Urban Transformations Research Centre (UTRC)

Thrilled to see my article, “𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚’𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬: 𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦”, ranked 2nd among the most-read articles on The Policymaker in 2024! 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒈𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒖𝒓𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒔. A heartfelt thanks to the incredible team at the James Martin Institute for Public Policy (JMI), especially Hugh Piper and Vafa Ghazavi, for their unwavering support throughout this journey. 🙌 If you're interested in exploring our ongoing project with JMI, check it out here: https://lnkd.in/g9Sx2s5d Looking forward to continuing the conversation and driving impactful solutions in 2025! 🚀 Western Sydney University Urban Transformations Research Centre (UTRC) Homes NSW

Hear more from Sebastian Pfautsch GAICD on ABC Radio '102 degrees on a playground surface' is anything but fit for safe play. The choice of materials and the way these spaces are planned matter a lot. https://lnkd.in/gJY-drwM

"As the heat soars, dangers mount in Sydney’s parks and playgrounds" Heat is a major concern across the country right now, and will continue to be this summer. Summer is thought of as a time for fun but when is it "Too Hot to Play". This is what Sebastian Pfautsch GAICD and colleagues at UNSW are exploring in their project of the same name that is assessing which temperatures Sydney’s parks empty as children and carers are driven indoors. So far, the data is grim https://lnkd.in/gxrKiaZc

💡 New article on The Policymaker Greater access to EV charging in densely populated areas can encourage sustainability. Here’s four expert recommendations to boost EV charging installation in apartment buildings. Read Thomas Longden & Gina Gatarin's article here: https://lnkd.in/gnjwaDuA Western Sydney University Urban Transformations Research Centre (UTRC) #netzero #energytransition #policyinnovation Annette McLaren

In this latest article in the The Sydney Morning Herald Dr Ehsan Noroozinejad and colleague Omi K. discuss the shifts needed in planning decisions that could significantly affect long-term sustainability for Western Sydney, set to be a major population centre that is increasingly feeling the impacts of heat and urbanisation

Released today - James Martin Institute for Public Policy Policymaker article - co-authored with Gina Gatarin - explaining 4 recommendations for NSW policymakers that will help drive electric vehicle uptake by supporting charging in apartment buildings. 1) Develop and disseminate case studies of successful projects that have been co-funded by the EV Ready Building Grant scheme 2) Provide guidance on fire safety provisions for EV chargers in apartments to reduce confusion and misconceptions 3) Expand and improve the EV Ready Buildings Grant scheme 4) Explore different finance options, infrastructure upgrades and law reform Policymaker article: https://lnkd.in/g2DvTtGg Based on a Policy Insights paper co-authored with Ali Hellany Anna Leditschke Declan Kuch Greg Morrison Nicky Morrison : https://lnkd.in/dXup98sW Urban Transformations Research Centre (UTRC) NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer Electric Vehicle Council

Extreme heat is plaguing residents across Greater Sydney for the coming days, reaching 40°C+ on Tuesday. The entire summer is predicted to be a hot one. The timing of publishing our latest paper was unintentional but hits home. We show that by 2060, people living in Western Sydney may be subjected to 100-160 days of 35°C+. That's months of continuous, debilitating, and simply dangerous heat. Our data also reveal that intra-urban heat is underreported. It needs to be captured and communicated much better. This is important for preparedness and hence resilience of people to get through challenging conditions. The paper is 'open access', meaning you can download and share widely. Current understanding in many fields of science (climate modelling, public health, material sciences, urban planning, social sciences, agriculture, etc.) is that extreme heat is the greatest risk to metropolitan regions across large parts of the globe. Our paper underscores that we must get serious about delivering climate-responsive settlements.

Australia's housing crisis is a national emergency. With soaring rents and skyrocketing property prices, homeownership is slipping out of reach for many. 𝐁𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐬, including 𝐭𝐚𝐱 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬, 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠, and 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 like 𝒎𝒐𝒅𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 3𝑫 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈, are essential to tackle the root causes of housing inequality. It’s time for systemic change to ensure housing is a human right, not just an investment. Read the full article by myself, Professor Greg Morrison, and Barrie Harrop here: https://lnkd.in/gWtSj6tr #HousingCrisis #AffordableHousing #MMC #UrbanTransformation #SocialEquity Western Sydney University Urban Transformations Research Centre (UTRC) James Martin Institute for Public Policy 360info Monash University

On Friday the Coalition released long-awaited detail on its nuclear energy policy & I did a rapid review for The Conversation Australia + NZ As discussed by many, it was difficult to understand how the modelling came together, as the analysis lacks crucial information about how key elements were calculated. This includes the levelised cost of electricity. The table below shows a comparison of LCOE and other assumptions used by CSIRO and Lazard The Coalition says adding nuclear power to the energy mix will make electricity cheaper, cleaner and more reliable. But it has not yet provided solid evidence to support these claims. And - alternative sources have found that nuclear would increase household bills - for example, the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) found household electricity bills could rise by $665 a year, on average. For a four-person household, the bill rise would be $972 a year. https://lnkd.in/gDyA3k8F What’s more, we don’t yet know how the Coalition plans to overcome community opposition to nuclear power, how it plans to store nuclear waste, and how it will get around state government bans on nuclear energy. Having reliable water sources will also be important, as France discovered during drought. https://lnkd.in/gsqs-djn https://lnkd.in/gWcWWV7Q For more on my review - go to The Conversation Australia + NZ or click below: https://lnkd.in/gK-TR_WG

"Extreme heat forecasts serious harm for Greater Western Sydney" This week right across Australia people will feel the heat. Western Sydney is one area where heat impacts are more pronounced than elsewhere and as UTRC's Dr Thomas Longden confirms 'Heat is a risk multiplier'. Also featured in this Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) online article Dr Kim Loo says, 'The solution is significant adaptation, including climate-focused building developments and regulations alongside cutting fossil fuel emissions. A short-term answer is better resourcing primary and preventative healthcare." Just a few weeks ago The Greater Sydney Heat Smart City Plan was launched and in February UTRC, along with Hill Doctors Association, Sweltering Cities and Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA) NSW will host the annual Beat The Heat seminar Book online here https://lnkd.in/gzMxUbgZ https://lnkd.in/gPq9FHcx