The Northern Territory Government wants to create a cooler more comfortable walking CBD using a combination of strategically located and connected shading and landscape initiatives to encourage and extend pedestrian activities within the CBD during the heat of the day.
A heat mapping study undertaken by the University of New South Wales in the Alice Springs CBD demonstrated high level surface temperatures exceeding 60 degrees in some locations.
Shade concepts have been developed to mitigate the extremities of the summer heat and seek to:
- increase the general level of shade and visual amenity
- formalise the pedestrian priority areas
- retain existing operational uses in the street.
Shade structures will be placed strategically around the CBD to assist in developing preferred pathways for pedestrians such as connecting streets with the Todd Mall to provide comfort to pedestrians as they walk from cars, or shop to shop, or to and from the markets. Shade structures will include solar panels and other ‘green’ measures.
