Cool Refuge Project - Let's Beat the Heat

This consultation has now closed. Results will be reported to a future Council meeting.

Project Survey

Background

Remember the black summer of 2019/2020? The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) recently issued a report predicting that global temperatures in the next five years (2023-2027) will be the warmest they have ever been. 

Heat endangers human health in many ways, under many different scenarios, including heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and in extreme cases, death. In fact, the death toll from heatwaves (3 or more days over 35 degrees Celsius) has exceeded that for any other natural disaster in Australia. With more frequent and intense extreme heat events (days over 35 degrees Celsius) expected in the coming years due to climate change, Council is exploring how best we can continue supporting the health and wellbeing of our Community. 

There are several tools and programs that can be used to protect the Community from extreme heat, including the implementation of cool refuges. These are air-conditioned places that can provide respite to people, especially those that may have limited access to air conditioning or may be hesitant to operate air conditioning and cooling units due to potentially high electricity costs. Cool refuges have had varying successes in different parts of the world, however there is currently limited understanding of their practicalities in Australia, and in particular, whether one or more refuges are required in our Council area.

What’s being proposed?

Council is currently undertaking a ‘Cool Refuge Project’ to understand if there is demand for cool places where people can go and spend time during the day on hot days, and, if there is a demand, how these facilities might be provided so that they are effective and well used by the Community.

Gathering this information will help Council to better help the Community to keep cool and safe during hot weather.

We gratefully acknowledge that this project is funded by the Federal Government (Disaster Risk Reduction Grants Program) and South Australian Government.

How you can get involved

Connect with us and provide your feedback in one of the following ways:

• preferably provide your feedback online at connect2.campbelltown.sa.gov.au. 

• Complete the survey below
• Share your Idea

• complete and return to Council the attached hardcopy survey

• Send an email: mail@campbelltown.sa.gov.au with the subject “Cool Refuge project”

• Write a letter addressed to:

Community Engagement Officer
Campbelltown City Council, PO Box 1
Campbelltown SA 5074

Enquiries: Lyn Barton, Manager Governance, lbarton@campbelltown.sa.gov.au or 8366 9234

Consultation closes: 4pm, Monday 10 July 2023

Expression of Interest Process

Council recently undertook an expression of interest process to establish a Community Working Group. Council invited the Community to express their interest in joining the group to work with Council in a co-design process .

Participants will attend approximately 10 hours of meetings as part of their commitment to the project. To recognise the contribution of Community Working Group members, Council will provide a ‘Why Leave Campbelltown’ gift card to the value of $50 to these members at the final meeting.

THIS OPPORTUNITY HAS CLOSED.