We want to help you beat the heat this summer. Council is committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of our residents.
Remember the 4 key messages to keep you and others healthy in the heat:
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drink plenty of cool water
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keep cool
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take care of others
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have a plan.
Here are some resources to help you prepare for extreme heat:
Beat-the-heat-checklist(PDF, 470KB) - Beat-the-heat-brochure(PDF, 2MB)
Heat_Smart_Over65(PDF, 608KB) - Heat_Smart_Parents(PDF, 605KB) - Heat_Smart_10_tips_cool_home(PDF, 739KB) - Heat-Smart_Community-Organisation-Toolkit(PDF, 2MB)
Heatwaves or long periods of extreme heat can have serious impacts on people's health. Planning ahead and being prepared for extreme heat is important.
Here are some simple tips from NSW Health on how to 'Beat the heat':
1. Drink plenty of cool water and stay hydrated!
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it’s important to drink plenty of water, even if you don’t feel thirsty
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keep hydrated wherever you go by taking your own reusable bottle when you leave the house
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stock your fridge with cold water and freezer with ice
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avoid alcoholic, hot or sugary drinks including tea and coffee, as they can worsen dehydration.
2. Keep cool
Keep your body cool by:
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drinking cold drinks
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eating colder foods, like fruit and salad
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wearing light coloured, loose fitting clothing
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keeping out of the sun, and if you have to go outside, making sure you slip, slop, slap
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taking cold showers or baths
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minimise physical activity, do all household chores early in the morning when it is coolest.
Keep your home cool by:
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cool your house by closing windows, shutting curtains and blinds, opening windows at night if you can to let in cool air
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use air-conditioning if you have it (make sure it’s set to cool)
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if you don’t have air-conditioning, spend time in a cool place like a library, shopping centre or cinema
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know which room in your house is the coolest
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if there is no power or you can’t get to an air-conditioned space, spend time in the coolest part of your house
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use your stove and oven as little as possible.
3. Take care of others
Children, the elderly and our pets often feel the heat more than others. If you have elderly friends, relatives or neighbours, you can:
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check on them daily
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make sure they have cold water
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encourage them to stay hydrated
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organise a day out to a cool place, such as the shopping centre or pool.
With children, you can:
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put wet towels or cool packs on their foreheads and arms
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never leave babies or children alone in the car, even if the air conditioner is on
4. Have a plan
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know who to call if you need help
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follow medical advice if you feel unwell
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monitor the weather forecast and plan your day around it
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know what to do in case of a bushfire. Information on bushfire preparedness is available from the NSW Rural Fire Service.
For other tips go to NSW Health's Beat the Heat page. The website contains information on how hot weather influences your health, how you can prepare for and stay health in the heat, how you can recognise and treat heat-related illness and how you can care for people that are at risk of heat-related illness.
The best places in Blacktown to keep cool.
Blacktown is your one-stop-shop for exciting places to go and things to do as the temperature rises this summer.
Blacktown has a host of water activities, which are perfect for summer.
Enjoy the biggest and best water theme park – Raging Waters Sydney.
Rides the waves at Blacktown Leisure Centre, Stanhope.
For some fun in the pool, head down to Blacktown Aquatic Centre, Charlies Lowles Leisure Centre Emerton, Mount Druitt Swimming Centre and Riverstone Swimming Centre.
Splash at our water play parks at Blacktown Showground and Nurragingy Reserve.
You can enjoy the air conditioning while watching a film at Hoyts Cinemas, watch a world-class performance at Blacktown Arts Centre, or enjoy tenpin bowling, arcade games and laser skirmish.
Head over to Westpoint Blacktown and Mount Druitt Westfield for some retail therapy.
To catch up with friends and family, Rooty Hill RSL, Blacktown Workers Club, Blacktown RSL and Seven Hills RSL offer great food and entertainment, and Stonecutters Ridge Golf Club is perfect for either a relaxing or competitive game of golf.
Blacktown also has a host of amazing places to enjoy a meal.
Check out the Visit Blacktown website for more ideas on how to spend your summer days and nights.
How you can beat the summer heat
Urban areas are getting hotter than regional and rural areas due to the urban heat island effect. The urban heat island effect is a significant issue for Blacktown City because of the increasing urban environment with homes increasing in size and gardens are getting smaller. Climate change and an ageing population also make Blacktown City residents vulnerable to extreme heat.
If you want to make your home and city cooler, greener and safer in extreme heat, you can:
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swap out hard surfaces for grass and drought tolerant or low water gardens
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install awnings, roller shutters or shade sails to minimise direct sunlight from getting in the windows
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plant out your garden to increase shading on your home. Find out how gardens can reduce heat on your house(PDF, 3MB).
To get started, read our fact sheet on plant selection and care(PDF, 2MB).
We have arranged cool centres where you can find refuge from the heat. These are especially for people who are unable to keep cool at home and who might not be able to easily get to a shopping centre, library or swimming pool.
The cool centres will have air-conditioning, drinking water, toilets and family-friendly activities. These dedicated cool centres will only be open when the Bureau of Meteorology issues a ‘severe’ or ‘extreme’ heatwave warning. This usually occurs 3-7 days before a forecasted heatwave.
Heatwave warnings can be found on the BoM website: www.bom.gov.au/australia/heatwave
Click on these links below to see how to prepare to go to a cool centre:
Beat-the-heat-checklist(PDF, 470KB) - Beat-the-heat-brochure(PDF, 2MB)
Cool centre locations
All cool centres open at different dates and times. On heatwave days, please call your preferred cool centre before attending to confirm availability. You may also contact 5300 6055 for more information.
All our libraries are cool centres. Visit our libraries website here for information.
Max Webber Library
Cnr. Flushcombe Road and Alpha Street, Blacktown 2148
Ph: 9839 6677
Our Library @ The Mount Druitt Hub
Ayers Grove, Mount Druitt 2770
Ph: 8886 2000
Lalor Park Library
Cnr. Freeman Street and Northcott Road, Lalor Park 2147
Ph: 9624 5243
Bidwill Uniting Church
26 Bidwill Square, Bidwill 2770
Ph: 0424 495 361
Blacktown Area Community Centres
2 Astral Drive, Doonside 2767
Ph: 9626 5312
North West Community Services
9 Park Street, Riverstone 2765
Ph: 9627 3622
Blacktown Regional Uniting Church
59-65 Bungarribee Rd, Blacktown
Ph: 9831 4121
Register for heatwave alerts
Click here if you would like to register for SMS heatwave alerts.