By impact: Heat Resilience

enliven’s Multicultural Heat Heroes

enliven is working with 5 multicultural community ambassadors to build climate resilience among priority language groups across Cardinia Shire, City of Casey, and City of Greater Dandenong. These Multicultural Heat Heroes have been working with enliven to co-design and deliver heat health messaging across a spectrum of culturally appropriate formats and forums. The project aims…
Pop-up to cool down the vulnerable in Melbourne’s deadly heat

The City of Melbourne and community health organisation cohealth teamed up to create a temporary cooling relief centre at 227-229 Bourke St where vulnerable Melburnians can access a cool place on 35 degree days. The hub also had healthcare workers including registered nurses to provide support to visitors, on some days. Read more about it…
Hotspots Kensington – a report on the living conditions of Government High-Rise Towers housing residents aged 55 years and older, during Melbourne’s Summer Heat

The three public housing towers located at 29 Crown Street, Flemington; 530 Lygon Street, Carlton; and 94 Ormond Street, Kensington provide essential accommodation for people aged 55 years and over, who are among the most vulnerable and marginalised communities. During Melbourne’s summer season (December-March), residents of these housing towers face various dangers associated with heat-related…
Hotspots Flemington – a report on the living conditions of Government High-Rise Towers housing residents aged 55 years and older, during Melbourne’s Summer Heat

The three public housing towers located at 29 Crown Street, Flemington; 530 Lygon Street, Carlton; and 94 Ormond Street, Kensington provide essential accommodation for people aged 55 years and over, who are among the most vulnerable and marginalised communities. During Melbourne’s summer season (December-March), residents of these housing towers face various dangers associated with heat-related…
Hotspots Carlton – a report on the living conditions of Government High-Rise Towers housing residents aged 55 years and older, during Melbourne’s Summer Heat

The three public housing towers located at 29 Crown Street, Flemington; 530 Lygon Street, Carlton; and 94 Ormond Street, Kensington provide essential accommodation for people aged 55 years and over, who are among the most vulnerable and marginalised communities. During Melbourne’s summer season (December-March), residents of these housing towers face various dangers associated with heat-related…
Heat, Fire and Flood Forum

The Heat, Fire and Flood forum was organised by the Port Phillip Emergency Climate Action Network (PECAN) and Bayside Climate Crisis Action Group (BCCAG) in February 2020. PECAN, as a network, comprises a number of community groups, all concerned about real action on climate change. Check out the recording here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVe6DTJdtm0
Moonee Valley Sustainability’s Cool Safe Space

Logan Shield from Moonee Valley Sustainability came along to Act on Climate’s 6th Frontline Climate Alliance call to tell us about about its Cool Safe Space project. The project is a way of keeping people safe and healthy as the temperature rises. Using a staged approach, a community space is being turned into a cool…
Making sport safe in a changing climate: A guide for grassroots sport – Environmental Defenders Office

In recent years, extreme weather events have caused major interruptions and had serious health consequences at both elite and grassroots levels of sport.Grassroots sports is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change because local clubs and associations have limited resources to help them adapt. The Environmental Defenders Office has created a guide to help…
Heatwaves resource – City of Darebin

This site provides information from the Darebin City Council on how to keep cool in heatwaves, how to take care of pets during hot weather, and enhancing community preparedness in the event of a power outage. Check it out here:https://www.darebin.vic.gov.au/Community-and-pets/Community-health-and-wellbeing/Heatwaves
Geelong Sustainability Climate Safe Rooms

The Climate Safe Rooms program provides free upgrades to selected, eligible households to improve your home’s comfort and your health during both summer and winter weather extremes, without increasing your energy bills.Following the success of the pilot program from 2019 to 2021, Geelong Sustainability has now launched the full-scale program. The Climate Safe Rooms program aims…
Cooling the City Masterclass – Penrith City Council

Around 350 built environment professionals joined together to be equally inspired and challenged by leading experts as they worked together to create a cooler and more liveable city. This site links to the Masterclass programs, all the presentations, event highlights, and even audience contributions. Check out all the resources here:https://www.penrithcity.nsw.gov.au/waste-environment/resilient-penrith/cooling-the-city-masterclass
Table Talks Project: Heat and Hazards in Far North Queensland

