Heat Wave Safe Spaces

The purpose of the project was to explore what is needed to make a network of heatwave safe community buildings for vulnerable people in Melbourne’s west. The project involved the development of a replicable assessment method to assess facilities for their potential to be used as heatwave-safe space and for upgrade requirements. 

Building Vulnerability Assessments were completed for approximately 40 council buildings across the Cities of Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melton, Moonee Valley and Wyndham, with individual assessment reports provided for each facility.  Four of the assessed facilities received a small amount of funding to undertake basic improvements as demonstration projects; two involved structural upgrades and another two involved preparation of ‘heatwave kits’ for residents.  Consultation with facility managers and a small number of residents also occurred to better understand how the facilities should be operated and used in heatwaves.

The project found there is some uncertainty of the role of councils during heatwaves and further clarity about roles, responsibilities, communication, and local coordination is required. Despite the challenges, the project also found that it is possible for community buildings to provide significant assistance during heatwaves to at-risk people, and some of the best solutions are not expensive. Some of the solutions involve modified operating hours, changes to staffing, and provision of heatwave safe kits for residents to take home. Other actions involve adjustments to buildings like insulation, external shading, and ‘cool-scaping’. 

More information

The Building Vulnerability Assessment of Potential Refuge in Buildings in Melbourne West final summary is available here.

Summary article Everybody be cool: Using Community Spaces to Manage Heatwaves published in Royal Society of Victoria’s Science Victoria December 2023 edition.