Keep Toowoomba Cool: A Campaign for a Cooler, Greener City

The Growing Threat of Extreme Heat

Every summer, Queensland faces increasingly severe extreme weather events, including floods, storms, cyclones, and heatwaves, all intensified by climate change. These events endanger public safety, strain the economy, and reduce quality of life.

One of the most pressing concerns for the Toowoomba region is the rise in urban heat. As temperatures climb, heat islands form, making cities and towns significantly hotter than surrounding rural areas. This leads to increased health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations, and makes our communities less livable.

To tackle this challenge, the Darling Downs Environment Council (DDEC) has launched the Keep Toowoomba Cool Campaign, advocating for stronger local government action to build urban resilience to heatwaves. Our key focus is to protect mature trees and establish canopy coverage targets to create natural cooling corridors with the right trees in the right places.

Register to volunteer with the campaign
Keep Toowoomba Cool Report
Read our State Govt Policy Brief
Sign our petition to Keep Toowoomba Cool
Read our TRC policy brief here.
Complete our heatwave experience survey.
Access tips on how to stay cool

Why This Matters

🌳 Trees are essential for cooling our city—they clean our air, reduce stress, and provide shade that can lower temperatures by several degrees.

🌱 Protecting trees means protecting human health—by reducing the risk of heat-related illnesses and improving overall well-being.

🏡 We can develop sustainably—building homes and infrastructure without sacrificing the homes of wildlife or destroying crucial green spaces.

Join Us in Keeping Toowoomba Cool

Toowoomba Regional Council has the power to take meaningful steps toward a climate-resilient, livable city. By prioritizing tree protection, strategic canopy expansion, and strong climate adaptation policies, we can create a cooler, greener future for everyone.

You can help by requesting a street tree from TRC today, call  131 872 and let us know how it goes. We can help you in case you have challenges. 

Our Action Plan

1. Climate Adaptation Planning and Capacity

  • Fund and implement the Climate Risk Management Strategy with sufficient staffing to ensure rapid progress.

  • Develop a comprehensive framework to identify and mitigate climate-related risks, including heatwaves.

2. Stronger Environmental Policy with Clear Objectives

  • Amend or replace the Green Infrastructure Plan to establish a robust environmental policy with measurable goals.

  • Incorporate heat and biodiversity mapping and planning into Toowoomba’s urban development strategies.

  • Ensure alignment with the city’s planning scheme and corporate plan.

3. Cooling Our City and Towns

  • Establish suburb-specific tree canopy targets for Council-managed land, aiming for a minimum of 40% coverage by 2032.

  • Plant tree species that:

    • Support biodiversity goals within future climate projections.

    • Provide effective shade to reduce the urban heat island effect.

  • Increase green spaces to enhance urban livability and climate resilience.

4. Protection of Mature Trees from Urban Development

  • Safeguard existing mature trees that provide critical shade and cooling effects.

  • Preserve green spaces and prioritize tree retention in development projects.

  • Ensure tree protection is embedded within Toowoomba’s planning regulations.

5. Community Engagement and Education

  • Launch tree adoption programs to encourage residents to plant and care for trees in their neighborhoods.

  • Provide education on climate adaptation strategies, particularly for vulnerable communities.

  • Empower residents with resources to mitigate heat risks and take local action.