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Manningham has one of the largest networks of open space in metropolitan Melbourne covering approximately 17 per cent of the municipality and including more than 300 parks.
Manningham has one of the largest networks of open space in metropolitan Melbourne covering approximately 17 per cent of the municipality and including more than 300 parks.
This includes recreation parks, sporting reserves, natural areas and neighbourhood parks.
Our unique natural environment provides a sanctuary to 56 threatened animal species and is home to 22 per cent of Victoria’s known plants, including 11 species of state significance and four species of national significance.
A large section of the eastern half of Manningham is designated as a ‘Green Wedge’ area for the protection of our natural and rural environment.
As an environmentally forward thinking Council, we believe the decisions we make today have the potential to change the future for generations to come.
Protecting our environment and biodiversity is a shared responsibility. Together with the support of our partners and community, we are actively working to preserve and enhance our city’s natural resources to ensure they will survive and thrive for generations to come.
Each year we offer a series of land management grants. These grants are designed to help property owners with tree planting, weed removal and pest animal control. Find out if you're eligible to apply.
A large section of the eastern half of Manningham is designated as a ‘Green Wedge’ area for the protection of our natural and rural environment. Learn about the area and what we're doing to protect it.
We plant new trees within Manningham as part of our tree planting program. We also maintain trees in residential areas, parks, and reserves. Find out about our Tree Management Plan and how to request an additional street tree for planting.
Become a scientist this spring and help our scientific community record valuable information about Platypi in Manningham.
PlatypusSPOT is a citizen science platform that gathers information from the community on platypus occurrence. Locals know their area and we want to tap into your knowledge. PlatypusSPOT brings together all that valuable information in one publicly accessible website.
Platypus are difficult to study in the wild and we know very little about how platypus populations are faring. Platypus and their habitat are vulnerable to a variety of natural and man-made threats that are increasing with climate change and population growth. Understanding the distribution and occurrence of platypus is essential to develop effective conservation strategies with waterway managers.
To participate in this event, download the PlatypusSPOT app on your device.
An infringement, also known as either a fine or a penalty notice, is issued when a law or regulation is broken to help protect the rights, amenity and well-being of the Manningham community.
Find a list of options available to you if you have received a penalty notice.
View information on Manningham’s Community Local Law (2023), a local law made under Part 5 of the Local Government Act (1989 ) and section 42 of the Domestic Animals Act 1994, that further describes infringements and fines.
We issue infringements that relate to:
The switch to renewable energy has begun in many modern and sustainable homes.
Come along to this webinar and dive deeper into how to go 100 per cent green electric, and even manage ‘energy independence’ during grid failure.
Our presenter, Ian Moxon, is a seasoned sustainability consultant with over 15 years of experience in the field.
He’ll share his extensive knowledge and valuable industry insights into the benefits of electrifying everything.
The webinar will cover the following topics:
This is one of three webinars in the Electrify Everything webinar series. Please book a place for each of the webinars you plan to attend.
The Sustainable Gardening Australia, Edible Gardening Seminar Series is a complete home gardening program that will teach you how to grow your own delicious fresh, healthy, and nutritious food at home.
Growing your own food can be not only rewarding and enjoyable but can also save you money as well.
Each seminar will cover a different aspect of growing organic food including soil preparation, pest and diseases and selecting what fruits and vegetables are right for your garden.
Bring along your home-grown foods, seedlings, and other gardening items to share with someone else. The home-grown food and seed swap takes place 20 minutes prior to the start of the seminar. So don't forget to bring your own treats to share.
This program is part of the wider Spring Outdoors Sustainable Gardening Australia Seminar Series. This series includes seminars and webinars at Nillumbik and Banyule councils.
For a full list of events in this series, download the Spring Outdoors Sustainable Gardening Australia brochure, or visit Spring Outdoors.
Keep up to date with our latest environment and sustainability events by subscribing to our Environment Newsletter.
Protecting our environment and biodiversity is a shared responsibility. We are actively working to preserve and enhance our city’s natural resources to ensure they will survive and thrive for generations to come.
These grants are designed to help property owners to care for their land, including tree planting, weed removal and pest animal control.
We also do this by supporting a response to climate and energy sustainability issues, improving how we accommodate and integrate our natural environment alongside our built environment, using environmental best practice in the care and maintenance of our open spaces, and through a range of environmental initiatives, resident support programs and community stewardship.
We encourage our residents to protect and nurture the local environment.
