The Australian suburbs and council areas most vulnerable to extreme heat
By Benedict Brook
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New research has found otherwise identical suburbs, and even streets lying side-by-side, are not sharing the heat load equally. Some are sweltering with surface heat temperatures up to 20C higher than the neighbourhood next door.
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The least heat-stressed Local Government Areas were often those in the ritziest areas including Woollahra, Mosman and Kuring-Gai in Sydney, Bayside in Melbourne and Claremont in Perth.
Posher ’burbs were often closer to the coast where sea breezes helped cool the locals. But [Griffith University urban and environmental planner Dr Tony Matthews] said that wasn’t the only reason.
“There’s also often a correlation of how well-off suburbs are and how much greenery they have. People with a bit of money tend to live in suburbs that are well established with mature greenery.
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But many councils, and property owners, are frustrating efforts to make our suburbs greener and cooler, Dr Matthews said.
“There is the fear of liability by councils of, for instance, underground tree roots or if tree branches fall.”
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