CBCity is calling on all ‘citizen scientists’ to get involved in a research project investigating urban heat issues.
The project, sponsored by the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, and developed in collaboration with Council, University of NSW and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, aims to measure heat across Canterbury-Bankstown.
Mayor Khal Asfour invited residents to attend an event at Gough Whitlam Reserve, Earlwood, on Saturday 30 March, from 9am-noon.
"Locals will help collect information on how parks and streets are affected by heat," he said.
"The focus is often on the global impact of climate change but we need to understand what is happening at a local level, in our own City, if we are going to change it.
"January this year was the hottest January on record in Australia. By attending our event, we hope the local community will have a better understanding on what urban heat is and how to mitigate and adapt to its effects."
Council has previously taken many steps to reduce heat across the City, including:
Partnering with the Southern Sydney Region of Councils’ (SSROC) Connected Corridors Project, which implemented and delivered green corridors across the City;Collaborating with Western Sydney Region of Councils’ (WSROC) Turn Down the Heat initiative, which investigated the various strategies to prevent and alleviate heat in the region;Maintaining waterways through projects, such as the restoration of Waterworth Park, which saw the planting of 9,200 plants and seedlings;Free plant giveaways for residents (more than 10,000 plants and shrubs in 2018); andOrganising community tree planting days (more than 2,000 plants were planted on National Tree Day).For more information on the urban heat project, or to be involved, call 9707 9000, or visit citizenscienceproject.org.au