Category: Read More
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“My health began to suffer:” Sue’s experience living in a hot suburb
Sue is a Moonee Ponds local, a suburb in Melbourne’s inner city. Before moving to Moonee Ponds, she lived in a dangerously hot rental home with no insulation, and the heat ended up making her sick. Now, she lives in a cool home that protects her from the heat, but she is still worried about…
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“You dread it”: Sally’s experience of summer in high-rise public housing
Sally has lived in high-rise public housing in Melbourne’s inner city for 16 years. Her apartment is located on one of the top floors, and during summer the sun blankets her building from morning to night. The view from Sally’s unit in Carlton’s high-rise public housing. On sweltering summer days, it’s not safe for Sally…
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“Why should people have to suffer?”: Peter’s story of living in Melbourne’s baking hot public housing
For the last five years Peter has been living in high-rise public housing in Flemington, a suburb north of the city. In the three decades since Peter moved to Australia, he has seen Melbourne’s summers grow hotter, more intense and harder to cope with. A lack of insulation and cooling measures means that Peter has…
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“We hope this project will inspire others”: Moonee Valley Sustainability’s Cool, Safe Space
In response to the growing threat of extreme heat, Moonee Valley Sustainability, a volunteer run community group in Melbourne’s north-west, has embarked on a project to transform their Ascot Vale headquarters into a Cool, Safe Space. They want to provide a refuge for local residents during the coming summers, protecting them from the dangers of…
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Interview with Barbara Schaffer, GANSW Principal Landscape Architect
To celebrate National Tree Day, Sweltering Cities spoke to Barbara Schaffer, Principal Landscape Architect for GANSW (The Government Architect NSW), about designing liveable cities that ensure the health and wellbeing of communities. Barbara’s role involves guiding policy and advocacy to enable landscape architects to positively contribute to healthy, resilient and sustainable places. As a landscape…
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“It’s getting harder and harder”: Rafael’s story
Raphael has lived in Erskine Park in Sydney’s Western Suburbs for 22 years. He was a chemist and is now retired. He spoke to Sweltering Cities’ Community Campaigner about his experiences in Western Sydney.
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Why we love shade
Shade plays an important role in minimising the Urban Heat Island Effect and reducing heat related diseases. Higher tree cover means lower temperatures on the ground on hot days, as well as sun protection for people as we walk We believe that shade needs to be a much higher priority when planning our new developments…
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Living in a rental home without cooling: Madeline’s story
No-one should have to live in a dangerously hot home, but this is the reality for Madeline Cooper, a renter living in Melbourne’s inner city. She lives with long Covid, which is challenging enough, but for Madeline, the extreme summer heat makes her symptoms worse. Her rental home is not designed to cope with scorching…
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Public housing high-rise residents suffering in the heat with inadequate infrastructure
Sweltering Cities Melbourne Community Campaigner joined a weekly morning tea for residents from some of Melbourne’s over 55’s public housing towers. The purpose of the visit was to discuss their experiences of living in the towers during heatwaves, the effects that the heat has on their livelihoods, and what they would like to see changed.
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February 2022 Melbourne Online Community Meeting
Sweltering Cities held our first 2022 Melbourne community meeting online with over 30 attendees. we heard from some powerful key speakers followed by a broad insightful discussion of extreme heat impacts across Melbourne.