This guide has been prepared to support local government in Greater Sydney develop their heatwave management practices.

Local councils are exposed to heatwave risks in their operations, with staff, facilities, events, infrastructure and services at risk of heat-related impacts.

Local communities are also exposed to heatwave risks, and there is a growing expectation that local government will provide facilities and services to help communities cope with heatwaves and adapt to more frequent and severe heat events.

This Guide aims to support local government by providing guidance to build on their strengths, make the case for new initiatives, and develop locally tailored approaches to heatwave management, informed by evidence and best practice examples.

This Guide has been informed by consultation with 175 staff from 30 local councils across Sydney. This included a desktop review of published documents, a survey, and in-depth interviews. Participants included council staff across a wide range of disciplines, as well as others working closely with councils.

The Heatwave Management Guide is organised into seven main topics, reflecting the way that councils are structured and operate:

• Risk assessment
• Strategic planning
• Council operations
• Cool places
• Community resilience
• Communications
• Emergency management 

The Heatwave Management Guide was funded through the joint Australian Government–NSW Government National Partnership Agreement on Disaster Risk Reduction.

Timing: Delivered 2022 – 2024

Partners: Blacktown City Council, City of Sydney, Cumberland City Council, Hawkesbury City Council, Northern Beaches Council, Penrith City Council, NSW Reconstruction Authority.

Note: The first edition of the Heatwave Management Guide was released in November 2024. Subsequent updates include:

- Version 1.1: Updates to Chapter 8: Emergency Management, reflecting Heatwave Emergency Subplan 2024

- Version 1.2: Updates to Heat Vulnerability Index, NSW Department of Planning Housing and Infrastructure, May 2025.