Residents can get involved in a variety of ways including using composting systems to reduce waste, joining your local Landcare group, controlling weeds and pests and attending nature walks and seminars throughout Manningham.
See the links below to find practical ways you can be part of a sustainable solution to preserve the beauty of Manningham for many generations to come.
Below we have collated some of our popular applications.
As an environmentally forward thinking Council, we believe the decisions we make today have the potential to change the future for generations to come.
We recognise that climate change is a defining issue of our time and requires a collaborative and urgent response. By actively working together — Council, our community, schools, businesses and partners — we have the opportunity to create a more sustainable future for us all.
Read our Climate Emergency Response Plan.
As part of our response to climate change, we are continuing to focus efforts on building a cleaner, greener and more sustainable future. We are doing this by reducing emissions from Council operations, managing our energy/water/waste in smart, responsible ways and by building awareness, educating and empowering our community to do the same.
Climate change is already impacting our environment, liveability, our health and local economy and it requires an immediate and urgent response. We all need to work together — Council, the community, schools and businesses — to take action to address the impacts of climate change and work towards a more sustainable future.
Motion to declare climate emergency approved by Council
On January 28 2020, Manningham Council unanimously approved a motion to declare a climate emergency. This resolution acknowledged that we are in a state of serious climate and environmental change and that urgent climate actions were required.
Climate mitigation targets adopted by Council
On October 2021, Manningham Council unanimously adopted climate mitigation targets. These targets are:
The climate emergency resolution and the net zero targets empower us to enhance climate action. Community feedback acknowledged a shared commitment with Council to increase action on climate change.
Draft Climate Emergency Action Plan developed
A Climate Emergency Action Plan was developed, outlining actions to address climate change.
Published Climate Emergency Response Plan
In July 2023 after further consultation, Manningham Council published the renamed Climate Emergency Response Plan. The Climate Emergency Response Plan (CERP) outlines the approach to addressing climate change and its impact on Manningham.
Key actions include:
100 per cent renewable energy at Council buildings and sports facilities
Manningham Council has signed the VECO electricity contract. VECO is an initiative involving 46 Victorian councils, known as the Victorian Energy Collaboration (VECO).
Thanks to the signing of this monumental contract, we will be able to make the following changes:
All this new renewable energy comes from two wind farms, located in Horsham and Dundonnell.
The Garden Waste Recycle Centre has now been permanently decommissioned and closed.
In 2018 the State Government’s Waste Management Policy (Compostable Recycles and Waste Materials) came into effect. This policy was focused on ensuring that combustible recycle and waste materials at waste facilities are managed and stored in a manner that minimises risks of harm to human health and the environment from hazards such as fire.
Following a review of this policy and other guidelines, it was deemed the facility does not meet the guideline requirements. Over the past few years there have been several small fires which have ignited at the site, requiring the Country Fire Authority (CFA) to respond.
The centre, located at the corner of Websters Road and Blackburn Road, Doncaster East has been operating for the past 25 years. Residents have used the service to dispose of garden waste material from their property and to reduce their fuel loads in preparation for the summer bushfire season.
Manningham Mayor, CR Andrew Conlon said the closure of the Garden Waste Centre is a necessary option to manage risk and ensure the safety of our residents and environment.
“We are committed to the safety and protection of our residents and environment. Bushfires can start quickly and impact lives and homes. Closing this facility was necessary to minimise fire risk. We will continue to provide garden waste disposal services for residents in Bushfire Prone Areas.”
Manningham has a Bushfire Prone Area within the eastern parts of the municipality. Residents living in the Bushfire Prone Area (BPA) previously used complimentary Garden Waste Disposal Vouchers at the Garden Waste Recycling Centre.
Given the closure of the Garden Waste Recycling centre we implemented Garden Waste Disposal Days (GWDD) to assist residents that previously used Garden Waste Vouchers.
Disposal days have been found to be more efficient, cost effective and a favourable option, helping residents dispose of excess garden waste from their properties in the BPA. A community survey to residents living within BPA indicated that they found the initiative highly positive, found drop off easy and staff friendly and helpful.
The next Disposal Days are scheduled to take place in August and November 2021, allowing time for residents to manage their properties before the Fire Danger Period (FDP) is declared by the State Government.
Council has an interpreter service that can be reached on (03) 9840 9355 for any resident that would like to call and arrange to speak to someone in their own language about any Manningham Council matter.
We're reviewing our Domestic Wastewater Management Plan and want to hear your feedback on our draft Domestic Wastewater Management Plan 2019.
