River was launched in 2025, with public consultation conducted earlier in the year. The Council notes there is “limited flood data in rural and remote areas,” and as “new modelling results become available this information will be added.” Given climate change, land-use change and improved modelling techniques, it’s worth revisiting the map every few years—roughly every 2–5 years—or after major rainfall or flood events.
What do the coloured zones mean?
Colours on the flood map of Bundaberg often denote different inundation depths (for example, blue = shallow, red = deep), or modelled frequency (e.g., dark shading = 1 % AEP). The legend will tell you what each section means. Always check the key for that particular map version. Some zones mean “possible flood area” rather than “will flood every time”. Interpretation depends on which study or layer you are viewing.