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.
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.
We have rolled out many initiatives over recent years to reduce climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. These initiatives have included the introduction of:
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 increase and speed up climate action. Community feedback tells us that there is a shared commitment with Council to take this increased action on climate change.
Draft Climate Emergency Action Plan developed
A Climate Emergency Action Plan has been developed, outlining actions to address climate change.
The draft plan outlines easy ways that you can tackle climate change in your neighbourhood, including:
Community feedback on the Draft Climate Emergency Action Plan has now closed.
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.
Our key climate and energy policies are the Climate 2020 Action Plan and Securing the Future Adaptation Plan, which seek to reduce emissions and encourage people to adapt to our changing environment.
Through action 5.1 of the Securing the Future Adaptation Plan, we have also developed the Manningham City Council Food Security Plan 2016-2021. The plan aims to assist in creating a sustainable food system that allows economic and physical access to locally sourced food for individuals and businesses. It also provides the capacity for readily obtaining information for decision making that leads to healthy food choices.
You can also read about how we are leading sustainability action in our Annual Environment Report for 2020.
Find all these documents in the Related downloads section.
We encourage the local community to be active participants in reducing energy use and emissions.
Save energy at home and reduce your impact on climate change with these tips:
The Solar Savers program is a local council initiative. It helps households and businesses install quality and affordable rooftop solar and batteries. Since 2019, Solar Savers has supported the installation of over 400 solar PV systems in Victoria.
The Eastern Alliance for Greenhouse Emissions (EAGA) leads the Solar Savers program. Various Victorian Local Governments, including Manningham, are participating in the program.
Benefits of rooftop solar
By installing rooftop solar through Solar Savers, you can:
Receive a free quote
Eligible residents and businesses with suitable rooftops for solar will receive a free quote. The quote will include:
You will have the opportunity to discuss the quote with the installer and Solar Savers to ensure solar power is suitable for you.
More information
Visit the Solar Savers website to find out more about the:
Keep up to date with our latest environment and sustainability events.
Water is one of our most precious resources. Sustainably managing our water supply and improving waterway health is vital to support the ecology of our landscapes to thrive in the face of a changing climate, remove pollution from stormwater flows and benefit the health and wellbeing of our community.
Our city is recognised as a leader in local water management and together with our partners and community is continuing to develop new and improved sustainable solutions that integrate water conservation, pollution removal and the protection of our waterways, in-stream habitats and aquatic ecosystems.
What we are doing
Waterwatch is a citizen science program for monitoring waterway health. In Manningham, Waterwatch has been connecting local communities with waterway health and sustainable water issues since 1993.
In 2007 a group of concerned volunteers initiated the Manningham Waterwatch Monitoring Network. This group continues to monitor the health of our local waterways and has carried out over 10,000 water quality measurements at more than 40 sites across the municipality. The data collected is used to assess the health of Manningham's waterways and identify what is currently impacting stream ecology.
In addition to water quality monitoring, many volunteers are affiliated with local action groups including Landcare and ‘friends of’ groups which undertake stream rehabilitation programs that contribute to catchment and waterway health.
Citizen scientists are people who want to make a difference to the environment and their community. You can join this movement by taking part in programs like Waterwatch, you can email to let us know you're interested at manningham@manningham.vic.gov.au
Keep up to date with our latest environment and sustainability events.
As our city grows, so does the amount of waste we create.
We are committed to reducing the impact our waste management has on our environment and are continually seeking better, smarter and more sustainable ways of reducing waste, increasing resource recovery and increasing diversion from landfill.
The way we manage waste is a shared responsibility, so we are also raising awareness and actively working with our community to create more sustainable future behaviours in how we use, reuse and dispose of materials once we are done with them.
Collaborating with the Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Group and other councils on the delivery of waste services for landfill, recycling, garden waste and advanced waste processing systems.
Actively seeking and investigating new sustainable and innovative environmental practices for waste management, recycling and advanced waste processing to increase future recovery of resources that would otherwise be destined for landfill.
Exploring the provision of Food Organics Green Organics (FOGO) waste collection services (42 per cent of garbage in bins currently consist of food organics) to further divert waste from landfill.
Planning for the introduction of the container deposit scheme and the potential addition of a fourth bin for glass recycling.
Building awareness and directly engaging with our community — residents, schools and businesses through a variety of education programs and events around waste reduction, good recycling, composting and diverting garden and food waste away from landfill.
Continuing to work with our community in supporting good recycling behaviours by providing versatile collection and drop off services.
Supporting community and school efforts in litter collection for Clean-Up Australia Day.