The plan outlines strategies to manage septic systems now and into the future and aims to reduce the impacts of domestic wastewater on local creeks and streams and public health risks.
To develop the plan, we've consulted and included feedback from our key stakeholders Yarra Valley Water, Environmental Protection Authority, Melbourne Water, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and Department of Health and Human Service.
Have your say
We want like to hear from you, to view the draft Domestic Wastewater Management Plan 2019 and have your say visit yoursaymanningham.com.au/DWMP
Submissions close on Friday 4 October at 5.00pm.
The Environment Protection Act 2017 creates a General Environmental Duty (GED) that applies to all Victorians from 1 July 2021. The GED requires anyone conducting an activity that poses risks to human health and the environment from pollution and waste, to minimise those risks.
If you own or use an onsite wastewater management system (OWMS), including septic tank systems and secondary treatment systems, the GED applies to you. It also applies to how you construct, install, alter, operate and maintain the system, deal with faults or system failures and manage your waste.
For the purposes of section 50(2)(b) of the Environment Protection Act 2017, please be advised that your permit application for an on-site wastewater treatment system that includes a sand filter treatment plant will not be complete until such time as EPA has granted an exemption under section 459 of that Act from providing a certificate of conformity. Council will submit your section 459 exemption application to EPA on your behalf. EPA must make a decision to grant or refuse the exemption application within 15 days of receipt. If EPA grant the exemption, Council has 42 days to assess your complete permit application.
For more information, visit EPA's website
Your new Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) service is coming and will start in July 2023.
Once FOGO starts you will be able to place food waste into your existing green lid bin with your garden waste for it to be recycled into compost.
FOGO will significantly reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill and the compost created will be used in gardens and farms across Victoria.
Before FOGO starts, between March and May next year, we will be delivering a FOGO kit to every household in Manningham that has a residential waste service.
To help you store and carry your food waste out to your green lid bin your kit will include:
a kitchen caddy
a roll of 150 compostable liners.
You won’t need a FOGO kitchen caddy to be able to use our FOGO service. You can use any container to collect your food scraps and take these to your green lid bin.
Don't need a FOGO kit?
If you would prefer to use your own container to collect your food scraps, let us know and we can cancel delivery of your FOGO kit.
Even if you choose to cancel delivery of your FOGO kit, the FOGO service will be compulsory for all households with a residential waste service from July 2023.
Let us know before Friday 20 January 2023 to cancel your FOGO kit delivery.
For more information on FOGO, what it is, why we need it and what it means for you, visit our FOGO webpage
Your Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) service is now just a few months away and we want to help you get ready to FOGO.
From July you will be able to place food waste into your existing green lid bin with your garden waste for it to be recycled into compost. You won’t need a new bin, once FOGO starts, your current green lid garden bin will become your FOGO bin.
Going FOGO and removing food waste from red lid garbage bins in Manningham is a great way we can all reduce our emissions and divert waste away from landfill. Once FOGO starts your green lid FOGO bin will be collected weekly and your red lid garbage bin will be collected fortnightly.
If you can eat it or it grew in the ground it will be able to go in your green lid FOGO bin from July.
Fruit and vegetables | Meat and bones | ||
Eggs and dairy | Seafood | ||
Bread, pasta, rice and cereal | Loose tea leaves and coffee grounds | ||
Food scraps and leftovers | Tissues, paper towel and shredded paper | ||
Garden waste | Compostable lime green bags only. Must be labelled AS 4736 |
You cannot place tea bags, food packaging, biodegradable products, clam and oyster shells, animal waste or cat litter into your green lid FOGO bin.
“FOGO will mean we can do even more composting. At the moment we have more food waste than we can compost ourselves so we’re excited to get started. It’s a great opportunity for kids to get involved and learn to be waste conscious from an early age. It will be fantastic for everyone to embrace the change and think about our future.” Fi, Templestowe Lower |
“FOGO will be a great sustainable composting option for all of us at home. It will be good for reducing food waste locally and for the environment. Having the FOGO kitchen caddy will really help our household and stop food going into the rubbish bin.” Yicheng, Doncaster East |
“The less we send to landfill the better; FOGO will be fantastic for all of our kitchen scraps. We already have a worm farm, which is great and easy for vegetable scraps, and are looking forward to FOGO starting in July. It’s an easy change to make and will be great for everyone to get involved.” Mary, Doncaster East |
"Knowing that our food scraps are being recycled and not going into landfill will be great. FOGO is an excellent, proactive initiative for our environment and the future. Our future generations are really dependent on what we can change now so it will be great to get started in Manningham." Simon, Bulleen |
Running since 1996, and established by Planet Ark, National Recycling Week is about empowering the community to recycle with confidence.
