Loving where we live - and making it cooler for everyone
For National Heat Awareness Day, NQCC spent the morning at the markets talking with the community about something we all know well in North Queensland: heat. A big thank you to our wonderful volunteers who came along and had thoughtful conversations with people about how heat shapes daily life in Townsville.
Read moreHeat is a Natural Hazard!
We’ve been talking with locals about extreme weather - and again and again, heat comes up.
People tell us about the toll it’s taking on their bodies and daily lives. One local shared a story from a power outage:
“After the third night of really hot nights, my body was just done. I felt so sick I couldn’t eat, and I was crying.”
Heat as a Natural Hazard in Queensland
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Heat as a Natural Hazard in Queensland
Queenslanders are experiencing extreme heat more frequently than ever before, with serious impacts on our health, wellbeing and productivity.
Heatwaves already claim more lives than any other natural hazard in Queensland, according to the State of the Environment Report 2024. Yet our planning system still does not recognise heat as a natural hazard.
NQCC is supporting a parliamentary petition calling on the Queensland Government to modernise the State Planning Policy so heat risk is considered alongside floods, bushfires and cyclones - ensuring all future development supports healthy, resilient communities in a warming climate.
To reduce Queenslanders’ exposure to extreme and cumulative heat, planning and urban design must prioritise cost-effective natural solutions such as green spaces, shade and tree canopy, particularly around homes, community hubs and transport routes.
Recognising heat as a natural hazard is a critical first step to protecting community health, reducing heat-related illness and saving lives.
This would be the first step in addressing heat risk in Queensland, with a suite of necessary measures to follow, such as better protections for workers, community education for newcomers, better access to affordable air-conditioning, and more support for emergency services, healthcare providers and wildlife carers.
Beyond the petition
Alongside pushing for state-level change, NQCC is also learning from and advocating with communities locally. We want to better understand:
- what the biggest heat pressures are across North Queensland and urban Townsville
- who is most affected by extreme heat
- where community action and local solutions can make the biggest difference
- Your experience helps shape this work!
If you agree that heat should be recognised as a natural hazard in Queensland, follow the steps below!
Take action — it’s easy
Step 1: Sign on to our campaign below to stay connected and receive updates
Step 2: Leave a comment sharing how extreme heat has affected you or your community
Step 3: You’ll receive an email with a link to sign the official parliamentary petition
Finding Cool Spots on a Hot Day - NQCC at Get Ready Day
While most stalls at Get Ready Day at Riverway baked bravely in the sun, NQCC found itself in a rare paradise: a shady tree that became a beacon of relief for passers-by. Ironically, our theme was heat - one of the most underestimated and deadly natural hazards in Australia.
Read moreTownsville Heatwave Workshop
We all know that climate change is making Townsville's heatwaves worse - longer, hotter and more frequent than ever before. So, what can we do about it? How will our community adapt to ensure that no one is left behind in these silent natural disasters? We joined forces with Sweltering Cities, Once Upon Tomorrow and the Queensland Community Alliance to find out.
Read moreLiving with Climate Change in North Queensland
Over the past four months, NQCC sat with members of the community to talk about personal experiences with weather extremes in North Queensland. We learned a lot about the diversity of impacts, people's future worries, but also about our great potential to increase local resilience.
Read more