CREATIVE DIRECTOR

SUB EDITOR

SENIOR JOURNALIST

JOURNALIST

JOURNALIST

FREELANCE WRITER

SPORTS WRITER

SOCIAL MEDIA

PHOTOGRAPHY

ADVERTISING SALES

Natalie Reed 0411 030 474 Natwest Creative Designs www. natwestcreativedesigns. com. au

production @ hdinews. com. au

Lorraine Clifford 0488 025 533 lorraine @ hdinews. com. au

Greg Martin 0420 655 524 greg @ hdinews. com. au

John Macdonald john @ hdinews. com. au

Maryann Callaghan 0427 442 452 maryann @ hdinews. com. au

Lorna Gordon 0402 596 244 lorna @ hdinews. com. au

Matt Austin 0425 304 006 duckman @ hdinews. com. au

Haley De Martin 0408 634 583 haley @ hdinews. com. au

Kathryn Johnston 0422 404 366 kath @ hdinews. com. au

Myee Lallyette 0413 305 578 myee @ hdinews. com. au

David Burnet 0412 448 883 david @ hdinews. com. au

Disclaimer: The comments of columnists and contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of the Independent magazine group. The Independent nor any person acting on their behalf, may be held responsible for the use to which the information contained in this publication may be put, or for any errors which, despite careful preparation and checking, may appear.

Blacktown City Council has welcomed the release of Australia’ s first National Climate Risk Assessment, which identifies Western Sydney and Blacktown in particular as being at heightened risk from extreme heat and its health impacts. The national report confirms that no community is immune from climate change, with Western Sydney already experiencing some of the highest summer temperatures in the country. It warns that heat-related illness and deaths will increase significantly unless communities adapt. On the frontline of extreme heat Blacktown City Mayor and President of the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils( WSROC), Brad Bunting, said the findings echo what Council’ s own research has long shown.

“ Blacktown is on the frontline of extreme heat, and the national report shows how serious the risks are for our community,” Mayor Bunting said.

“ We are tackling the issue on many fronts planting thousands of trees, providing cool centres for vulnerable residents, and working with Western Sydney University, WSROC and other partners to redesign streets and suburbs for a hotter future.”

The mayor also noted that the study had drawn on WSROC’ s landmark Heat Smart Western Sydney report, first released in 2021.

Blacktown City Council has adopted a comprehensive approach to urban heat, including:

- Planting more than 12,000 advanced trees in the past four years and distributing around 30,000 trees annually to residents.

- Updating street planting policies so trees can be established on roads with speed limits of up to 70 km / h, based on award-winning research with universities and industry partners.

- Partnering with Western Sydney University on the first city-wide heat monitoring study, mapping hot and cool zones to target interventions.

- Collaborating with WSROC on the Heat Smart Western Sydney plan, which provides practical tools for councils and communities to prepare for heatwaves.

- Offering Cool Centres in libraries and community

facilities during extreme heat events, giving residents safe refuges when temperatures soar.

- Running community“ Beat the Heat” campaigns to help residents keep their homes cooler and protect their health.

- Advocating for state planning reforms to increase tree canopy coverage and improve design standards in new housing estates. Building a cooler, greener future Mayor Bunting said Blacktown is determined to lead the way in adapting to climate change:

“ Urban heat is not just an environmental challenge it affects health, liveability, and how we plan our city. That is why we are committed to creating greener, cooler neighbourhoods so our residents can be safer and healthier in the years ahead.”