Bayswater deputy mayor Chris Cornish.
Camera IconBayswater deputy mayor Chris Cornish. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

City of Bayswater to be first WA local govt to take part in RMIT University and University of NSW’s Citizen Science Project

Kristie LimEastern Reporter

BAYSWATER council will be the first WA local government to take part in the RMIT University and University of New South Wales’ project which aims to improve urban microclimate.

The council accepted the offer sent to deputy mayor Chris Cornish by the universities to be involved in the Citizen Science Project at the November 14 council meeting.

The project, funded by the Federal Government, will engage 100 citizens to perform outdoor microclimate measurements during the summer months of December 2018 to February 2019.

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Cr Cornish said the results might assist policy makers, predict future health and energy needs and planning urban built environments and open space.

“The project background and aim is over a number of extreme hot days are expected to increase significantly over the next few decades in all Australian cities,” he said.

“It is an Australia-wide thing and they have come to us because they, in their words, greatly appreciate Bayswater City council’s initiatives towards meeting the climate change mitigation goals, adaption goals and strong focus on community engagement activities.”

Cr Brent Fleeton, who voted against the project, said as there were no financial implications stated in the motion, he would like more information on what staff would be doing and what was the cost to ratepayers.

Technical services director Doug Pearson said the cost of using existing staff and resources would be $2000 to $3000.

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