Monday, February 10, 2025

Western Sydney councils back Extreme Heat Awareness Day

The Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) is throwing its support behind Australia’s first-ever Extreme Heat Awareness Day, to be held on Wednesday 5 February.

Organised by the Australian Red Cross and climate action body, Sweltering Cities, Extreme Heat Awareness Day aims to raise national awareness about the threat of extreme heat across Australia.

Extreme Heat Awareness Day is timed to coincide with the hottest part of the Australian Summer,” said WSROC President, Blacktown City Council Mayor, Brad Bunting.

Summer temperatures in Western Sydney can reach as high as 50 degrees Celsius.

“Many areas of Western Sydney are experiencing rapid development and this combined with geographic conditions often produce summer temperatures of between 10 to 15 degrees higher than areas closer to the coast,” said President Bunting.

“Extreme temperatures are not only a risk to our health, but can impact services like transport and electricity, and cause energy bills to sky-rocket.

“It’s important to ensure you, your family members and friends are prepared for heat and know how to take action in heat waves,” he said.

WSROC has played a leading role in developing the Greater Sydney Heat Smart City Plan in partnership with Resilient Sydney.

Funded through the Disaster Risk Reduction Fund, supported by the Australian and NSW Governments, the Heat Smart City Plan has been prepared by organisations across health, planning and design, infrastructure, emergency management, community and corporate sectors who recognise the need to act collaboratively, and decisively on Sydney’s heat challenge.

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