In November last year, the New South Wales government moved to ban dark roofs in new developments to deliver more sustainable housing and reach its zero emissions target by 2050.
At a meeting on April 11, Hume councillor Naim Kurt raised the same issue, asking that officers prepare a report examining light coloured roofs and their efficiency.
“Climate change and the urban heat island effect is one of the big ticket issues facing our council and community,” Cr Kurt said.
“It’s almost like Where’s Wally at the moment, when you enter new estates and try to find light coloured roofs… amongst the busting march of colourbond, ironstone roofing which has long been synonymous with Australian urban sprawl.”
Cr Kurt discussed recent University of NSW research commissioned by the federal government which found light coloured roofs could reduce temperatures inside a house by up to 10 degrees in a heatwave.
“This is an issue we need to take seriously, it’s one which the NSW government, in fact, has just put a ruling in to mandate lighter coloured roofs within housing estates,” Cr Kurt said.
“I’d like to see what mechanisms we have to try and encourage that within our municipality.”
Councillor Jodi Jackson said she would support anything council could do to mitigate heat-related deaths in prolonged heatwaves.
“It is a really important issue for us moving forward,” Cr Jackson said.
Elsie Lange
