New rooftop gardens unveiled at Bondi Junction

New rooftop gardens unveiled at Bondi Junction
Image: New bush tucker gardens have been installed at Bondi Junction. Photo: Waverley Council.

By PATRICK MCKENZIE

Waverley Council has unveiled three gardens at Westfield Bondi Junction as part of a new environmental initiative in the eastern suburbs.

Urban heat islands have become an increasing concern over the last several years, with projected climate change driving up temperatures in areas with a dense concentration of buildings and heat-retaining surfaces, such as pavement.

The bush tucker and coastal native gardens on the shopping centre’s rooftop were created as part of a council project aimed at cooling urban spaces.

Waverley Mayor Paula Masselos said that a lack of vegetation at Bondi Junction makes the area extremely hot during summer.

“With limited ground-level space available to establish new parks or canopy, capturing opportunities to grow plants on top of built structures such as at Westfield is increasingly important,” Cr Masselos said.

The project, which is supported by a $320,000 grant, will see vegetation cover installed across key sites in the eastern suburbs in an effort to cool temperatures, save energy and improve air and water quality.

“Not only will the new green space positively contribute to the environment, but invite more customers to learn about the positive impact of greenery on our everyday lives,” Westfield Bondi Junction Centre Manager Justine Saunders said.

The project has been assisted by a number of other organisations, including environmental engineering firm Biofilta, GoodStart learning and UNSW, as well as the NSW government and Local Government NSW.

“Greening car parks and other traditionally not-so-green spaces is something that can easily be scaled up across the city and beyond. This project in Bondi Junction is a great first step,” NSW Department of Planning and Environment Executive Director, Green & Resilient Places, Steve Hartley said.

On January 4 2020, the western Sydney suburb of Penrith was briefly the hottest place on Earth, after recording a temperature of 48.9 degrees Celcius.

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