To celebrate National Recycling Week, Manningham Council has a variety of community sessions and events on offer including:
Manningham Council Director City Services, Rachelle Quattrocchi said we know our residents are committed to recycling. However, we are still seeing approximately 7.5 per cent recyclables that end up in the average red lid garbage bin.
“This means valuable resources are ending up in landfill. During National Recycling Week there are lots of resources available to refresh your recycling skills,” she added.
Recycling reduces our environmental impact and supports the goals in our Manningham Climate Emergency Response Plan.
Registrations are now open for local charities, schools, community groups, not-for-profit, sporting clubs or educational and environmental organisations to become a donation partner with Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic).
Once the scheme begins in November, local organisations who are registered as a donation partner will be able to receive donations from the community.
Manningham Mayor, Cr Deirdre Diamante said, that while there were no deadlines for registration, we are encouraging organisations to register, so that they can start receiving donations from community once the scheme is up and running.
“Our local organisations are the heart of our community and Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme provides another great way for them to fundraise.
“Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme is sure to be popular and I encourage all our local organisations to become a donation partner so that the community can continue to support their great work,” Cr Diamante added.
To find out more and register, visit Visy ‘Make Donations Count’.
Drink bottles, cartons and cans can be returned for a 10-cent refund at Manningham’s first reverse vending machine.
The Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic) is designed to increase recycling and reduce litter, while delivering economic benefits to the community.
Manningham Mayor, Councillor Carli Lange, encouraged community members to take advantage of the opportunity to more conveniently recycle their eligible containers.
“We all need to work together to take responsibility for how we dispose of waste. Let’s improve our recycling efforts, while supporting a sustainable future and the local economy along the way. Our recycling actions create products for future generations and ongoing sustainability for our community,” Cr Lange said.
Cr Lange was joined by Deputy Mayor Laura Mayne, Director City Services Rachelle Quattrocchi, Visy Co-owner Fiona Geminder, Visy CEO Mark De Wit, Visy Executive General Manager Wayne Russell, Visy General Manager Container Deposit Scheme Tim O’Donnell at the new reverse vending machine installed at Rieschiecks Reserve this morning.
“The reverse vending machines are automated, purpose-built and can capture up to 10,000 eligible containers each day. They can be used from 7.00am to 8.00pm daily and include acoustic panels for sound proofing and external lighting for enhancing safety and security.
Reverse vending machines will help make recycling more convenient and accessible said Tim O’Donnell, Visy General Manager Container Deposit Scheme.
“The Manningham community has already embraced CDS Vic in its first few weeks, returning their containers through over-the-counters and depots. Reverse vending machines are another way for sports and community clubs to be rewarded for recycling, as every bit counts when it comes to fundraising efforts.”
The community can choose to receive their refund via an electronic transfer through the downloadable CDS Vic North app for iOS or Android, a voucher or as a donation to a charity or community group. The community can also return eligible containers to over-the-counter sites across Manningham, for cash refunds.
“This initiative rewards recycling and allows used cans, bottles and other eligible containers to be repurposed into new products,” Cr Lange said.
“I’m confident that having the reverse vending machines in such convenient locations locally will significantly reduce litter and deliver positive community fundraising and environmental outcomes.”
Locals can now use the Rieschiecks Reserve reverse vending machine installed at Rieschiecks Reserve, 125-149 George Street, Doncaster East with further locations to open locally in coming months.
CDS Vic is part of the Victorian Government's $515 million investment to transform the state's waste and recycling sector. The scheme will contribute to Victoria's target of diverting 80 per cent of all material away from landfill by 2030.
The initiative will support community efforts towards achieving net zero community emissions by 2035 as set out in Council’s Climate Emergency Response Plan.
Find the nearest refund locations in Manningham.
Photo left to right: Visy Executive General Manager Wayne Russell, Visy General Manager Container Deposit Scheme Tim O’Donnell, Director City Services, Rachelle Quattrocchi, Visy CEO Mark De Wit, Visy Co-owner Fiona Geminder, Manningham Mayor, Councillor Carli Lange, Deputy Mayor Laura Mayne, and Coordinator Waste and Resource Recovery Linda Kenworthy at Rieschiecks Reserve’s Container Deposit Scheme reverse vending machine.