RESEARCH   >   COOLING PARRAMATTA CITY

'COOLING PARRAMATTA CITY'
 

Client: Parramatta City Council
Completed: 2014

Gallagher Studio was commissioned in November 2013 to develop a scoping paper that explores opportunities to address Parramatta’s Urban Heat Island (UHI). This project builds on urban thermal imagery already undertaken by Parramatta Council in 2013. The project scope was to:

• Clearly identify if climate resilience and UHI are important to address in Parramatta. 
• Identify issues and the opportunities this UHI mapping may present for Parramatta.
• Research effective precedent ‘cooling’ projects, including successful strategies and controls employed by other councils, public authorities or organisations applicable to Parramatta.
• Develop a series of options for future projects with supporting objectives and scope. 

This work was undertaken in three phases. The first phase was focused on interpreting thermal maps and developing the best means to translate these thermal maps into key priority areas and actions on the ground. The next phase was to determine if this information could be translated into a series of map overlays with Council’s GIS Team. This has led to the development of a clear methodology that council can use to develop UHI priority areas in the LGA. 

The third phase involved working with council staff to develop potential UHI projects. Consultations with key council staff were undertaken on the 20th November 2013 and 4th December 2013. Projects were developed that could integrate into existing programs, strategies or public domain projects.