Notice of Motion – raised by Cr Tachos – Establishment of a Commissioner to Mitigate Heat impacts
Quotes to be attributed to Brimbank Mayor Cr Jasmine Nguyen:
“Brimbank experiences higher temperatures than other parts of greater Melbourne due to the Urban Heat Island effect.
“This effect can raise the average summer temperature in Brimbank up to 10 degrees higher than surrounding rural areas due to less tree coverage and surfaces that are impermeable and less heat-resistant.
“Council will write to the State Government to request a commissioner is appointed with responsibility for ensuring that recommendations from heatwave management reviews are put into effect to reduce the impacts of extreme heat.”
Quote to be attributed to Cr Virginia Tachos:
“Extreme heat is Victoria’s most deadly natural hazard, and it’s Council’s priority to advocate for the safety of our residents by asking the State Government to establish a commissioner to tackle this serious climate change issue.”
Background
Brimbank Council is a partner of the Hots Spots Heat Health project with IPC Health. The project has highlighted that extreme heat has a significant impact on disadvantaged communities.
Vulnerability to extreme heat is increased in areas of low socio-economic status and inadequate housing, as people are less able to adapt.
Extreme heat can have significant health impacts including heat exhaustion, heat stroke, premature death and exacerbation of existing health conditions, particularly respiratory.
A health and wellbeing priority in Council’s Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2021-2025 is to ‘Collaborate with community in addressing climate change and its impacts on health’.
Notice of Motion – raised by Cr Tachos – Upper Stony Creek Transformation Project
Quotes to be attributed to Brimbank Mayor Cr Jasmine Nguyen:
“The Upper Stony Creek Project has provided local residents and the community a useable green open space with new wetlands and walking paths, transforming a portion of this area into a cool and shady place.
“Brimbank Council continues to advocate for this project, and would welcome more funding from the Federal and Victorian governments to create a natural waterway that creates a bigger, cooler green space.”
Quote to be attributed to Cr Virginia Tachos:
“Our community deserves more funding to complete the Upper Stony Creek project to its original intended scope, which will help transform the existing concrete channel back to a natural state with more walking paths, wetlands and vegetation, creating a great open space for generations to enjoy.”
Background
In 2019 Council successfully advocated for the Federal and State governments to recommit and recommence works on the Upper Stony Creek Project after the project stalled.
While no additional funding was provided Council’s advocacy ensured that works on a revised scope project recommenced and were completed in 2020.
The Upper Stony Creek Project includes a new functional wetland with a gravel circuit path that is now accessible to the community. More than 10,000 plants have been planted around the wetland, with the circuit path connecting to Gilmour Road, Cary Street and Camperdown Avenue. Local community members have already reported an increase in water birds visiting the site.
The project continues to remain an advocacy priority for Council.
Council resolved at the 23 June Council Meeting to write to the State Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, the Hon. Lily D’Ambrosio MP to:
- Request commitment and funding to complete the Upper Stony Creek Transformation Project to its full scope, particularly the remediation of the contaminated soil and removal of the concrete channel to a natural waterway, to deliver a cool and green space to provide relief to nearby residents from the impacts of heatwaves and improved liveability.
The Upper Stony Creek Project was developed and funded through a partnership with Melbourne Water, Development Victoria, State Government’s Department Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), Greenfleet and Brimbank City Council with the Federal Government being the main funder for the Project.
The aim was to transform a concrete channel and a grassed detention basin back to a natural creek and wetland with walking paths, increased biodiversity and the reuse of water from the wetland to cool the creek environment to provide relief to nearby residents from the impacts of heatwaves.