Fostering partnerships with organisations to encourage, educate and equip our community to reduce waste sent to landfill — Compost Community an award winning social enterprise created to help households start composting and worm farming.
Keep up to date with our latest environment and sustainability events.
Energy use for streetlights, buildings and fleet are the biggest sources of emissions from Council operations. By choosing clean and smart energy solutions, we have already reduced our energy consumption and emissions and made energy use from operations more environmentally sustainable.
To date, our actions have resulted in a 25 per cent reduction in annual greenhouse gas emissions and a yearly saving of $600,000 in energy bills.
What we are doing
Keep up to date with our latest environment and sustainability events.
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 and 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.
Learn about what Manningham are doing in your local green spaces to gain a better understanding of the world around us.
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.
Your feedback has helped strengthen and improve the Climate Emergency Action Plan (CEAP) which was adopted at Tuesday night’s Council meeting.
As part of the plan, we will work with residents, businesses and visitors to achieve net zero emissions for Council operations by 2028 and for the community by 2035.
Community consultation on the Draft plan occurred between April and November this year through Your Say Manningham, a Gender Impact Assessment, survey and in person pop-up stalls across our city such as the Plastic Free July events and FOGO information stalls.
We received valuable submissions and contributions (including from 316 survey participants) and incorporated this feedback to reflect the strong themes captured throughout the engagement.
These included prioritising:
The plan to address climate change was developed following Council’s declaration of a climate emergency in 2020.
The declaration acknowledged, ‘we are in a state of serious climate and environmental change and this climate emergency requires urgent action by all levels of government, including local government.’
Manningham Mayor, Cr Deirdre Diamante, said the CEAP would be published and distributed widely in early 2023.
“Thank you to everyone who contributed to this important plan. It really will take a community effort to respond to the climate emergency locally and it is critical we are prepared to tackle climate risks including extreme weather, heatwaves, bushfires, storms and flooding.
“We will continue to engage on how we put the plan into action so the community feels supported and empowered to reach net zero emissions by 2035.”
Manningham Council and carsharing service GoGet have launched an 18-month carshare trial.
Carsharing offers individuals the opportunity to access vehicles on demand for short periods of time. Once registered to GoGet, drivers can pay a fee to hire a vehicle for an hour, a day, or longer – with fuel, insurance, registration and maintenance all covered.
There are eight carshare vehicles located at various locations in Doncaster Hill.
Manningham Mayor Cr Deirdre Diamante said carsharing can deliver significant health, economic, environmental and community benefits.
“We’re exploring new ways to evolve Manningham’s transport network and provide the community with more sustainable and affordable transport options,” she said.
“When people drive less and own fewer cars, we’ll see reduced traffic congestion, greenhouse gas emissions and on-street parking demand.
“The GoGet trial will help us understand the demand and interest for carsharing in Manningham and inform our future transport planning,” Cr Diamante said.
*Seventy per cent of Manningham residents drive their car to work and more than 60 per cent of households have access to two or more vehicles, compared to 51 per cent in Greater Melbourne.
Council is currently developing its Climate Emergency Action Plan, which will include a broad range of climate mitigation actions that Council and the Manningham community can take. Manningham’s adopted climate mitigation targets are:
Community members can vote on the best ways for Manningham to achieve these goals by taking part in a poll available here: https://pol.is/22jxwtadzj
The poll closes on Sunday 20 November 2022.
**One carshare vehicle, in an on-street dedicated space, replaces 10 privately owned vehicles. This frees up nine vehicles worth of street space for the local community and reduces CO2 released from production and destruction of nine vehicles.
Carshare vehicles are also typically newer than the private car fleet, making them safer and more environmentally friendly.
Doncaster Hill was identified as an ideal location for the carsharing service given its:
This initiative has been identified and guided by Council’s Liveable City Strategy 2021, Transport Action Plan 2021 and Doncaster Hill Modeshift Plan 2014.
For more information on the GoGet carsharing trial and to view vehicle locations, visit www.manningham.vic.gov.au/goget-carshare-trial.
Learn more about Manningham’s Climate Emergency Action Plan.
*Car Dependency (Manningham Transport Action Plan 2021)
**The Impact of Car Share Services in Australia (Phillip Boyle and Associates 2016)
Council has endorsed an Implementation Plan to guide the development of our Integrated Water Management (IWM) Strategy.
IWM is a collaborative approach to the way we plan for and manage water as a valuable resource.
There are mounting pressures on the management of our water resources arising from a variety of drivers, including climate change and population growth.
The Strategy will deliver a proactive approach to address these risks. It will help us secure a resilient, liveable and sustainable future for Manningham.
A Flooding and Stormwater Management Community Reference Panel will be formed in late July. It will provide a community voice to guide the development of the IWM Strategy.
