Cumberland City Council has taken out a top honour at the 2025 Keep Australia Beautiful NSW Sustainable Cities Awards, winning the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Award for its innovative Cool Carpark Project at Holroyd Gardens in Merrylands.
The awards, held last week at Sydney Zoo, celebrated the best sustainability initiatives from across metropolitan Sydney and this win recognised Cumberland City Council’s leadership in tackling urban heat and creating greener, more resilient public spaces.
The Cool Carpark Project, led by Council’s Environment and Resource Recovery Team, transformed a standard asphalt carpark into a cool, green and shaded community space using vine-covered trellises and sustainable design principles.
Funded by the NSW Government’s Greening Our City grant program and delivered in partnership with Western Sydney University, the project provided compelling evidence of how combining green infrastructure with innovative design can significantly reduce the temperature extremes commonly found in unshaded car parks.
A Western Sydney University heat study confirmed the project’s success, showing that the prototype delivered all anticipated positive outcomes without the loss of any parking spaces. Shade cast by the vines reduced surface temperatures by up to 50%, improved human thermal comfort by 10 degrees Celsius, and lowered air temperatures beneath the structure by up to 2.5 degrees Celsius compared to areas in full sun.
Lead researcher, Professor Sebastian Pfautsch highlighted the project’s part in helping the community 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 said.
Cumberland Mayor Ola Hamed said this recognition of local ideas is a proud moment for Cumberland.
“The success of the Cool Carpark Project not only highlights our commitment to reducing the impacts of extreme heat but also demonstrates our commitment to creating sustainable spaces that benefit our community, environment, and economy.”
“The Cool Carpark started with a simple goal, to make a space more inviting and comfortable, but it’s become something that helps shape how we think about building a cooler, greener city.”
Mayor Hamed said the shade structure doesn’t just keep things cooler, but also protects residents’ cars from sun damage, helps the car park surface last longer, and saves money on repairs.
“This is a win for our staff, our partners, and everyone in the community who’s helping make sustainability part of everyday life in Cumberland.”
Cumberland was also named a finalist in the Biodiversity Conservation category for its Woody Meadow at Kibo Reserve project, and in the Circular Economy category for the Banners to Bags initiative. These projects highlight Council’s strong focus on innovation, teamwork and long-term environmental action.
Cumberland also congratulates Auburn Hospital’s Sustainability Team who won in the Creating Sustainable Cities category. As part of the Cumberland Local Government Area, Auburn Hospital has collaborated with Council on past sustainability initiatives, reflecting a shared commitment to building a cleaner, healthier community.
The Keep Australia Beautiful NSW Sustainable Cities Awards have been running for more than 30 years, recognising leadership, innovation and community spirit in building more liveable and resilient cities.
