Darebin parklands leave residents vulnerable to heat and poor health

Satellite pictures and thermal imaging reveals suburbs in the inner north are vulnerable to poorer living conditions because of a lack of green cover.

The study has called for more trees to be planted for people to escape the heat.

A national study on green space has shown Darebin residents are among the worst off in the country.

The 202020 study from RMIT and the Clean Air and Urban Landscapes Hub used satellite pictures and thermal imaging to measure the level of tree canopy and temperatures in municipalities across Australia.

FIRE THREAT EXTENDED AS HEAT SETTLES

BEST OF MELBOURNE TO BEAT THE HEAT

They combined this with socio-economic data to determine which local government areas were most vulnerable to heat, poor health, economic disadvantage and low access to green spaces.

KEY FINDINGS

• Darebin one of the top urban greening opportunities in the state
• Lost about 2.5 per cent of shrub and tree canopy cover between 2013-16
• Resulted in a total green cover lost of about 3.5 per cent between 2013-16

They ranked Darebin as one of the eight most vulnerable in the country alongside Ballarat and Hume.

Darebin mayor Susan Rennie said part of the council’s vision was to become a greener city and they expected to plant an additional 2000 trees in this financial year.

“Over the last two years council tree plantings have been concentrated on areas most needing additional cover, with the Reservoir area being a particular focus,” she said.

Cr Rennie said council data showed there had been a 2.8 per cent increase in tree canopy on public land since 2013.

The study ranked the Yarra Ranges, Nillumbik, Knox and Bayside as the least vulnerable in Victoria.

Only Yarra was found to have significantly increased its shrub and tree canopy between 2013 and 2016.

@richardapearce

MORE NEWS

HOON SPED FROM POLICE AFTER HITTING FAMILY CAR

SERVO STOUSH ENDS IN SETTLEMENT

TIPS TO BREAK INTO TRENDY HOUSE MARKET