Thermal image of a garden bed at the Hub’s carpark in December 2022 by ‘Heat Detective’ Shantelle Turkington (Images supplied). The yellow colour indicates the bark mulch which reached 61°C, while the purple areas were shaded concrete which was 22°C.
During Summer 2022/23 Western Sydney University trained residents to use thermal imaging cameras to document surface temperatures in the local landscape as part of the Heat Detective project. The images captured temperatures varying from 20°C to over 60°C, demonstrating both the urban heat island effect and simple solutions to reduce its impact.
Key Points:
According to the NSW Government, heatwaves have been responsible for more human deaths in Australia than any other natural hazard, including bushfires, storms, tropical cyclones and floods.
Choices influenced by poor urban planning and design decisions can lead to temperatures rising significantly, impacting both community health and cost of living.
The urban heat island effect can be reduced by choosing appropriate vegetation, soft surfaces, and lighter colours for buildings and landscaping.
No, it’s not a typo and you are not reading about a future climate apocalypse. Sixty-degree temperatures are being recorded in Lithgow right here, right now, and it matters. More people die from heat than all other natural disasters combined, but we can all do something about preventing these deaths.
The urban heat island effect is described by Sebastian Pfautsch, Associate Professor Urban Planning and Management at Western Sydney University, as “a phenomenon whereby surface and air temperatures in built-up areas become hotter compared to nearby vegetated sites”. It is driven by the conversion of green to grey (plants to concrete) in urbanised spaces. This can dramatically raise local temperatures during heatwaves. Sebastian says that “More people die from heat than all other natural disasters combined.”
In Lithgow, it’s usually the lack of heat we all think about, but the images produced as part of the Lithgow Transformation Hub’s three Heat Detectives workshops tell a different story.
Heat Detectives
After a cool and soggy few years, a keen group of citizen scientists enrolled themselves in these Heat Detective workshops, perhaps hoping to find some warmth in what appeared to be a cooler than average summer.
The workshops were organised by Western Sydney University’s Agnieszka (Aga) Wujeska-Klause: a research assistant working with Associate Professor Sebastian Pfautsch. Participants (the Heat Detectives) were taught to use thermal imaging equipment, and then took the equipment home to capture images of urban spaces in Lithgow over a two-week period.
Take a good look at the images below. Note the vibrant colours. Cobalt blue, tangerine orange, gold and carmine red. They are not the hues of glorious summer sunshine but a measure of urban heat captured during the height of summer 2022/2023.
Finalists in the Maldhan Ngurr Ngurra Lithgow Transformation Hub Heat Detectives Art Exhibition (Photo supplied)
At the subsequent Heat Detectives Art Exhibition, Aga explained the equipment is easy to use and learn. It comprises a tablet and a thermal heat imaging attachment. “Once people have it in their hands, they quickly realise how easy it is to use and no different to their smart phones.” It took around an hour to introduce the urban heat topic, demonstrate equipment features and how best to capture images. During the workshops, heat detectives were able to practice using the equipment, ask questions and discuss their ideas about urban heat. By the end they were ready to participate.
Three images were selected from each heat detective, based on the hottest surface they captured. Staff then selected ten finalists and their images were circulated on the Transformation Hub social media pages. The winner was selected by popular vote.
And the winner is …
Cathy Kleingeld’s winning image of the metal ruins at Blast Furnace Park measured temperatures of 57°C. She says she wanted to find the hottest thing in Lithgow and focused on images of structures and buildings, but was really surprised by the surface temperatures recorded in her own images and those of other heat detectives.
‘Heat Detective’ Cathy Kleingeld and the winning image taken at Blast Furnace Park (top).
Gaye Mason, another finalist, also chose structures but thought that colours would contribute to surface heat. She recorded school playground equipment measuring 55°C but says the hottest thing she found in her photography was a bare dirt patch in a green lawn. She realised that it was the combinations of objects that contributed to temperature variability. Cathy agrees. One of her images included metal grates amongst paved areas. She had thought the metal would be hotter, but instead the pavers were. She found old bricks, like those in the Blast Furnace ruins, also had high surface temperatures, and she wondered about new bricks and how that might affect the heat in our backyards.
