Professor Sebastian Pfautsch and Cumberland City Mayor Ola Hamed in the new carpark. Photo: Cumberland City Council
A new green cool carpark at in western Sydney can reduce surface temperatures by up to 50%, says Cumberland City Council.
Council says their new cool carpark at Holroyd Gardens, Merrylands, works by lacing a trellis with native vines — and it is delivering on its promises.
Cumberland Mayor Ola Hamed believes that the project shows how smart and green design can help lower rising temperatures.
“The shade structure doesn’t just keep things cooler; it also protects residents’ cars from sun damage, helps the car park surface last longer and saves money on repairs,” she points out.
COUNCIL VERDICT
› The new project fulfils all hopes for it without sacrificing parking spaces.
› Shade from the vine trellis reduced surface temperatures by up to 50%.
› It improved human thermal comfort by 10 degrees Celsius.
› It lowered air temperatures beneath it by up to 2.5°C compared to sunlit areas.
She says the project sets a new standard for future-proofing public spaces in Western Sydney region where 99% of car parks are unshaded; council has nearly 1 square kilometres of unshaded car parks, she says.
Western Sydney University lead researcher Professor Sebastian Pfautsch says the project is the result of joint work by industry partner Tensile Design and Construct and the university to help residents adapt to hotter summers.
“Our nature-based solution is ideal for those places where trees can’t be planted but greening and cooling is still wanted,” he explains.
The trellis also has other benefits, council says. These are:
- Helping protect cars from UV damage:
- Helping preserve the asphalt, extend its lifespan and saves money.
- The vines are expected to cover the entire trellis in five years.
- It is easy to maintain with occasional pruning and guidance needed.
- Its western location on the car park also helps block the afternoon sun.
“Cumberland is proud to lead the way in innovative urban cooling solutions,” Cr Hamed says.
The Cool Carpark project was funded by the NSW Government under its Greening Our City grant program.
