When temperatures soar across southern New South Wales this week, vulnerable residents will have somewhere special to go—community-run heatwave havens where they'll find not just air conditioning, but the warm embrace of neighbors who care.

The Southcoast Health and Sustainability Alliance (SHASA) has transformed seven community buildings across the Eurobodalla Shire into climate-resilient safe spaces, complete with solar panels, backup generators, air conditioning, and welcoming volunteers ready to offer a cool drink and friendly conversation. From Thursday through Saturday, churches, community halls, and surf lifesaving clubs in Batemans Bay, Narooma, and Moruya will open their doors to anyone seeking relief from the heat.

"If we can have lots of smaller facilities around the community, it takes pressure off the big evacuation centres," explains SHASA president Kathryn Maxwell, whose vision emerged from lessons learned during the Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20. Rather than dwelling on past hardships, this innovative community turned challenge into opportunity.

The beauty of these havens extends far beyond their immediate purpose. By helping local organizations secure grant funding for solar panels, batteries, and air conditioning systems, SHASA has created lasting infrastructure improvements that benefit these community spaces year-round. Julie Brown from Southern Life Church in Moruya lights up when discussing the dual benefits: "It's helped us with our bills because we're an independent church. To have solar is great, especially when our power bills have been high."

But the real magic happens in the human connections these havens foster. Volunteers like Ms. Brown are preparing movies, music, coloring activities for kids, and plenty of refreshments. "We're just encouraging people to drop in, even if it's just for a few hours or for all day, have a cuppa with us, get cool," she says with genuine warmth.

For residents like Kellie Beavis, who lives in affordable housing where her villa struggles to stay cool, these havens represent more than just physical comfort—they're a lifeline. While she has air conditioning at home, the cost of running it makes her hesitant. Knowing there's a welcoming community space where she can escape the heat without worrying about electricity bills brings tremendous peace of mind.

"The elderly in the community and the people who can't afford the electricity need to know about these havens," Ms. Beavis emphasizes. "It's really important that we support people like that."

Maxwell approaches this inaugural trial with refreshing optimism and pragmatism. "We don't expect it to be totally smooth, we don't expect it to be perfect," she acknowledges. "It's really an opportunity for us to learn." This growth mindset exemplifies the community spirit driving the project—neighbors helping neighbors while building systems that can be replicated elsewhere.

The SHASA team hopes their model will inspire similar initiatives in other regions facing extreme weather. By combining sustainable technology, community spaces, and volunteer dedication, they've created a blueprint for climate resilience that's as much about human connection as it is about staying cool.

As temperatures climb this week, these havens stand as bright beacons of community care, proving that when neighbors work together, everyone stays cooler—in every sense of the word.