Gaye’s streetscape image (pictured below), which was also chosen as a finalist, demonstrates the impact of colour and structure on surface heat. The white taxi is at least ten degrees cooler than the road surface and the darker painted areas above the awning are fifteen degrees warmer than the areas under the awning.
Gaye Mason’s capture of a Lithgow streetscape (images supplied)
Cathy and Gaye’s images are not only striking but data rich. As Eric Mahony, Lithgow Councillor noted: “they are art and science.” They provide information which can be used to design urban areas to minimise the urban heat island effect.
Associate Professor Pfautsch and Aga’s research indicates “collectively, dark roofs make neighbourhoods more than 3°C warmer, forcing everyone to pay more for keeping cool in summer.” Choosing colours that minimise surface temperatures also makes economic sense.
What we can all do …
And it is not just town planners and home builders who can help. Sebastian Pfautsch says there are simple things we can all do. By selecting soft green surfaces like gardens and grass rather than paved courtyards, and planting appropriate north facing trees, we can reduce urban heat. Our playgrounds and backyards should be places that people can enjoy without fear of an unintended hot surprise.
Thermal image of a rubber swing in an unshaded Lithgow playground by Leanne Barry. (Images supplied)
If you would like to know more, the following short clip, shown on Gardening Australia in February 2022, features Associate Professor Sebastian Pfautsch implementing his urban heat minimisation ideas to redesign a playground in Western Sydney.
The Maldhan Ngurr Ngurra Lithgow Transformation Hub repeated the Heat Detective data collection in August, this time looking for places heat escapes from our houses in Winter. A selected number of Lithgow households recorded images throughout late August to determine where heat (and heating bill dollars) was disappearing as part of the Hub’s Winter Leaks program.
This story has been produced as part of a Bioregional Collaboration for Planetary Health and is supported by the Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (DRRF). The DRRF is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments.
The Blue Mountains Peace Symposium kicks off at 10am today at the Planetary Health Centre: 33-39 Acacia St Katoomba (former Katoomba Golf Course). Lots of dry cosy warm events! View the full program and reserve your spot here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-peace-symposium...
Warm your heart, mind and body at the Peace Symposium this Saturday. Support local businesses when you grab a steaming hot Roasters with Altitude coffee, and sample delicious plant-based foods from Bibi’s Kitchen, 1Two1 Cafe, Good Fat Pastry and Whisk & Pin. We’re kicking off with free Tai Chi & Quigong at 8am, talks and community forums on peace from 10-4pm, art for peace, and the indoor ‘community picnic’ from 12.30 with Ecopella and the Bearded Ladies Community Choir, origami crane and badge making, and a RoseyRavelston book stall! The Symposium is being held at the Planetary Health Centre: 33-39 Acacia St Katoomba (former Katoomba Golf Club) View the full program and reserve your spot here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-peace-symposium
This Saturday the Blue Mountains Peace Symposium will start at 10am with powerful and moving presentations by Dharug man Chris Tobin and Japanese journalist and teacher Harumi Hayakawa. Join Harumi over lunch to make origami cranes for peace, hope and healing in memory of Sadako Sasaki. "At just two years old, she was exposed to radiation in Hiroshima. At twelve, she developed leukaemia. While in hospital, she heard the legend: if you fold 1,000 paper cranes, your wish will come true. Her wish was to recover. She folded cranes with hope and determination—but sadly, she passed away at just twelve. Her story touched hearts around the world, and the paper crane has since become a global symbol of peace." (Harumi Hayakawa) The Symposium is being held at the Planetary Health Centre: 33-39 Acacia St Katoomba (former Katoomba Golf Club) View the full program and reserve your spot here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-peace-symposium
We`re setting up lots of cosy warm indoor spaces for the Peace Symposium and `Community Picnic` this Sat 2nd August and we`re thrilled that RosyRavelston Books will be there with their `books that change the world`! The Blue Mountains Peace Collective presented them with this poster designed by Melbourne-based Japanese artist Hiroyasu Tsuri, also known as TWOONE@t_w_o_o_n_e. @ican_australia commissioned this artwork to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the US bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan and the first nuclear test on First Nations land in New Mexico, USA, in 1945. It depicts symbols of peace and survival in the wake of nuclear devastation. View the full program for the Symposium and book your tickets here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-peace-symposium