The Table Talks Project invites locals to share their stories and experiences of Far North Queensland’s climate extremes – from floods to heatwaves, and the ways our lives are impacted by these events. The stories from the 2023 Barron River floods have now been compiled into a community report to support advocacy for solutions. Check…
Pigeonpea in the mix as search begins for more heat tolerant crops

This article details research that has begun with the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and ANU into the development of heat-tolerant crop genetics, and identifying what it is that makes crops able to survive, grow and continue to produce under high-temperature conditions. Pigeonpea is a potential crop that may be added to the mix…
WACOSS Heat Vulnerability Project

The Heat Vulnerability Project is working in collaboration with the Department of Communities and the Department of Health to better understand and address high heat across Western Australia. The National Disaster Risk Reduction (NDRR) funded Heat Vulnerability Project will map high heat risk regions against heat-vulnerable populations across WA. This project works closely with local…
US – Climate Resilience Project – Urban Cooling

A toolkit of design, planning, and community care strategies designed to ameliorate the effects of the urban heat island effect and keep city residents cool and safe through extreme heat events. This site collates US based initiatives helping create urban cooling, so users can navigate the diversity of initiatives seeking to help neighbourhoods better withstand…
GUIDE: Heat action plans – Scaling up India’s ambition to protect the climate-vulnerable

This CDKN Guide presents the story of how an action research initiative in a single city in India has evolved into contagious policy action in 17 cities and 11 states, with interest from national leadership. By starting small and learning by doing, heat-wave planning and response has become increasingly ambitious in Ahmedabad, the capital of…
Sweltering Cities – Greater Melbourne Heat Alliance comes together for heatwave adaptation and transformation priorities

This video and report details an event held by The Greater Melbourne Heat Alliance, where community organisations and leaders came together with a few objectives in mind: meet people outside their usual networks and make connections that would better prepare them for cooperation and communication, take a deep dive into how risk and vulnerability are…
Heat Action Plans and Case Studies

The Global Heat Health Information Network provides a directory of all the Heat Action Plans and related case studies in existence, from Australia, to the Pacific, to Europe! Check out the wealth of knowledge available here:https://ghhin.org/heat-action-plans-and-case-studies/
Campbelltown Cool Spaces for Summer 2023/2024 Trial

Campbelltown City Council trialled trialled The ARC Campbelltown and Campbelltown Public Library as Cool Spaces during summer of 2023/24, and it was a success! Check out the full presentation here:https://www.climateemergencyaustralia.org.au/uploads/1/4/5/0/145015538/day_2_-_adaptation_in_action.pdf
Adapting the Nowra CBD for cooling and amenity

With support through a Building Resilience to Climate Change grant, Shoalhaven City Council was able to ensure that a planned urban revitalisation project captured adaptive responses, through the inclusion of a large scale public evaporative cooling structure. The brief required the design of an aesthetically pleasing sculpture that would also encourage fun and play, whilst…
Western Sydney modular smart shelter for buses

A modular bus shelter with design features such as shade panels, self-watering gardens, adjustable seats and recycling bins has won a public design competition seeking “smart” shelters that better cope with urban heat from climate change. Check out the design here:https://www.australiandesignreview.com/designwall/climate-adapted-people-shelter/
Dubbo urban heat island amelioration project

An urban heat amelioration project in Dubbo, NSW, that intended to reduce Bultje Street’s LST during heatwaves: from 58C hard surfaces including buildings, roofs and asphalt to 38C under and near tree canopies. Tree pits also intended to provide a stormwater function by reducing water quantity and pollutant loads discharging to the Macquarie River, and…
Bega Valley Shire Council Cool Spaces

Communities of the Bega Valley rural villages of Bemboka, Quaama and Wyndham are identified as vulnerable to extreme heat events due to the age of residents, distance to health providers, and design of community infrastructure. Council has been awarded a grant through the NSW Government’s ‘Increasing Resilience to Climate Change’ (IRCC) program to develop solutions…
Cool Streets© Blacktown, NSW – Pilot Project

The pilot project is a community – led implementation project developed by Gallagher Studio in collaboration with CRED Consulting, supported by Blacktown City Council. The project, undertaken in late 2015 and early 2016 was designed to empower residents to take the lead in deciding on the layout and type of trees on their street, with…
Cool Suburbs Assessment

