Blacktown City Council has welcomed the release of Australia’s first National Climate Risk Assessment, which highlights Western Sydney, and Blacktown as being at heightened risk from extreme heat and its health impacts.
The national report confirms that no community is immune from climate change, with Western Sydney already experiencing some of the highest summer temperatures in the country. It finds that heat-related illness and deaths are projected to increase significantly unless communities adapt.
Blacktown City Mayor and President of the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils, Brad Bunting said the findings reflect the experience and research by Council.
“Blacktown is on the frontline of extreme heat, and the national report shows how serious the risks are for our community,” Mayor Bunting said.
“We are tackling the issue on many fronts. Council is planting thousands of trees, providing cool centres for vulnerable residents, and working with Western Sydney University, WSROC and other partners to redesign streets and suburbs for a hotter future.”
“I was pleased that this national study made good use of the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils’ ‘Heat Smart Western Sydney’ report.”
Council has put in place a comprehensive approach to urban heat, including:
- Planting more than 12,000 advanced trees over the past four years and distributing around 30,000 trees a year to residents;
- Updating street planting policies so trees can now be established on roads with speed limits of up to 70 km/h, following award-winning research with universities and industry partners.
- Partnering with Western Sydney University to conduct the first city-wide heat monitoring study, mapping hot and cool zones to guide targeted interventions.
- Working with the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) on the Heat Smart Western Sydney plan, developed in 2021, which provides practical tools to help councils and communities prepare for and respond to heatwaves.
- Providing Cool Centres in libraries and community facilities during extreme heat events, giving residents a safe refuge when temperatures soar.
- Running “Beat the Heat” campaigns to help the community keep homes cooler and protect their health.
- Advocating for state planning reforms that allow for more street tree canopy and better design standards in new housing estates.
Mayor Bunting said Blacktown was determined to be a leader in preparing for a hotter future.
“Urban heat is not just an environmental challenge. It affects health, liveability and how we plan our city. That is why we are committed to creating greener, cooler neighbourhoods so our residents can be safer and healthier in the years ahead,” he said.