Sixteen-year-old HART Youth Ambassador, Matilda Emmerich will be displaying her oil painting and poem “Where Hope Sits" and discussing her experience of having it banned at 11.30am this Saturday 2nd August at the Blue Mountains Peace Symposium at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba. Artwork and poem can be seen here: https://www.hartyouth.com/art
Places are limited so bookings essential here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-peace-symposium
Rotarians from throughout the District gathered at the Planetary Health Centre on Sunday to launch Greater Blue Mountains Rotary and its first fundraising campaign to purchase Rooming-in Cribs for Blue Mountains Hospital. Bringing together the expertise and resources of the former Blackheath, Katoomba and Central Blue Mountains Clubs, this exciting new collaboration reflects Rotary International’s theme for 2025-26: “Unite for Good”. The Planetary Health Centre has been collaborating with Rotary to deliver our monthly Skill Share program, and Rotarian Jennifer Scott AM will speak about Rotary’s international work for people, planet and peace at the Blue Mountains Peace Symposium next Saturday 2nd August. Bookings essential here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-peace-symposium
For more information about Greater Blue Mountains Rotary and how you can get involved email planetaryhealth@bmcc.nsw.gov.au or ring 0407 437 553
We’re thrilled to announce that the Environmental choir Ecopella will be performing at the Planetary Health Symposium and Community Picnic at 12.30pm next Saturday 2nd August at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba. They’re passionate, satirical and creative. This image is the cover of one of their CDs. You can view the full program and reserve your spot for the day here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-peace-symposium
How do we respond to a world at war? Join the community conversation at the Peace Symposium`s midday forum at the Planetary Health Centre on Sat 2 August. In his book 1984, Orwell wrote: "War, it will be seen, not only accomplishes the necessary destruction, but accomplishes it in a psychologically acceptable way." "The primary aim of modern warfare is to use up the products of the machine without raising the general standards of living." This poster will be one of a number on display at the Symposium. View the full program and book here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-peace-symposium
It`s just over a week to the Blue Mountains Peace Symposium and Community Picnic on Sat 2 Aug at the Planetary Health Centre. View the full program and book here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-peace-symposium
A huge thank you to @kindlehill_high_school and their fabulous students who`ve been visiting the Planetary Health Centre on Wednesdays to help us regenerate the bushland and develop our site. They`ve reduced the risk of fire around the Centre by replacing flammable vegetation with gravel; they`ve planted citrus trees for our edible winter garden; and they`ve spent two visits regenerating bushland. Today alone they`ve removed 250 privet plants! Such great work to restore habitat for wildlife and help us build a demonstration site for the community. #volunteers #community #bushcare #ediblegarden #disasterriskreduction #habitat #regeneration...
Our free Winter Tai Chi was so popular last month we`re offering it again for free on Sat 2nd August. It will be the first activity of the day as part of our Peace Symposium and Community Picnic at the Planetary Health Centre. Bookings essential here as places are limited(link in profile):
In 1986, the Blue Mountains celebrated the International Year of Peace with a Peace March in Hazelbrook. Join us for the Peace Symposium and Community Picnic at the Planetary Health Centre on Saturday 2nd August. 2025 has been declared the International Year of Peace and Trust because of the urgent need to reestablish these and reinvigorate a global culture of peace in our current turbulent times. This poster was created by Don McGregor, one of the founders of the Blue Mountains Peace Collective, and will be on display at the Symposium. You can view the program and purchase tickets for the Symposium here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-peace-symposium
Tracie lives, writes and walks on the unceded lands of the Dharug, Gundungurra and Wiradjuri people. Born in Lithgow, she and her family have spent most of their lives living and working with the people and places of the Lithgow area. Her passions are nature and community, which she pursues through story, art, and volunteering in Lithgow and the Blue Mountains.
The story of Lithgow Environment Group is a saga spanning nearly two decades of their heroic struggle against fire, local habitat destruction, weak government legislation and in particular, irresponsible mining practices.
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