A practical, science-backed tool to help industry and governments make informed decisions to manage heat impacts through urban design. Mainly used in NSW, this tool can be applied to projects, and expert analysis will be deployed to assess how well projects or suburbs do in regards to cooling and dealing with extreme heat. Projects receive…
Bendigo Health – Cool Spaces

This report endorses the establishment of more Cool Spaces in and around the Bendigo area. It provides an explainer on why they are important, where they could be located, what the key components of one are, and a case study of Foster, Mirboo North and Poowong library, who offer 24-hour access to facilities for approved…
Coolseal treatment surfaces at tram stops

Tram platforms have been painted light grey, reducing the reflecting sun and reflected temperatures by 5-15 degrees! This is just like “sunscreen for our footpaths”, and is part of a move to use a type of coolseal treatment for paths, underway already in NSW. Check it out here: https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/how-australian-open-s-sunscreen-for-footpaths-can-cool-your-commute-20240123-p5ezch.html
Growing Green Guide – City of Melbourne

The Growing Green Guide is the first comprehensive guide to green roofs, walls and facades in Australia. It explains how to create and maintain successful green roofs, walls and facades. The guide also contains case studies and technical information about design, planning, construction, installation and maintenance. The guide is for use by homeowners, developers, governments…
Greening the Pipeline

The Greening the Pipeline initiative is transforming the Main Outfall Sewer reserve along the Federation Trail in Melbourne’s west into a greener, cooler linear parkland and a more enjoyable community space. Wyndham City Council is leading the delivery of the project in partnership with Melbourne Water, Greater Western Water, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate…
Galada Tamboore, Campbellfield

Melbourne Water worked with Merri Creek Management Committee and Hume City Council to design a project that will enhance amenity and public use of the shared path through Galada Tamboore, while protecting remnant grassland vegetation and biodiversity values within the reserve. The project will create tree canopy over a 1.2 km stretch of the Merri…
Maribyrnong River – Melbourne Water project

In partnership with Maribyrnong City Council, Melbourne Water planted 250 native trees (mix of eucalyptus species) at: That’s six hectares more shade trees for greening and cooling the Lower Maribyrnong that are now growing well. Check it out here:https://www.melbournewater.com.au/water-and-environment/climate-change/urban-cooling
Edithvale Wetlands, Edithvale

Melbourne Water worked with the Friends of Edithvale-Seaford Wetland to select plant species and planting locations to create shade for walkers and joggers, enhance biodiversity and retain lines of sight across the area. As part of this project, supported by Kingston City Council, they planted: Check it out here:https://www.melbournewater.com.au/water-and-environment/climate-change/urban-cooling
Jacana Wetlands, Gladstone Park

With support from Hume City Council, Melbourne Water collaborated with the Friends of Moonee Ponds Creek to enhance natural biodiversity of parklands and a major bicycle commuter route along a key waterway. In mid-2018 they planted: 170 native Red Gum trees to create shade for walkers and joggers12,500 native shrubs to create understory garden beds…
Melbourne Water – Urban cooling

Melbourne Water has been working to offset hotter and more frequent heatwaves caused by the urban heat island effect by shading, cooling and greening Melbourne’s public spaces. As the manager of over 33,000 hectares of land in Greater Melbourne, Melbourne Water is doing their part to make Melbourne cooler and greener. Through their Urban Cooling…
Beyond Zero Emissions – Cooling your home: Home retrofits, appliances and adaptions for a hotter future

This resource provided by Beyond Zero Emissions details simple DIY measures that can be done by Australians to improve their homes. Cooling Your Home contains practical advice on home retrofits, appliance choices and cost-effective strategies. Find out how you can create an efficient one-room ‘cool retreat’, update appliances and how to use them strategically, take…
Cumberland City Council – UV Smart Cool Playground

This video features Cumberland City Council, which transformed an existing playground into a UV Smart Cool Playground as a prototype for other playgrounds, and Goulburn Mulwarree Council, which is undertaking a range of adaptations to its showground to make it more comfortable for animals as well as people in times of extreme heat. Check it…
Sweltering Cities – Inquiry into Climate Resilience submission

