On December 5 2018 the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) launched its plan for dealing with increasing summer temperatures. Members of WSROC include the following local government areas - Parramatta, Fairfield, Blacktown, Penrith, Hawkesbury, Blue Mountains and Lithgow.
The first part of WSROC's media release is printed below.
With
another scorching summer on the way, the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of
Councils (WSROC) has released its plan for cooler, more resilient communities.
Developed
in partnership with 55 stakeholder organisations, the Turn Down the Heat
Strategy and Action Plan is the first comprehensive, multi-sector
approach to tackling heat in Western Sydney.
WSROC
President Cr Barry Calvert said “Heat is arguably the greatest natural threat
to the Western Sydney community- yet we do not take heat as seriously as we
do bushfires, floods or storms.
“During a
heatwave hospitalisations surge, power bills skyrocket, infrastructure breaks
down, and traffic worsens. These impacts are magnified in Western Sydney, where
temperatures can be 10 degrees hotter than the city’s East.
“These
impacts are especially felt by our vulnerable communities who may not be able
to afford air-conditioning, have limited transport access to seek relief, or
have existing medical conditions which are aggravated by heat,” he said.
“The
impacts of heat are expected to worsen over the next decade as Western Sydney
develops and becomes more densely populated. Without action, 50-degree
days could become a regular occurrence in Western Sydney,” said Cr Calvert.
“The good
news is there are many things we can do to mitigate and build resilience to
heat. Turn Down the Heat identifies five key areas which are crucial for
tackling heat. These include:
- Take action, together
- Cool with greenspace and water
- Design and plan to cool the built environment
- Innovative and responsive infrastructure
- Build a community that is healthy and prepared
While
there is already some great work being done to address heat, action remains
fragmented.
“A key
objective of this Strategy is to bring people together for a coordinated
approach to mitigating, planning and responding to heat events,” said Cr
Calvert.
“The
Strategy also seeks to facilitate cooler communities by integrating three key
pillars of cool urban design: material choice, greenspace and water. When used
together, these mitigations can lower temperatures, cut power bills and reduce
pressure on our energy grid,” he said.
“Even so,
we will still have hot weather. Infrastructure must be designed to cope with
fluctuations in temperature and demand so that water, energy and public
transport are available when people need them most,” said Cr Calvert.
“Community
education and preparedness is also critical. We must ensure people have the
knowledge and resources to manage heat at the local level. This may include
making small home modifications, knowing how to look after themselves and
others during hot weather,” he said.
