extreme conditions. H8 – Design City buildings, facilities, streets and public open space to cope during periods of extreme heat. 2050–2070 H9 – Review the City’s infrastructure, buildings and facilities and services to assess their performance in the face of the changed climate. Detailed Actions Risk Action Responsibility Stopping the City’s existing policies and programs would reduce our growing adaptive capacity. H1 – Maintain existing policies and programs including: a. Emergency management coordination b. Outdoor working conditions strategy c. Urban Forest Strategy ▲ d. Greening Sydney Plan e. Urban Ecology Strategic Action Plan f. Cool Pavements trial g. Social Sustainability Discussion Paper (in progress). City of Sydney – control Extreme heat will impact on: – Human health causing heat stress ▲ –Infrastructure causing disruption –Workforce productivity H2 – Develop Heat Wave Response Plan aligned with the NSW State Heatwave Sub Plan 2011, including analysis of vulnerable communities, transport and likely behaviours including: a. Community vulnerability analysis to identify who is most at risk, where they live and opportunities to assist them (including refuge points) ▲ This will be followed by a vulnerable communities communications plan. b. Detailed pollution-related actions c. Communication strategy to raise community awareness and provide warnings during risk periods, including investigation of a heatwave alert system ▲ d. Internal communication plan to manage and respond to extreme heat events e. Engagement with Transport NSW to coordinate approach to public transport pinch points f. Examine event protocols to determine if any amendments are needed, including scheduling g. Examine work health and safety (WHS) impacts City of Sydney – control and coordinate with: –Local Emergency Management Committee –Transport NSW –Council of Social Service of New South Wales (NCOSS) –Department of Family and Community Services –City of Sydney Inclusion (Disability) Advisory Panel
Degradation of areas of natural beauty, which has detrimental effects on the physical and mental health of the population. Decreased rainfall – changed and weakened biodiversity: Periods of low precipitation, coupled with extreme conditions such as extreme heat days and drought, may result in the environmental degradation of open space including the dieback of vegetation such as trees and grass, the loss of local biodiversity and reduced water flows. The quality of canopy cover and urban trees may be impacted by both the ongoing decrease in rainfall, and an increase in rainfall events that may place pressure on weakened trees. Decreased rainfall – food security: An increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather and/or drought may reduce the production of local fresh produce which is grown in the Sydney Basin, community gardens and the wider national and international food supply chain. This may impact the availability of local produce supplies for the city’s food retailers, cafés and restaurants, and the availability and affordability of food for the local community. Objective: changing rainfall and drought conditions The City of Sydney will be prepared for a future with less overall rainfall, while also being ready to deal with heavy rainfall, flooding and storms when they occur. Action Pathways 2015–2030 R1 – Continue flood management work to assess the extent of the vulnerability of properties and key assets. R2 – Work with emergency services agencies to prioritise and coordinate responses. R3 – Continue investigation of the City’s own asset risk profile to increases in extreme weather. R4 – Factor changing rainfall, flooding and drought patterns into land use planning, infrastructure design (including water sensitive urban design), and strategies for parks, gardens, open spaces and urban forestry. 2030–2050 R5 – Adopt new design measures for improved protection of council property and infrastructure from more severe rain, hail and wind. R6 – Identify high-risk areas for modification of infrastructure, facilities and buildings. R7 – Assess the business continuity risks (airport, tourism, communications, energy, water) and responses for the City and surrounding areas. 2050–2070 R8 – Re-assess the extreme weather risks and responses for the city and surrounding areas. Detailed Actions
