Phillip St, Parramatta proposed upgrade: More trees, misting units, wider footpaths
A proposed $4.3m first-stage upgrade of a street in Parramatta CBD would see wider footpaths, tree planting and trialling of misting units to try to cool it down during summer.
Parramatta
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New research has revealed ways to turn down the heat in western Sydney by as much as 2C.
A detailed study, commissioned by Parramatta Council and the CRC for Low Carbon Living (CRCLCL), examined hot spots in Parramatta CBD ahead of a $4.3 million first-stage Phillip St facelift.
It recommended cooling strategies, such as increased greenery and shading and the installation of water features, to reduce urban heat.
Along with lowering temperatures, these methods can increase ‘comfort’ by up to 60 per cent.
“Given western Sydney can be 5-10 degrees hotter in the middle of summer than suburbs in Sydney’s east, it is important for us to consider ways in which we can address and reduce the impact of urban heat,” Parramatta Lord Mayor Andrew Wilson said.
The findings will be used in a council’s revitalisation of concrete-laden Phillip St, an initiative driven by Liberal councillor Martin Zaiter last year.
Proposed additions included in the first stage of construction include wider footpaths, tree planting and trialling of misting units. In future stages, cool pavements are also expected to be trialled.
“The upgrade of Phillip St is a key project for council as it is a key thoroughfare for many of the city’s residents, workers and visitors,” Cr Wilson said.
“As Parramatta evolves and grows, we want to ensure the city continues to be great place to live and visit, so this research and the cooling solutions it offers are significant.”
The research, led by University of NSW Professor Mat Santamouris, examined air and footpath temperatures on Phillip St and found that the eastern end of the street was 1C cooler than the west end due to its proximity to the Parramatta River, and asphalt surface temperatures reached above 50C in unshaded areas.
“By pinpointing the hot spots through our intense monitoring over a period of time and gathering other relevant data we could then deliver the city with heat-mitigation scenarios specific to Phillip St,” Prof Santamouris said.
“Cooling strategies, together with smart monitoring and innovative technologies, will enhance the area’s importance and attractiveness.”
The data was gathered using drone-captured thermal imaging and UNSW’s energy-monitoring bus, which helped direct the hotspot mitigation strategies.
For more on the study, check out this video: youtube.com/watch?v=jHBielUELbc&t=1s