Resilient East Climate Action Plan endorsed
19/10/2026
The Resilient East Climate Action Plan 2026–2031 has been formally endorsed by all eight Resilient East partner councils, setting a shared direction for climate action, adaptation and resilience across eastern Adelaide over the next five years.
Resilient East brings together eight metropolitan councils, Cities of Adelaide, Burnside, Tea Tree Gully, Prospect, Unley, Campbelltown City Council and the Town of Walkerville, Green Adelaide and the South Australian Government to coordinate climate action across the region.
By working together, the partnership can tackle shared challenges at a scale that would not be possible for individual councils acting alone.
The new Plan responds to a changing climate and the challenges this presents for our communities, environment, economy, infrastructure and council services.
Eastern Adelaide is already experiencing a hotter, drier and more extreme climate, with climate projections indicating increasing temperatures, more frequent and hotter days, longer heatwaves, declining rainfall, more intense heavy rainfall events and more dangerous fire weather.
A regional climate risk assessment identified 24 high-priority risks across social, built, natural and economic systems.
These include increasing exposure to extreme heat, damage to infrastructure and natural environments, rising insurance and maintenance costs, disruption to council services and impacts on local businesses and economic activity.
A plan focused on action
The five-year Plan identifies six priority projects where regional collaboration can make the greatest difference:
Working safely in extreme heat — developing practical approaches to keep council workers safe and maintain essential services as heatwaves become longer, hotter and more frequent.
Cool spaces — establishing a regional network of designated cool spaces to help people stay safe during extreme heat events.
Council assets — from risk to resilience, supporting councils to better understand and manage the impacts of climate change on infrastructure and assets.
Sustainable active transport networks — improving regional connections between walking and cycling routes while making them more resilient to a changing climate.
Resilient communities — supporting households and communities to build climate resilience, manage energy use and strengthen local connections.
Greening our region — identifying opportunities for tree planting and trialling climate-resilient species and new approaches to growing the region’s urban canopy.
The Plan has been designed as an implementation-focused program, with projects able to progress through staged delivery, pilot activities, partnerships and external funding opportunities.
This approach allows Resilient East councils to begin work while building evidence and developing projects that can attract further investment.
Starting with extreme heat
The first two projects to progress will focus on one of the region’s most immediate climate risks – extreme heat.
Working safely in extreme heat will explore how council workforce practices, operational models and service delivery can adapt to increasing heat extremes.
The project will consider policies and procedures, minimum standards, equipment, technology and innovative work practices, with the aim of improving worker safety and wellbeing while supporting continuity of council services.
Cool spaces will establish a regional Cool Spaces for Summer Network, helping councils provide designated indoor air-conditioned spaces where community members can seek respite during extreme heat events.
The project will investigate regional standards and activation triggers, develop a regional map and directory of cool spaces, and provide coordinated communications to help people find available spaces and access information about staying safe in the heat.
Both projects will also provide opportunities to work with research institutions, industry, community organisations and other partners to test ideas, share knowledge and explore potential funding and co-investment opportunities.
Working together for a resilient region
Climate change is a shared challenge that crosses council boundaries and requires long-term collaboration.
The Resilient East Climate Action Plan provides a framework for the eight partner councils to share expertise, data and resources, reduce duplication, strengthen funding opportunities and coordinate action across the region.
The Plan also recognises the importance of working with the broader community, government agencies, research organisations, businesses and other partners to deliver meaningful and lasting change.
As implementation begins, Resilient East will continue developing project scopes, partnerships and funding opportunities to turn the Plan’s priorities into practical action for eastern Adelaide.
The Resilient East Climate Action Plan 2026–2031 is available to read in full, visit: Resilient East