Risk Action Responsibility Intense rainfall – displacement, disruption, property/infrastructure damage R1 – Continue flood management work to assess extent of vulnerability of properties and key assets to more severe and frequent rainfall, flooding, hail and wind. Consider design responses. Communicate with owners of property and infrastructure owners at risk. ▲ City of Sydney – control and influence working with: –The Australian Building Codes Board –Department of Planning and Environment Intense rainfall – communication disruption R2 – Work with emergency services agencies to prioritise and coordinate response including: a. Public awareness and warning b. Work with ICT providers and emergency services agencies to ensure continuity of communications that are vulnerable and vital to emergency response c. Resourcing – Local Emergency Management Officer (LEMO) and State Government and agencies d. Clean-up planning and costs management. City of Sydney – control and influence, working with: –Local Emergency Management Committee Intense rainfall –property/ infrastructure damage R3 – Continue investigation of the City’s own buildings’ risk profile to increases in extreme weather. City of Sydney – control Intense rainfall – displacement, disruption, overflow contaminants. Decreased rainfall – reduced amenity, degradation of living/natural assets, changed biodiversity R4 – Factor changing rainfall, flooding, storm and drought patterns into: a. Land use planning – input into LEP and DCP b. Infrastructure design (including water sensitive urban design, stormwater management, roads, pavement) – working with Syney Water c. Parks, gardens and open space d. Urban Ecology Strategic Action Plan – managing (protecting and enhancing) local biodiversity e. Urban Forest Strategy – managing less rainfall, more storms and changing species diversity. City of Sydney – control and influence, working with: –Sydney Water, where relevant Intense rainfall –property/ infrastructure damage R5 – Adopt new design measures for improved protection of Council property and infrastructure from more severe rain, hail and wind. City of Sydney – control R6 – Identify high-risk areas for modification of City of Sydney –
B2 – Contribute to community awareness and education on smoke and ozone pollution health risks, including considering an early warning system – link to Action H3. B3 – Identify and reduce the sources of emissions that contribute to exceeding pollution limits. B4 – Limit working hours for outdoor staff during high bushfire weather and ozone pollution events – link to H2. B5 – Include response to bushfire and ozone pollution dangers in the Heatwave Response Plan – link to H2. 2030–2050 B6 – Re-identify vulnerable community members and where they seek refuge during periods of extreme weather – link to H2. 2050–2070 B7 – Re-evaluate and update actions to respond to bushfire and pollution conditions in the LGA and metropolitan area. Detailed Actions Risk Action Responsibility Air quality – community health impacts B1 – Work with emergency services, government agencies and community groups on the emergency response to pollution events from bushfires – link to Action H2. ▲ City of Sydney – control and influence, working with: – Local Emergency Management Committee Air quality – community health impacts B2 – Support relevant stakeholders/agencies in providing information and a community awareness and education campaign on the nature of ozone risks – targeted to susceptible groups, such as the elderly and very young – link to Action H3. a. Community awareness program ▲ b. Note for event management, such as events on days scenario planning, link to Action H2. City of Sydney – control and influence with: – NSW Family and Community Services – Council of Social Service of New South Wales (NCOSS) Air quality – community health impacts B3 – Identify the sources of emissions that contribute to exceeding pollution limits and investigate long-term strategies to reduce their volume. City of Sydney – control and influence, working with: – NSW Environment Protection Authority – Roads and Maritime Service
private assets. ▲ environmental, heritage and recreational areas threatened by the predicted sea level rise. ▲ The plan must include: – Investigating long-term (over 50 years) zoning and development law changes for affected areas. – Developing timing, or at least trigger points, for possible adaptation actions related to sea walls, forced retreat, risk management, building design and acquisitions. – Implement a communication program to raise awareness among residents, businesses, council facility users and council staff on the likely impacts of sea level rise and storm surges. ▲ – Identify and prioritise adaptation actions for each of the City’s key infrastructure assets that are at risk and likely to be impacted. ▲ – Investigate any impacts to the water table and footings/concrete walls of buildings with basements. ▲ with: – Office of Environment and Heritage – Department of Planning and Environment – Land owners – Community members The City’s planning, designs and specification must factor in sea level rise. National standards and codes must also factor in changing parameters to address the risk of sea level rise and storm surge. S2 – Ensure that sea level rise and storm surge are factored into City infrastructure plans and master plans. Such a review must recognise that current standards may no longer be a sufficient benchmark, as flooding is predicted to occur more frequently, thus altering the risk profile. Examples of plans to be reviewed include: – The current Flood Plain Management Review – The Decentralised Water Master Plan – The Asset Management Strategy City of Sydney – control Inconsistent government response to sea level rise causes confusion and anger among residents and the business