An Australia-first taskforce including leaders across health, environment, urban planning, business, government and the community sector, has launched a five-year, multi-sector plan to protect Sydney from Australia’s deadliest natural hazard ─ extreme heat.

The Greater Sydney Heat Smart City Plan is a joint initiative of the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) and Resilient Sydney; and is funded through the Disaster Risk Reduction Fund supported by the Australian and New South Wales governments.

The Heat Smart City Plan was launched in Parramatta on Thursday, 5 December 2024 by the Hon. Penny Sharpe, NSW Minister for Climate Change, Minister for Energy, Minister for the Environment, and Minister for Heritage.

Chair of the Greater Sydney Heat Taskforce, Mr Kerry Robinson OAM, said: “Heat has killed more Australians than fire, flood and storms combined, and has far-reaching impacts on community wellbeing, the economy, infrastructure, and the environment.

“It has been estimated that the cost of heatwaves in Western Sydney alone is $1.4 billion per year and growing. These costs impact businesses, households and government services. We can’t afford not to act,” said Mr Robinson.

The Heat Smart City Plan has been prepared by organisations across health, planning and design, infrastructure, emergency management, community and corporate sectors who recognise the need to act collaboratively, and decisively on Sydney’s heat challenge.

The Heat Smart City Plan outlines six key directions and 40 recommendations for building a heat-resilient city. Key directions outlined in the Plan are:

1. Heat Smart Decisions: Improved collaboration, as well as measurement and monitoring of heat risk to improve decision-making for Greater Sydney.
2. Heat Smart Places for People: Homes and buildings are heat-responsive and can keep people safe from heat, while heat mitigation and adaptation are required in state and local planning controls.
3. Heat Smart Economies: The private sector plans for heat, supports risk reduction, minimises the economic impacts of heat, and seeks commercial opportunities in adaptation.
4. Heat Smart Infrastructure: Interconnected, resilient infrastructure enables communities to survive and thrive.
5. Heatwave Ready: Clear governance arrangements, funding and guidance support effective heatwave management, and empower communities to build resilience, reduce risks and manage emergencies.
6. Heat Smart Research: Researchers and practitioners work collaboratively to deliver heat-resilient solutions.

“This Plan has been a true collaboration. The Greater Sydney Heat Taskforce engaged with over 40 organisations and 373 individuals during the Plan’s development. Participants were able to put forward their priorities and work with others to understand how these might be actioned. This collaboration is to be commended.

“I look forward to working with all of our Taskforce partners on moving these actions into the implementation phase,” said Mr Robinson.

To download a full copy of the Greater Sydney Heat Smart City Plan, go to the link. 

To download a summary of the plan, go to this link.

Otherwise, email Chris at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 0421 744 728 for a PDF copy.

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Greater Sydney Heat Taskforce members include: 

• Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
• Australian Red Cross
• Blacktown City Council
• Business Western Sydney
• Committee for Sydney
• Endeavour Energy
• Energy and Utility Services Functional Area
• Green Building Council of Australia
• Liverpool City Council
• NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
• NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure
• NSW EPA
• NSW Health
• NSW Police (SEOCON)
• NSW Reconstruction Authority
• Property Council of Australia
• Resilient Sydney
• Sweltering Cities
• Swiss Re
• Sydney Water
• Transport for NSW
• Western Sydney Community Forum
• Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils

Expert reference panel

• University of New South Wales, Dr. Patrick Harris
• University of New South Wales, Prof. Mat Santamouris
• University of Sydney, Prof. Ollie Jay
• University of Sydney, Prof. David Schlosberg
• Western Sydney University, Prof. Nicky Morrison
• Western Sydney University, Prof. Sebastian Pfautsch