Greater Sydney Heat Smart City Plan

Greater Sydney Heat Smart City Plan cover

 

The Heat Smart City Plan is a world-leading approach to ensure people living in Greater Sydney can survive and thrive in a warming climate and during extreme heat

 

Extreme heat has killed more Australians than fire, flood and storms combined, with additional impacts for the economy, infrastructure, liveability and the environment. Beyond extreme events, the ongoing pressure of higher average temperatures and urban heat islands is creating chronic stressors for the city; exacerbating issues like cost-of-living and quality-of-life.

 

The Heat Smart City Plan has been developed under the Greater Sydney Heat Taskforce, a multi-sector collaboration of organisations across government, industry and the community sectors.Co-designed by organisations across the health, planning and design, infrastructure, emergency management, community and corporate sectors, the Plan outlines six key directions and 40 recommendations for building a heat-resilient city.

 

 

The Plan’s directions are:

 

  1. Heat Smart Decisions: Collaboration, shared understanding and monitoring of heat risk improve heat risk 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, while communities and organisations are empowered to build resilience, reduce risks and manage emergencies.
  6. Heat Smart Research: Researchers and practitioners work collaboratively to deliver heat-resilient solutions.

 

 

The Greater Sydney Heat Smart City Plan is available in three PDF formats:

1.  Single-Page Layout (PDF)

Best for on-screen reading and smooth scrolling.

2. Double-Page Spread Layout (PDF)

Mirrors the hard-copy printed version, with facing pages displayed side-by-side.

3. Summary Document (PDF) 

A concise overview of the Plan’s key directions and actions.

 

 

The Heat Smart City Plan was developed through engagement with the Greater Sydney Heat Taskforce, an Expert Reference Panel and other organisations and businesses across Greater Sydney.

 

Heat Smart City Plan partners

 

Next steps:

The Heat Smart City Plan is set to be implemented 2025-2030. Taskforce partners will work together to develop a detailed Implementation Plan and evaluation program. Delivery of recommendations will be supported by regular internal and public feedback loops integrated in the Evaluation Plan.

If you would like to get involved in the Plan’s implementation, contact WSROC on 02 9671 4333 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

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.