Penrith, Australia

Image by Penrith City Council

Photo by Penrith City Council

Photo by Penrith City Council

Image by Penrith City Council

Photo by Penrith City Council

Photo by Penrith City Council

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Initiative: Cooling the City

City:	Penrith
Country:	Australia
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The Cooling the City program delivered by Penrith City Council is a progressive and strategic approach to climate adaptation. As a region which experiences extreme heat during the summer months and has identified a high proportion of community members that are more vulnerable to heat, it is important for Council to address climate risks and build a cooler, more liveable and resilient city and community.

Guided by the Cooling the City Strategy (2015) and the Resilient Penrith Action Plan (2021), Council’s work covers a broad range of action areas including strategic work, advocacy, practical on ground actions, and community engagement. This comprehensive approach ensures that Council is working to progressively deliver a city that is cooler and more liveable, reducing the health risks to the local community from extreme heat.

Key actions implemented include:

• The delivery of the Cooling the City Masterclass. Attended by 350 built environment professionals, the event fostered motivation and knowledge building around the critical importance of adapting to heat and the need for action.
• Intensive local heat monitoring. 120 heat sensors were installed across the region to monitor air temperatures over a summer period, and the subsequent data identified priority hotspots for actions such as tree planting.
• A broad range of tree planting and shade projects. This includes planting of street trees and planting in parks, reserves and specific locations such as sporting fields to provide shade for spectators. A specific playground project has combined tree planting with the installation of shade sails.
• Key city shaping projects are underway to create a cooler CBD. This includes construction of City Park, a 7,000sqm greenspace in the heart of the city with a range of cooling features. Another city shaping initiative undergoing approvals is the innovative Soper Place project, replacing an open asphalt carpark with a multi-deck carpark providing more parking, draped in green walls and featuring a green roof.
• Key policy and strategic work developed and endorsed in 2021 – Council’s Buildings Policy incorporates cooling the city criteria, the Resilient Penrith Action Plan includes key Cooling the City actions, and the Green Grid Strategy works to identify priority ways to plan green infrastructure, and how to align corridors with other community and natural assets.
• A broad community engagement program includes education around the benefits of trees, hints and tips on how to stay cool and comfortable during heatwaves and showcasing Council’s positive work in cooling the city.
• An urban heat controls package has been developed and is being exhibited as a component of the Local Environment Plan and Development Control Plan amendments. The package includes controls for creating cooling focused outcomes in planning and design.
• Development of the Cooling the City: Planning for Heat Issues Paper and advocacy plan to advocate for improvements to the state-wide planning system to better address urban heat.
• Construction of the Jordan Springs Community Hub, a community facility which features climate adapted design including cool materials, passive solar design, cross flow ventilation, and geothermal heating and cooling.