In ground-breaking research unveiled in Gloucester on Thursday, and undertaken by the University of Newcastle on behalf of Hunter Councils, to a regional analysis of “weather drivers” and historical climate data has been used to create a localised view of the impact of climate change in the Hunter.

While perceptions of climate change were that cities generally would experience higher temperatures year-round and lower rainfall, the research found the effects would differ across the region’s coastal, central and western zones.

Gloucester figured in the central zone, which was predicted to experience wetter springs, and warmer average minimum temperatures in autumn and winter, and cooler in summer.

“In the past, communities and government in the Hunter, Central Coast and Lower North Coast have had to make do with generalised projections about climate change impacts that did not necessarily reflect actual past experience at a local level or the diversity of our region,” Hunter Councils chairwoman and Gloucester Mayor Julie Lyford said.

“This research now provides us with the resource we need to develop practical, achievable and relevant adaptation responses to climate change in the real world in which we live.”