‘Since 1890, heat and heat waves have killed more Australians than bushfires, cyclones, earthquakes, floods, and severe storms combined,’ said Tweed Shire Mayor, Chris Cherry speaking to the motion put forward by Councillor Dr Nola Firth on addressed urban heat in Tweed Shire at the last Tweed Council meeting (21 September).
This statement was backed up by the councillor notes supporting the motion to ‘acknowledge’ and ‘address’ urban heat impacts that stated:
‘We know urban heat is the biggest killer of the climate-related changes coming our way. Our recent climate change risk assessment has included heat as a major risk with 22 more days over 30 degrees and markedly longer periods of continuous days over 30 by 2030.’
Urban heat will be addressed ‘in the on-going Tweed Development Control Plan (DCP) review with particular reference to incorporating relevant sections of the Western Sydney Organisational Committee Urban Heat Planning Toolkit 2021 regarding heat reduction strategies.’
The tool kit looks at a range of mitigation factors including use of reflective surfaces for building and infrastructure, more tress and tree coverage, wider streets to support this, use of double glazing, water fountains, energy efficiency, building material etc explained Cr Firth.
‘We have shires in Sydney, putting in a 15 per cent vegetation requirement in their DCP,’ she said.
Cr Reece Byrnes supported the motion pointing out that ‘it’s something that every council in this country should be looking at as we as we go through climate change in particular.’
All councillors voted in favour of the motion.
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