Build for cyclonic winds: call for tougher home construction standards

The Advertiser

19-06-2025

Building codes developed half a century ago to protect homes from cyclones should be extended "much further south" to reflect increasing extreme weather events, Climate Change Authority chair Matt Kean says.
In a new report on how climate affects Australian homes, the authority recommended changing the national construction code - which sets minimum building standards - to ensure properties can better withstand wind, floods, bushfires, coastal inundation, and heatwaves.
In the wake of Cyclone Alfred, which swept into south-east Queensland and northern NSW in March 2025, Mr Kean said it was time to rethink building standards.
"Climate change is creating the conditions for extreme storms much further south than in the past, so it makes sense to look at extending cyclone building standards down the coast to reflect today's real risks," Mr Kean said.
"Parts of coastal Queensland and [Western Australia] not now covered by cyclone construction standards may need to be, and soon."
Existing codes only required buildings north of Bundaberg - some 350 kilometres beyond Brisbane - to be able to withstand cyclonic winds, the Home safe: national leadership in adapting to a changing climate report pointed out.
Mr Kean said it was also time to rethink where homes were being built in the first place.
"As flood hazards change, we need to adapt our thinking about where to build new homes and suburbs," he said.
Insurance was "costing households too much" as premiums rose in line with growing risk.
The record-breaking May floods across the NSW mid-north coast and Hunter regions claimed the lives of five people, inundated hundreds of homes and stranded tens of thousands of people.
Extreme weather events had already cost the Australian economy $2.2 billion in the first half of 2025, the Climate Change Authority report, due to be released on June 19, found.
By the end of the decade climate change was expected to wipe more than $500 billion off the property market.
The report also found extreme weather events led to poorer physical and mental health, as well as substandard living conditions.
Building codes developed half a century ago to protect homes from cyclones should be extended "much further south" to reflect increasing extreme weather events, Climate Change Authority chair Matt Kean says.
In a new report on how climate affects Australian homes, the authority recommended changing the national construction code - which sets minimum building standards - to ensure properties can better withstand wind, floods, bushfires, coastal inundation, and heatwaves.
In the wake of Cyclone Alfred, which swept into south-east Queensland and northern NSW in March 2025, Mr Kean said it was time to rethink building standards.
"Climate change is creating the conditions for extreme storms much further south than in the past, so it makes sense to look at extending cyclone building standards down the coast to reflect today's real risks," Mr Kean said.
"Parts of coastal Queensland and [Western Australia] not now covered by cyclone construction standards may need to be, and soon."
Existing codes only required buildings north of Bundaberg - some 350 kilometres beyond Brisbane - to be able to withstand cyclonic winds, the Home safe: national leadership in adapting to a changing climate report pointed out.
Mr Kean said it was also time to rethink where homes were being built in the first place.
"As flood hazards change, we need to adapt our thinking about where to build new homes and suburbs," he said.
Insurance was "costing households too much" as premiums rose in line with growing risk.
The record-breaking May floods across the NSW mid-north coast and Hunter regions claimed the lives of five people, inundated hundreds of homes and stranded tens of thousands of people.
Extreme weather events had already cost the Australian economy $2.2 billion in the first half of 2025, the Climate Change Authority report, due to be released on June 19, found.
By the end of the decade climate change was expected to wipe more than $500 billion off the property market.
The report also found extreme weather events led to poorer physical and mental health, as well as substandard living conditions.
Building codes developed half a century ago to protect homes from cyclones should be extended "much further south" to reflect increasing extreme weather events, Climate Change Authority chair Matt Kean says.
In a new report on how climate affects Australian homes, the authority recommended changing the national construction code - which sets minimum building standards - to ensure properties can better withstand wind, floods, bushfires, coastal inundation, and heatwaves.
In the wake of Cyclone Alfred, which swept into south-east Queensland and northern NSW in March 2025, Mr Kean said it was time to rethink building standards.
"Climate change is creating the conditions for extreme storms much further south than in the past, so it makes sense to look at extending cyclone building standards down the coast to reflect today's real risks," Mr Kean said.
"Parts of coastal Queensland and [Western Australia] not now covered by cyclone construction standards may need to be, and soon."
Existing codes only required buildings north of Bundaberg - some 350 kilometres beyond Brisbane - to be able to withstand cyclonic winds, the Home safe: national leadership in adapting to a changing climate report pointed out.
Mr Kean said it was also time to rethink where homes were being built in the first place.
"As flood hazards change, we need to adapt our thinking about where to build new homes and suburbs," he said.
Insurance was "costing households too much" as premiums rose in line with growing risk.
The record-breaking May floods across the NSW mid-north coast and Hunter regions claimed the lives of five people, inundated hundreds of homes and stranded tens of thousands of people.
Extreme weather events had already cost the Australian economy $2.2 billion in the first half of 2025, the Climate Change Authority report, due to be released on June 19, found.
By the end of the decade climate change was expected to wipe more than $500 billion off the property market.
The report also found extreme weather events led to poorer physical and mental health, as well as substandard living conditions.
Building codes developed half a century ago to protect homes from cyclones should be extended "much further south" to reflect increasing extreme weather events, Climate Change Authority chair Matt Kean says.
In a new report on how climate affects Australian homes, the authority recommended changing the national construction code - which sets minimum building standards - to ensure properties can better withstand wind, floods, bushfires, coastal inundation, and heatwaves.
In the wake of Cyclone Alfred, which swept into south-east Queensland and northern NSW in March 2025, Mr Kean said it was time to rethink building standards.
"Climate change is creating the conditions for extreme storms much further south than in the past, so it makes sense to look at extending cyclone building standards down the coast to reflect today's real risks," Mr Kean said.
"Parts of coastal Queensland and [Western Australia] not now covered by cyclone construction standards may need to be, and soon."
Existing codes only required buildings north of Bundaberg - some 350 kilometres beyond Brisbane - to be able to withstand cyclonic winds, the Home safe: national leadership in adapting to a changing climate report pointed out.
Mr Kean said it was also time to rethink where homes were being built in the first place.
"As flood hazards change, we need to adapt our thinking about where to build new homes and suburbs," he said.
Insurance was "costing households too much" as premiums rose in line with growing risk.
The record-breaking May floods across the NSW mid-north coast and Hunter regions claimed the lives of five people, inundated hundreds of homes and stranded tens of thousands of people.
Extreme weather events had already cost the Australian economy $2.2 billion in the first half of 2025, the Climate Change Authority report, due to be released on June 19, found.
By the end of the decade climate change was expected to wipe more than $500 billion off the property market.
The report also found extreme weather events led to poorer physical and mental health, as well as substandard living conditions.