Heatwave Planning Must be Included in NSW Climate Adaptation Fund

Ian Epondulan's church is signing up as a "heat refuge" to tackle scorching summers. (Image: ABC News: Mridula Amin)

Community leaders affected by climate change and extreme weather have welcomed news of a new $93.7 million NSW climate adaptation fund but are concerned it doesn’t include heatwaves.

An announcement on Sunday by Treasurer and Minister for Energy Matt Kean says the funds will go towards “embedding risk assessments and planning for floods, drought, and bushfires across government”.

Ian Epondulan, of Seven Hills in western Sydney, is disappointed that Mr Kean’s announcement did not speak about planning for heat waves.

“Last summer and the one before we had extreme heatwaves in western Sydney, including one day that reached 48 degrees. My own family and I must leave our home and seek refuge in air-conditioned shopping centres when it is that hot. With energy costs rising more, many people like us, can’t afford to have air conditioning at home. That is also a big problem for the elderly and people with disability,” he says.

Mr Epondulan’s church, Our Lady of Lourdes, has signed up with Blacktown Council to become a heat refuge during future heatwaves. He wants the climate adaptation fund to also help upgrade community spaces to be used as heat refuges.

“My hope is that the state government can work with local councils and residents to make climate a critical issue to address right now, because it is happening right now, and our kids will only suffer more if we do not take it seriously.”

Mr Epondulan shared his story in community forums on the effects of climate change organised by Sydney Alliance.

Since 2017, Sydney Alliance has organised with people to find solutions to the connected problems of rising power bills and the effects of climate change in the Voices for Power initiative.

Thuy Linh Nguyen, Voices for Power Organiser with Sydney Alliance, says the funding for climate adaptation planning was welcome but the announcement did not go far enough.

“We hope there is more information to come in the budget, and that the communities who are dealing with the effects of climate change now get a say in forming adaptation strategies.”