Penrith takes the lead in tackling urban heat

Penrith City Council is developing a Green Grid Strategy that will establish new standards for mitigating the effects of urban heat.

The strategic plan will propose a network of high-quality green spaces for the city and will outline retrofit solutions for older suburban areas as well as those undergoing urban renewal.

Council received the $400,000 grant funding under the NSW Government’s Metropolitan Greenspace Program, which is administered by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.

Penrith Mayor, Ross Fowler OAM announced the initiative at the Council’s Cooling the City Masterclass held on the 18^th February. The event drew together over 300 professionals from the built environment to explore smart solutions for a more liveable city.

Australian and international experts in sustainability, planning, and research presented case studies to the attendees which highlighted the initiatives already implemented elsewhere and forecast the future of the built environment sector.

In his opening remarks to the 300-plus attendees, Cr Fowler highlighted the heat challenges Penrith is facing and urged the audience to “start a conversation on what practical steps we can take now to build a better future for Sydney.”

In her keynote speech, Dr Diane Pataki, Associate Vice President for Research at the University of Utah, gave participants an insight into the challenges and opportunities that present themselves when designing in a hotter, drier world. Dr Pataki discussed the redesign of the University of Utah’s commercial research park in Salt Lake City. Amidst the hot dry climate, they were able to test new ecological design solutions and she challenged the audience to do the same here in Sydney.

The event also included an exhibition showcase which gave attendees the opportunity to connect with companies who are at the forefront of innovation and research in urban design, heat mitigation and adaptation. Among the exhibitors were the CSIRO, who highlighted the potential for integrated and sustainable communities via Sydney Science Park Urban Living Lab, Sky Monkey who demonstrated their aerial thermal scanning technology, and Penrith City Council’s own Sustainability team.

In the final session of the day it became clear there was overwhelming support and interest from a broad range of industry sectors on the need to act on the issue of urban heat. In addition, the delegates left with a sense of enthusiasm that the knowledge, technology and skills are already present to start creating change.

Read more on the funding announcement for Penrith’s Green Grid Strategy.

Image: Penrith’s Cooling the City Masterclass heard from industry experts such as Dr Josh Byrne (right).