Community-run heatwave havens offer respite for vulnerable residents

ABC NEWS (Australia)

As southern New South Wales sweats through the worst heatwave since the Black Summer of 2020, one regional community is trialling a new approach to keep vulnerable residents cool. Volunteer-run heatwave havens will be operating across the south coast, providing locals a safe space to beat the heat.

Transcript

00:00At the Southern Life Church in Moruya, one organisation is prepping for the heatwave.

00:07Temperatures of up to 40 degrees are expected, giving locals between here and Batemans Bay

00:13the first opportunity to trial their so-called heatwave havens.

00:17These facilities are actually going to start to operate during these events

00:22to provide really a refuge for our more vulnerable members of our community.

00:28Community halls, churches and surf lifesaving clubs will become a place of respite.

00:33Following the Black Summer bushfires, they've been retrofitted with solar panels,

00:37backup power generators, air conditioning, purifiers and Starlink capacity.

00:42At least seven volunteer-run centres across the Yoruba Dalla will be open at different points

00:47during the coming heatwave, including here at the Uniting Church in Catalina,

00:51giving vulnerable locals a community space to escape the elements as well as a place to enjoy a cup of tea.

00:57Kelly Beavis lives nearby in affordable housing and hopes others will take advantage of the new spaces.

01:03The elderly in the community and the people who can't afford the electricity to run

01:07all these air cons really need to know and it's really important that we support people like that.

01:12If all goes well, the havens could be included in the region's official emergency management plan.

01:17Help me, please.

01:21Help me, please.

01:23Help me, please.

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