In September, an external IWM consultant will be appointed to further assist us in developing the Strategy.
For more information visit the Your Say Manningham, Flooding and Stormwater Management page.
Questions?
Please contact Manningham Council on 9840 9333, or at manningham@manningham.vic.gov.au.
Manningham Council and GoGet launched an 18-month carshare trial in Doncaster Hill in November 2022.
This service provides a more sustainable transport option and alternative to private car ownership. It will help reduce:
The GoGet carshare service offers individuals the opportunity to hire vehicles on demand for short periods of time.
You can register with GoGet, pay a fee and book a car either by phone or on the internet.
It takes about five minutes to complete the application to become a GoGet member
There are eight carshare vehicles located at various locations in Doncaster Hill.
Doncaster Hill is an ideal location for a car-sharing service given its:
Vehicles are picked up and dropped off at carshare bays nearest to your location.
More information
For more information visit www.goget.com.au/manningham
Manningham Council has appointed a Community Reference Panel to help shape flooding and stormwater management in Manningham.
The Panel was selected through an Expression of Interest process and will work with us to better understand and address increasing challenges to water management, including:
Manningham Mayor, Cr Michelle Kleinert, said the collaborative approach will support quality decision making, ensuring Manningham is best placed to proactively and sustainably meet the challenges ahead.
“We’re so grateful to the community members who have come forward to share their time, knowledge and skills to help guide our approach to flood risk and water management,” she said.
“We’ll work together to develop a strategy to secure our water future and enhance the long-term sustainability, resilience and liveability of Manningham,” Cr Kleinert said.
The Panel will help guide the development of the:
It will consist of:
The first meeting will be held in late 2022.
For more information, visit the Your Say Manningham Flooding and Stormwater Management page.
Together with the community, we want to better understand Manningham’s water and flood management challenges and consider the best ways to address them.
From Tuesday 3 May, we’re calling for expressions of interest (EOI) from community members to join a Community Reference Panel.
The panel will help guide the development of the:
The Community Reference Panel will help us better understand the increasing flooding and stormwater management challenges facing the community. These challenges relate to climate change, development pressure and population growth.
Manningham Mayor, Cr Michelle Kleinert, said she is proud Council is engaging with the community and proactively addressing these challenges now.
Flood mapping will be undertaken in accordance with Regulation 148 of the Building Regulations 2018.
This information will help us:
“It’s essential that we partner with the community to inform our strategic direction and implementation plans. The Community Reference Panel will support quality decision making, best placing us to proactively and sustainably meet the challenges ahead,” she said.
“We’ve seen recent flood events devastate communities across southern Queensland and northern New South Wales, demonstrating how climate impacts are changing and likely to worsen.
“We’re committed to engaging with our community and working closely with State agencies, including Melbourne Water, to ensure the long-term sustainability, resilience and liveability of Manningham,” Cr Kleinert said.
The panel will consist of:
The term of the Community Reference Panel will be a maximum of four years.
You can register your interest online or pick up an application form from the Manningham Civic Centre.
The EOI process will close on Friday 17 June 2022.
For more information visit YourSay Manningham.
Manningham Council is exploring innovative and agile ways to better respond to the social, economic, environmental pressures faced by our community such as population growth and ageing, climate change and the exponential growth in the digital economy.
We’re seeking expressions of interest from people who live and work in Manningham to be part of new advisory panel – Liveability Innovation and Technology Committee.
The committee will share their lived experience and advise how innovation and technology can be used to improve the way we work and live in Manningham. The committee will oversee the development of Liveability Innovation and Technology Smart Cities Discussion Paper.
The committee will have representatives from the community, Councillors, and senior officers.
Manningham Mayor, Cr Paula Piccinini said: “This is great opportunity for those living and working in Manningham to work alongside Council, share their experience and help us understand how innovation and technology can improve our daily lives.”
If you are interested in being part of the Liveability Innovation and Technology Committee, please complete the Liveability Innovation and Technology Committee: Expression of Interest Form.
Expression of Interests close on Wednesday 7 August at 5.00pm.
Manningham Council is exploring innovative and agile ways to better respond to the social, economic, environmental pressures faced by our community such as population growth and ageing, climate change and the exponential growth in the digital economy.
We’re seeking expressions of interest from those who live and work in Manningham to be part of new advisory committee. Share your experience and ideas on how innovation and technology can improve living and working in Manningham. The committee will work alongside Council to oversee the development of a Liveability Innovation and Technology Smart Cities Discussion Paper to inform future planning.
If you are interested in being part of the Livability Innovation and Technology Committee, please register your interest.
