Funding for Smart Cities to benefit Penrith

Sunday, 25 November 2018

Council, as a member of the Western Sydney Parkland Sensors Network project, will receive a portion of a $700,000 funding grant as part of the Federal Government's Smart Cities and Suburbs Program.

Across the Western Sydney City Deal area eight councils will install sensors that will record a range of activities. The data collected will inform environmental and place management projects across the partner cities of Wollondilly, Penrith, Blue Mountains, Camden, Campbelltown, Fairfield, Hawkesbury and Liverpool. Focused on the effects of heat, Penrith will install sensors to monitor heat and collect data on active travel patterns during extreme heat events.

Ministers for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population, Alan Tudge, announced the funding on 19 November.

"This program helps local governments who are pushing the boundaries with new ideas to address liveability issues that are facing local communities everywhere," Mr Tudge said.

By sharing data across the City Deal area, the depth of the information collected across the cities will provide an important tool for monitoring, planning and responding to environmental events across Penrith and beyond.

Penrith Mayor, Cr Ross Fowler OAM said, "We are excited to receive the news that this funding will be available for such an important project for our community."

Since 2015, Penrith City Council's Cooling the City Strategy has been reducing the impact of heat on our city by introducing measures to reduce the effects of urban heat. This includes tree planting and landscaping enhancements along with vegetation management, park renewal and the redesign of precincts. The installation of these sensors will support strategic planning, delivery and outcomes for years to come.

Information contained within this news release was correct as at Sunday, 25 November 2018.