Uploaded on 2016-04-16 by TessElizabeth

According to a report released on 2015 by the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, the main effects of the urban heat island in Melbourne are as follows: 1. Three-quarters of Australians now live in urban areas, making the UHI issue a major public health issue. 2. Temperatures in Melbourne’s city centre are higher than surrounding areas by 4ºC, and during the evenings this difference can be as great as 12ºC. 3. In 2013, heat-related deaths in Melbourne were a total of 200 while the road toll total for the state was of 242 deaths. 4. The urban heat island effect in Melbourne costs the community somewhere in the area of $300 million. 5. 80% of the sunlight that strikes the city of Melbourne is absorbed and then released as heat. Two of the main reasons that there is such a high UHI effect in Melbourne is the lack of trees/parks and also the poor design of the city and buildings. ![Melbourne][1] ![Melbourne from the suburbs][2] **Question – Which are the measures you would propose?** 1. Better design of buildings – landscape architects, architects, town planners and urban designers need to work together to ensure that new buildings are addressing the UHI effect and think of how the existing layout and buildings of Melbourne can be efficiently modified to reduce the UHI effect. 2. Increase greenery – while there are many trees in the city and some lovely parks, these are clearly not enough and the number of each of these needs to be increased to help reduce the UHI effect. Moreover, spaces such as parks could also be used for recreational purposes so they would have a two-fold purpose. **Question - Is UHI effect concerning policy making in your area?** The City of Melbourne has recognised that there is a UHI issue but has not yet implemented any policies. However, AILA has put forward the following recommendations to the council: 1. Increase protection of trees in urban areas 2. All tiers of government need to work together to increase tree canopy cover across urban areas 3. Inclusion of green roofs and green walls in new urban developments and existing sites 4. Greater attention to using reflective footpaths/roofs/walls/materials 5. Increased awareness of the benefits of greening new and existing spaces 6. Greater consideration when planning urban sites 7. Establishment of a ‘Cooling Cities’ criteria to rate the impact of new developments or redevelopments, with the expectation that sites aim for ‘zero net addition’ to local temperatures **References/Links** AILA Position Statement - Liveable Cities http://www.aila.org.au/imis_prod/documents/AILA/Governance/Position%20Statement%20Cool%20Cities_for%20review_final.pdf Melbourne http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2371/5784566740_bb4f6b6b6d_b.jpg Melbourne (from the suburbs) http://previews.123rf.com/images/ascione/ascione0808/ascione080800001/3562272-Aerial-view-of-Melbourne-and-surrounding-suburbs-Stock-Photo-australia.jpg [1]: https://edxuploads.s3.amazonaws.com/14607878994501445.jpg [2]: http://previews.123rf.com/images/ascione/ascione0808/ascione080800001/3562272-Aerial-view-of-Melbourne-and-surrounding-suburbs-Stock-Photo-australia.jpg