Rising sea levels are a more urgent threat to buildings, roads and railways in the Hunter than to most of the state, the federal government has projected.
More than 500 commercial structures in the Hunter are in danger of being wiped out, according to the Climate Change Risks to Coastal Settlements and Industry report.
Government modelling suggests most of Newcastle's affected commercial buildings would be concentrated around Carrington and Wickham.
But assets in Stockton, Kooragang, Marks Point and Swansea are also flagged as being at risk.
Newcastle, one of the world's major coal ports, also faces the greatest risk to its coastal rail infrastructure from rising sea levels caused by climate change.
The report identifies between 49 and 56 kilometres of rail line that would be exposed to a worst-case sea level rise of 1.1 metres by 2100.
And about 535 kilometres of Hunter roads, including 345 kilometres in Port Stephens alone, would be at risk.
Further north, up to 600 kilometres of road in the combined Great Lakes and Greater Taree council areas could deteriorate beyond use.
The report updates an earlier assessment of residential properties that found up to 68,000 houses in NSW would be at risk.
It is the first examination of commercial property, such as shopping centres and office buildings. Climate Change Minister and Charlton MP Greg Combet said the risks had been calculated as the combined impact of inundation and erosion.
He called on the state government and local councils to take note of the projected damage if climate change was not addressed.
"Governments at all levels need to be aware of the potential future costs of climate change, particularly as it affects the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, which now cost about $1 billion a year," Mr Combet said.
Geoscience Australia provided the analysis for the report and found more than $226 billion of the nation's coastal assets would be at risk during the course of the century.
Mr Combet said the findings were further evidence of the need for a carbon price.
"The science tells us we can avoid the worst of these potential impacts if we reduce our carbon pollution. That is why the government is committed to putting a price on carbon," he said.
Measures to address the report's scenarios would vary in different locations, Mr Combet said, but could include changes to planning regimes and building codes in urban environments.
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