Council wins Excellence in Environment award

Penrith City Council has won the Climate Change Adaptation Award for its Cooling the City Masterclass held in February 2020.

The Climate Change Adaptation Award, part of Local Government NSW Excellence in Environment Awards, recognises outstanding initiatives undertaken to address climate change risks and vulnerabilities.

The sold out Cooling the City Masterclass was attended by over 350 built environment professionals from across NSW, Victoria and the ACT. The event featured international, national and regional experts who explored practical solutions to the challenge of urban heat in the context of our changing climate.

Penrith Mayor and Sustainability Champion Karen McKeown OAM was thrilled with the news of the award. “Penrith City Council is a leader in sustainability and innovation, these awards further recognise our efforts in those areas as we continue to deliver outcomes for our community in sustainability and the urban environment,” Cr McKeown said.

“Council formally identified heat as a key climate risk through a climate change risk assessment process that led to the adoption of the Cooling the City Strategy in 2015. The strategy seeks to ensure that cooler, healthier, and more liveable urban spaces are a priority.”

Since adopting the Strategy, Council has undertaken actions within its own operations to create a cooler and more liveable city but was keen to do more about the contribution of new developments to urban heat.

“The Masterclass was successful in addressing a strategic priority for the region and it brought together the right stakeholders to help achieve the vision for Penrith and Western Sydney,” Cr McKeown said.

“The Masterclass provided the impetus for Councillors and Council staff to review the Cooling the City Strategy and undertake other actions including the preparation of a Green Grid Strategy and planning reforms in line with the Local Strategic Planning Statement.”

Drawing on the latest research, presenters put forward practical case studies, leading planning approaches directing the state and the business case for action across all sectors. Council has ensured ongoing leverage from the Masterclass through the online promotion of the presentations and new partnerships for ‘on-ground’ action.

The Cooling the City Masterclass presentations are available on Penrith City Council's YouTube channel. The online presentations have already more than doubled that of the in-person event in a few short months.

To view the presentations from Council’s award-winning initiative, visit Penrith City Council’s YouTube channel.

Image: Dr Josh Byrne speaking at Council’s award-winning Cooling the City Masterclass in February 2020.