Sydney's First Pop-Up Cooling Hub Triumphs in Surry Hills

Surry Hills has witnessed the city’s first pop-up cooling hub at work, offering a refuge from the sweltering temperatures.

As the mercury soared to 36 degrees on 25 and 26 January 2024, the initiative provided a welcome respite, especially for socially disadvantaged individuals.

The cooling hub was set up in Ward Park, Surry Hills, and staffed by healthcare professionals. The initiative provided cooling strategies, monitored health indicators, and offered support services.

Addressing a Health Issue

Many Sydney locals face heightened exposure to extreme heat, whether sleeping on the streets, in cars, overcrowded housing, or in tents. The need to address this challenge has become increasingly apparent for communities, health organizations, governments, and councils.

The concept of the cooling hub in Surry Hills was inspired by overseas case studies and recent local experiences. The project is a collaborative effort involving the University of Sydney, St Vincent’s Homeless Health Service, and the City of Sydney.

Homelessness and Heat Emergency Activation Team (HHEATeam)

Dr Timothy English, the project’s leader, envisions scaling up the initiative to provide more relief to vulnerable individuals in the face of rising temperatures.

St Vincent’s Hospital and its partners view the cooling hubs as a crucial response to immediate issues caused by increasing heat patterns. They also offer an opportunity to provide longer-term support to those at risk of homelessness.

Extreme heat is a major contributor to hospitalisations and deaths, causing significant strain on healthcare systems and budgets.

Climate change presents a health emergency, with people experiencing homelessness particularly vulnerable due to difficulty finding cool spaces and existing health conditions.

A Blueprint for the Future

The experience gained from this initiative will be used to create a blueprint for other services to replicate and address the challenges faced by vulnerable individuals during extreme heat.

This initiative represented a climate justice response by working with disadvantaged communities to meet their needs during the climate crisis.

Published 29-Jan-2024