Why do we need a strategy?

SECTION 2

IT’S GETTING HOT IN LAKE MAC

In 2020, Council engaged AECOM to help better understand how urban heat impacts Lake Macquarie.

AECOM assessed the thermal performance of the city, identified vulnerable populations and considered current and future impacts of climate change. They also benchmarked and reported on how other councils and organisations were managing urban heat around the world. These options were considered and refined through workshops with Council staff, to assess the potential options to include in an Urban Heat Strategy.

This work was compiled into two reports:

• Baseline Thermal Assessment, Thermal performance of the Lake Macquarie Local Government Area, Lake

Macquarie City Council, 18 August 2020

• Adaptation Options Assessment Report, Available responses to extreme heat challenges for Lake

Macquarie City Council, August 2020.

The key findings of the work carried out by AECOM helped form the basis of this strategy. Copies of the reports are available on request.