Health Heat Risk Index reveals where in the NT is most vulnerable to deadly heatwaves

Only one small area of the NT is classified as lower risk. See where is most at risk of the health impacts of extreme heat.

A new map showing risk of extreme heat reveals only one small area in the Northern Territory covering Darwin’s Lee Point is classified as low risk of health impacts from warmer climates.

Alice Springs, Katherine and Tennant Creek, along with several suburbs across Darwin and Palmerston fall into the highest category of risk in the federal government’s new Health Heat Risk Index.

The Index maps heat risk by local government area across the country, accounting for things such as physical geography, green spaces, access to services and cool places, and housing density that leave people more vulnerable to extreme temperatures.

All of the Territory south of Thamarrurr to the west, and East Arnhem to the east, have been ranked as highest risk out of five bands.

Also at highest risk are local government areas Moil, Malak – Marrara, Karama, Moulden, Woodroffe, Gray and Bakewell.

The second band, medium-high risk, includes Larrakeyah, Ludmilla – The Narrows, Coconut Grove, Millner, Jingili, Alawa, Wagaman, Leanyer, Tiwi, Howard Springs, Palmerston North, Rosebery – Bellamack, Virginia, Humpty Doo and Weddell.

Lyons was the only area in the Northern Territory to fall into the lowest risk band.

Located in Darwin’s north, Lyons covers the suburbs of Lyons and Muirhead, part of the Casuarina coastal reserve, and Lee Point – where bulldozers are set to move in after an emergency application to save the natural area from a defence housing development was rejected by the federal government.

Australian Climate Service Heat-Health Risk Index shows where in the NT is most vulnerable to warmer weather. Picture: Supplied.

Extreme heat leads to more deaths and hospital admissions annually than any other hazard in Australia, and the data shows this risk varies significantly across communities.

It is estimated that in labour productivity alone Australia loses $8.7 billion per year from heatwaves, and expected losses to crops from heatwaves are projected to reach over $100 million in coming years.

Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Jenny McAllister said the index provided better understanding of climate risks at a granular level and would help locally led climate adaptation.

“Australians know that climate change is real. Understanding the impacts of extreme heat on the health of our communities is critical to improving outcomes,” she said.

Ms McAllister said the tool aimed to help inform local responses to the global warming already locked in.

“By including factors like language spoken, vegetation, and housing; local areas can tailor their response to best fit the needs of communities.

“It will help identify locations for cool refuges likes libraries or where green canopy can be planted.”

The Heat-Health Risk Index project was developed by the Australian Climate Service, a partnership between the Bureau of Meteorology, CSIRO, the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Geoscience Australia, and can be found at: Heat and our health.