WSROC Urban Heat Planning Toolkit

Addressing Urban Heat in Western Sydney: Strategies and Solutions

Cities are often hotter than their surrounding rural areas, a phenomenon known as the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. Western Sydney, in particular, faces significant challenges related to extreme heat due to several factors:

• Geography and Weather Patterns: Sydney’s geography and weather patterns intensify the UHI effect in the west, primarily due to the prevalence of hot westerly winds and the absence of cooling sea breezes.
• Rapid Urbanization: The rapid urbanization of Western Sydney is leading to an increase in hard surfaces, such as concrete and asphalt, coupled with a decrease in vegetation cover.
• Exacerbation of Heat Impacts: These factors have the potential to amplify the UHI effect and worsen local heat-related impacts, posing risks to the health, comfort, and well-being of residents.

Western Sydney’s heat challenge is widely acknowledged, and the region’s planning framework has set priorities to address this issue. The Greater Sydney District Plans (2018) identify three key priorities related to urban heat:

1. Adapting to Climate Change and Hazards: Preparing for and mitigating the impacts of urban and natural hazards, including those exacerbated by climate change.
2. Reducing Carbon Emissions: Promoting efficient management of energy, water, and waste to reduce carbon footprints.
3. Enhancing Urban Greenery: Increasing urban tree canopy cover and strengthening Green Grid connections to improve cooling and biodiversity.

To further combat urban heat, the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) introduced the Turn Down the Heat Strategy in 2018. This strategy emphasizes resilience through land-use planning and design controls. It includes three actionable steps:

1. Developing Heat-Related SEPP: Introducing a State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) specifically addressing urban heat, or modifying the existing BASIX SEPP to incorporate urban heat considerations.
2. Updating Local Planning Instruments: Adding consistent clauses in local Development Control Plans (DCPs) and Local Environment Plans (LEPs) to set urban heat standards.
3. Amending Building Codes: Implementing systematic changes to building codes and specifications to encourage development practices that minimize UHI effects.

By integrating these measures into planning and development processes, Western Sydney can work towards mitigating the UHI effect, fostering more resilient urban communities, and creating a healthier, cooler environment for its residents.

Source:

https://www.lgnsw.org.au/common/Uploaded%20files/Environment/WSROC_urban_heat_planning_toolkit.pdf