General News
5 June, 2026
Climate change impact expected to worsen
Recent report finds over $150 million of infrastructure at risk of climate change's impact locally.
Over $150 million of infrastructure in the Central Goldfields region is under threat from climate change according to a recent report.
Road and rail infrastructure is most at risk locally from extreme weather predicted to become more frequent, more severe and less predictable by 2030.
The report published by Infrastructure Victoria is understood to be the largest analysis of climate change risks to Victoria’s infrastructure to date.
The report analysed $318 billion of infrastructure assets against seven climate change hazards: bushfires, drought, floods, land-slides, damaging wind, coastal inundation and extreme heat.
They estimated over $57 billion of existing government owned or regulated infrastructure would be at risk of damage or destruction from extreme weather events by 2030.
This increased to $71 billion by 2070 in a high emission scenario.
Infrastructure Victoria CEO Dr Jonathan Spear said their research highlights which assets are most exposed, where risk is concentrated, and the need for action from State Government.
“Following a summer that saw bushfires, flooding and landslides hit many Victorian communities, we know extreme weather is a reality now,” he said.
“As the government maintains existing infrastructure and builds new infrastructure, our research shows where it needs to focus its efforts so that infrastructure can better cope with our current and future climate.”
Bushfires, predicted to be the most damaging hazard, are worst in the north-west of Victoria in 2030 with the impact extending south by 2070 — including areas of the Central Goldfields region.
The severity of droughts is also expected to increase across much of the state between 2030 and 2070.
The Central Goldfields region will likely be affected for longer which can crack road pavement, building foundations, and damage rail track foundations.
The report found higher global temperatures would mean more frequent, longer, and more severe heatwaves.
Between 2030 and 2070, extreme heat is likely to move further south, meaning some areas could see between 10 and 20 percent of days in a year have a maximum temperature above 35°C.
Together this means between $150 and $500 million of infrastructure are predicted to be at risk of damage in the Central Goldfields region by 2030.
Extreme weather cost the state’s economy $2.7 billion on average each year for the 10 years prior to 2016.
According to the report, this has only got worse since with the 2022 floods costing $1.8 billion in immediate relief funding and another $1.7 billion for flood recovery.
Dr Spear said the State Government needs to better prepare infrastructure for climate change.
The report recommends government update and fund their plans to adapt infrastructure to be more resilient.
“Funding high-priority, cost-effective infrastructure adaptation actions can save millions in recovery costs and lost productivity,” Dr Spear said.
Infrastructure Victoria’s research showed new roads in high-risk locations, when made using technology like foamed bitumen stabilisations, returns nearly $3 for every $1 spent and improves their resilience to floods.
“The government is already adopting some effective adaptation measures. But more needs to be done, across every sector.”