Coffs Harbour tops autumn weather insurance claims after hail pelts the regional NSW city

A major insurer has named a booming regional NSW city as the worst in the country for storm damage claims. Here’s how the damage compares to metro areas.

Coffs Harbour’s autumn weather has officially made it the regional Australian city with the wildest storm damage.

Research from an insurance company reveals hail in Coffs this autumn resulted in the regional city topping the nation for the number of insurance claims.

The NRMA’s online Wild Weather Tracker shows Coffs had the highest number of claims of any Australian town or city over the season.

The seaside holiday location was the town hardest hit outside of metropolitan areas.

Luke Gallagher, an NRMA Insurance’s executive general manager, told the Coffs Coast Advocate the results were largely due to a hailstorm on April 18 this year.

“A hailstorm swept through Coffs Harbour with golf ball sized hail observed in some areas,” Mr Gallagher said.

“We received 614 motor and property claims from this event.”

Coffs is no stranger to hail. Residents and emergency services will recall the October 21, 2021 when hail ravaged Sawtell and Toormina just after 2pm. Pictured – Toormina children Amiyah 7, Destiny 4, Harley 6, Melikah 6, Hunter 5, have some fun with chunks of hail on Graff Ave. Picture: Frank Redward

While the Coffs Harbour town was the hardest hit town in Australia, it ranked lower against the state’s metropolitan areas.

NRMA named Coffs Harbour and Grafton region as the fifth hardest hit region.

The NRMA data lists Coffs Harbour, North Boambee Valley, Toormina, Boambee and Boambee East as the hardest hit suburbs within the Coffs-Grafton region.

Comparatively the hardest hit metropolitan centres in New South Wales this autumn were the Illawarra, the Central Coast, inner south west Sydney, North Sydney and Hornsby.

Toormina‘s Karen McPhee when hail covered Coffs in 2021. Picture: Frank Redward

Mr Gallagher stressed the importance of taking steps to be prepared for wild weather heading into winter.

“Extreme weather could happen at any time so we’re encouraging individuals and communities to take the steps to build emotional resilience which is just as important as being physically prepared.”

Extreme weather has prompted NRMA and Lifeline Australia to release resources along with the data to help individuals manage mental health and their wellbeing.

“The online resources within Lifeline’s Support Toolkit provide information and tools to help individuals build their mental resilience, from recognising signs of stress and anxiety to the importance of building a strong social support system,” Mr Gallagher said.