This submission from Sweltering Cities to the Victorian Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee is for the Inquiry into Climate Resilience. It illuminates the work done by The Greater Melbourne Heat Alliance (GMHA), aiming to improve heatwave resilience in Greater Melbourne, and highlighting the ways extreme heat as a public health crisis is impacting Melburnians,…
Using Community Spaces to Manage Heatwaves – The Royal Society of Victoria

This article provides an overview of work recently delivered by the Western Alliance for Greenhouse Action (WAGA), a partnership of councils in the west of Melbourne, with support from Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) and Yarra Energy Foundation (YEF). The project included selection and assessment of a range of community buildings, views…
HeatWatch

The HeatWatch app provides constantly updated information on heat risks around Australia. Pop in your postcode, and it even personalise your profile with characteristics that make you more susceptible to heat, and the app will tell you what the current heat risk is and provide basic recommendations on how to look after yourself. Check it…
Sweltering Cities – submission to the Victorian Government’s rental crisis inquiry

In 2022, Sweltering Cities was collecting stories from renters across Victoria about what it feels like to live in a hot home. They compiled these stories into a submission to the Victorian Government’s inquiry into the rental and housing affordability crisis. These powerful stories paint a stark picture of the struggles that renters are facing…
Sweltering Cities

Sweltering Cities is Australia’s only national advocacy organisation working specifically on issues related to extreme heat. They are focused on the health and wellbeing of communities by advocating for better, climate-safe cities. Sweltering Cities was founded in 2020, inspired by the extreme heat and over development in Western Sydney, and the lack of representation of…
Climate Change and Heat Mitigation in Southern Australian Cities – Monash University

This PowerPoint details different methods of dealing with climate change and heat mitigation in southern Australian cities, including vulnerability mapping, solutions and case studies! Check it out here:https://pecan.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/NigelTapper-PECAN.pdf
City of Yarra Council Heatwave Planning Checklist

This resource is designed to support neighbourhood houses and other community service organisations to identify ways to support staff, volunteers and community members to stay safe during extreme heat. It should be tailored to suit the specific context of your organisation, considering the community you support and organisational capacity.The Heatwave Planning Checklist should be completed…
Yarra Libraries Cool Sanctuary – Bargoonga Nganjin

During summer, Yarra Libraries sometimes open for extended hours to provide residents and visitors with cool sanctuary during heatwaves. Bargoonga Nganjin, Carlton, Fitzroy and Richmond libraries open during these times. Tune in to Yarra Libraries socials during summer for updates:https://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/our-libraries
Yarra Libraries Cool Sanctuary – Carlton

During summer, Yarra Libraries sometimes open for extended hours to provide residents and visitors with cool sanctuary during heatwaves. Bargoonga Nganjin, Carlton, Fitzroy and Richmond libraries open during these times. Tune in to Yarra Libraries socials during summer for updates:https://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/our-libraries
Yarra Libraries Cool Sanctuary – Fitzroy

During summer, Yarra Libraries sometimes open for extended hours to provide residents and visitors with cool sanctuary during heatwaves. Bargoonga Nganjin, Carlton, Fitzroy and Richmond libraries open during these times. Tune in to Yarra Libraries socials during summer for updates:https://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/our-libraries
Yarra Libraries Cool Sanctuary – Richmond

During summer, Yarra Libraries sometimes open for extended hours to provide residents and visitors with cool sanctuary during heatwaves. Bargoonga Nganjin, Carlton, Fitzroy and Richmond libraries open during these times. Tune in to Yarra Libraries socials during summer for updates:https://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/our-libraries
City of Melbourne HeatLab Evaluation Report

This report evaluated the innovation sandbox project addressing heat vulnerability and risk in urban neighbourhoods by the City of Melbourne known as ‘HeatLab’. FirstPerson Consulting has developed this particular evaluation, helping to understand HeatLab’s effectiveness, lessons for delivery, and which interventions have impact and which should be rolled and scaled into future summers. Check out…
City of Darebin – Keeping Cool

City of Darebin provides a ‘keep cool tips and resources’ guide on its community site, linking community members to guides, resources, a ‘Keep Cool in Darebin map’, and contacts to help lower energy bills. Find out more here:https://www.darebin.vic.gov.au/Community-and-pets/Community-health-and-wellbeing/Heatwaves/Guide-to-keeping-cool