community. S3 – Advocate for a consistent NSW State planning framework to address sea level rise and storm surge. This recognises the difficulties facing local councils, and the pressure from their constituency and insurers for an equitable and affordable response. Such a framework will shape LGA-based land use planning. City of Sydney – control and influence, working with: – Department of Planning and Environment – Sydney Coastal Councils Group Sea level rise poses a long-term risk to parts of the LGA. S4 – Re-evaluate and implement protection methods as needed for at-risk foreshore areas and assets, noting best practices developed by other areas that have faced sea level rise risks in the past, and including public awareness. City of Sydney – control and influence
adaptation is embedded into Council’s thinking, planning and procedures, it will not be effective. climate resilience is incorporated into all future key Council decision-making (projects, plans, strategies, procurement, contracts, risk framework and insurance etc.). – Business continuity plan (especially impact on operations and services). – Requests for tender, tender evaluation, contract terms and conditions, consultant briefs, design specifications, master planning, land use planning. – Note for revisions of City strategies, master plans and policy documents including social and economic. – Local Environment Plan (LEP) and Development Control Plan (DCP) revisions must take climate change risks into account. – Property management including building design and operations optimised for higher average and extreme heat. – Asset and facilities management, noting insurance implications. ▲ control and influence Poor coordination and communication across government, business and community could lead to poor adaptation. ▲ C2 – Establish a climate adaptation reference panel with key government agencies, business and the community to periodically review the latest climate science, the risks and the coordinated response. This may sit within broader stakeholder collaboration as part of the 100 Resilient Cities program. – Develop a communication strategy to ensure a broad audience is reached for overall and risk-specific response to match the staged framework of the overall adaptation strategy. ▲ City of Sydney – influence working with: – NSW Office of Environment and Heritage – Health NSW – Family and Community Services – Sydney Water – Ausgrid – The Sydney Business Chamber – Council of Social Service of New South Wales (NCOSS) – Better Buildings Partnership – Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council The City of Sydney maintains its assets C3 – Advocate to relevant agencies on the need to revise engineering and building City of Sydney – influence and concern,
and services to the highest standards. However, design standards and building codes are based upon historical climate data and information and as such may not be resilient to future climatic conditions. standards and codes for exposed buildings and infrastructure. This action will require prolonged advocacy and work with various standards bodies including: – Standards Australia – The Australian Building Code Board12 – Institution of Engineers Australia – The Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA) –Building Regulation Advisory Council –Department of Planning and Environment As well as coordination with other councils and council groups, such as Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (SSROC), Shore Regional Organisation of Councils (SHOROC), The Sydney Coastal Councils Group Inc. (SCCG). working with standards bodies, other councils and council groups Business activity will likely face disruptions that could lead to financial loss. C4 – The City will work with business stakeholders to consider the best way to inform the local business community on the likely business impacts and develop responses that assist individual entities in their continuity planning. City of Sydney – control and influence with business stakeholders eg Sydney Business Chamber Failure to coordinate adaptation responses with other infrastructure owners and managers may lead to additional risks. C5 – Investigate collaborating with Sydney Water and the Office of Environment and Heritage to trial the Adapt Infrastructure tool to coordinate inter-agency responses and quantitative analysis, measurement and manage of risks and adaptation actions. City of Sydney – control and influence, working with: –Sydney Water –Office of Environment and Heritage –Other participating agencies Climate adaptation relies on an understanding of evolving climate science, actual global emissions, and climate data. Failure to stay up to date could lead to poor decision-making. C6/7/9 – Monitor developments in the climate change science and actual global emissions trajectory to inform revisions of City’s climate adaption strategy. City of Sydney – control and influence, collaborating with: – NSW Office of Environment and Heritage – CSIRO – BoM Future climate events C8/10 – Review the City’s land use and City of Sydney –