‘Keeping Uralla Cool’ Project Completed
The Foundation’s first community-based project, ‘Keeping Uralla Cool’, was successfully completed in June, 2023. It involved a program of active community engagement focused on three public workshops that were facilitated by LFA. The final Project Report developed with workshop participants includes an Action Strategy that proposes six ‘priority projects’ to improve community health and liveability of Uralla. The Action Strategy will build the resilience of Uralla to mitigate the potential impacts of extreme heat events associated with climate change.
View of Uralla township from Mt Mutton
Funded by a NAB Foundation Community Grant, the Foundation collaborated with ZNET Uralla, a long-established local not-for-profit organization that supports the goal of Uralla becoming a net-zero energy town by 2030. The net-zero goal will be achieved through reduced energy consumption and increased use of renewable energy in the Shire, which is located in the Northern Tablelands region of New South Wales.
The ‘Keeping Uralla Cool' project was managed by Professor Linda Corkery, an LFA Director with expertise in urban landscape planning and design. Dr. Louise McKenzie was a key member of the LFA project team who contributed her expert knowledge of urban heat issues and urban open space design.
An enthusiastic group of community members worked closely with the LFA team throughout the project. During the second workshop, they conducted 'walking audits’ of the town’s main street and several adjoining residential streets to assess how well the streets offer inviting, comfortable, safe and easy access. The audits assessed features such as the amount of shade from trees or awnings; location and condition of footpaths and/or bicycle paths; available seating and places to get a drink of water. The audit results provide the basis for a comprehensive streetscape analysis that could be used to prepare a town-wide plan for cooler, more accessible streets and public spaces which, in turn, would promote more walking and cycling.
Workshop with community group
Outdoor dining along main street with shade from shop awnings
The project report, titled Improving Health and Liveability for a Resilient Uralla, highlights the connections between human health, livability and resilience with the environmental quality of both built and natural environments. Design and management of public spaces and streetscapes, for example, can encourage more active lifestyles which can increase individual health and wellbeing. They can also mitigate the potential impact of extreme heat events associated with climate change.
The Action Strategy presented in the Report will inform the community’s discussions with Uralla Shire Council to promote future improvements. Among these ‘priority projects’ is the development of a Uralla Cooling Action Plan to help prepare the town for increasing summertime heat conditions and for assisting vulnerable citizens when extreme heat events do occur. For example, mitigation measures could include creating ‘cool’ public spaces and streetscapes through an 'urban greening' initiative of shade tree planting, combined with awnings and shade structures, and water elements.
Recording micro-climate data
This is an example of micro-climate data collected by a group member at various locations throughout the town, illustrating the difference in temperature between shaded areas and paved areas that influences human thermal comfort.
Uralla Shire Council was kept informed of the processes and issues under discussion over the duration of the project. ZNET Uralla has presented the Final Report and Action Strategy to the Mayor of Uralla and Council officers and will continue to engage with them to assist with implementation of the Action Strategy as funding becomes available. The process undertaken to identify priorities for supporting a healthy, livable and resilient Uralla township, provides a model for other rural communities to use in preparing for a changing climate.
The ‘Keeping Uralla Summers Cool’ project aligns with the LFA Strategic Priority of ‘Enabling Communities’ and is an example of how the Foundation can work with community groups to achieve local impact.