The peak body representing Western Sydney councils has welcomed NSW Government support for new Legislative Council recommendations for the management of extreme heat in the planning system.

“The report of the NSW Legislative Council Portfolio Committee No. 7 - Planning and Environment  recommends that the government implement planning controls to address urban heat, an issue that disproportionately affects Western Sydney communities,” said Councillor Brad Bunting, the President of the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC).

“The report acknowledges that reform is needed to state planning laws such as the NSW Sustainable Buildings State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) to ensure new communities are designed to reduce energy costs and improve community safety in our warming climate.”

“The report also recommends changes to the National Construction Code, to help ensure that homes are resilient to climate change.

“While we would have preferred that more of the Committee’s recommendations were supported by the Government – including a greater role for place-based knowledge in planning – we are pleased that those relating to heat resilience have been acknowledged.” 

“These are reforms that Western Sydney councils have long advocated for,” said Councillor Bunting.

“A well-designed home is about more than just comfort, it can reduce cost-of-living, deliver better health outcomes and support life safety in extreme events.”

“Research shows that failing to implement proactive planning rules now will lead to reactive retrofits which are estimated to cost 3-4 times more, without properly solving the heat problem.

“More than half of new development in Western Sydney is approved by state planning laws. We need to have local and state working together to achieve cooler suburbs – planning is a team sport.

“It has been estimated that heatwaves in Western Sydney alone cost $1.4 billion per year, a cost that will continue to grow without intervention.

“These costs impact businesses, households and government services. We can’t afford not to act,” said Councillor Bunting.

“WSROC is committed to working with the NSW Government to implement the Legislative Council’s recommendations – both local and state planning must work together to deliver safer, more heat resilient communities.”