Submit your expression of interest via the Liveability Innovation and Technology Committee: Expression of Interest online form.
For more information, please contact us on 9840 9333.
Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) is coming to Manningham in July 2023.
Do you get excited about recycling and reducing your waste? Want to help spread the word about FOGO locally?
We’re looking for Manningham residents who are excited about FOGO to join us as FOGO champions.
As a FOGO champion you will learn how FOGO works and how it’ll be introduced in Manningham so you can share your knowledge with your neighbours, friends and community.
As a Manningham FOGO champion you will be able to:
If you want to be involved, we would love to hear from you.
We're getting ready to launch our Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) service in July 2023. Last week, our Councillors got to see how Manningham’s food and garden waste will be processed.
The FOGO service will allow you to place household food waste into your green lid garden bin to be recycled into compost for use in gardens and farms across Victoria.
Our organic waste processing contractor, Bio Gro, will receive the food and garden waste from kerbside FOGO collection and turn it into compost. Last week some of Manningham’s Councillors toured Bio Gro’s organic waste facility in Dandenong South to see the process first-hand.
After seeing the process, Manningham Mayor Cr Michelle Kleinert said that FOGO is one of the most effective and achievable ways we can all reduce our impact on our environment.
“By having household food and garden waste collected and processed, it can be recycled into compost which can be used to enrich our soil.
“If you can eat it or grow it – you will be able to put it in your FOGO bin. On the tour, we saw first-hand how problematic it is when plastics bags are placed into our garden bins and how it contaminates the composting process.
“Removing food waste from Manningham’s red lid garbage bin is set to divert up to 20,000 tonnes of waste from landfills per year,” Cr Kleinert said.
From 3 July 2023, Manningham’s green lid FOGO bins will be collected weekly and red lid garbage bin will be collected fortnightly.
“Over the coming months we look forward to getting out and about and speaking with residents about the benefits of FOGO in the lead up to the service starting in July 2023,” Cr Kleinert said.
All residents with a Council residential waste service will receive a free kitchen caddy for their food waste along with supply of compostable liners, as part of the implementation of this new service.
For more information, visit our FOGO webpage.
Warrandyte Uniting Church has a peace vision which in part focuses on engaging the community in ways to protect and care for our environment. In keeping with this vision, the church is leading a program around raingardens and caring for the earth.
A feature of the program is a newly constructed raingarden on the church grounds which was financially supported by Warrandyte Community Bank and Manningham Council.
The raingarden will divert and treat rainfall runoff from across the site as an example of what people can do in their own gardens.
Church project lead Ken Keam said, "raingardens improve the quality of our waterways by filtering pollutants from stormwater and using stormwater to irrigate plants. They create habitat for local wildlife by promoting vegetation growth. By using stormwater for irrigation, they also conserve drinking water supplies."
“The project also aims to improve community understanding and knowledge about simple opportunities to preserve our natural environment and adapt to the impacts of climate change,” Ken said.
The program has included several information and interactive sessions for the local community and schools. Other contributors have included the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, as well as other local community groups and Melbourne Water.
Manningham Mayor, Cr Deirdre Diamante, said Council hoped the program would empower locals to consider how they can help build a resilient, liveable and sustainable future for Manningham.
“It’s great to see community members taking action to help secure our water future,” she said.
“Council is currently undertaking a number of flooding and stormwater management initiatives, aimed at building a more resilient and liveable Manningham and to facilitate robust planning for the future,” Cr Diamante said.
Ken also serves as a member on our recently formed Flooding and Stormwater Management Community Reference Panel. When asked about his interests in serving on the Panel, Ken said he is concerned about mitigating and adapting to the impacts of global warming.
“I hope that this opportunity will help to preserve the natural environment and liveability of this municipality by ensuring that the management of stormwater, as far as possible, encompasses the principles of Water Sensitive Urban Design, climate change adaption and community expectations,” he said.
Solar Savers is a local government initiative that helps households and businesses to install quality and affordable rooftop solar and batteries. Eligible residents and businesses with suitable rooftops for solar will receive a free quote, including indicative costs, rebates, and expected energy and cost savings.
We are working with Maroondah City Council through the Eastern Alliance for Greenhouse Action (EAGA) to help residents and businesses save money and reduce emissions through the Solar Savers program.
By installing rooftop solar through Solar Savers, residents and businesses in participating Councils can reduce energy bills and future-proof against increasing energy costs, while supporting a transition to clean, renewable energy.
Solar Savers will provide extra assistance for pension or healthcare card holders, by assessing their electricity bills to make sure solar is a good financial option. They can also advise on the current State Government rebate and loan offers, which can help to reduce the upfront costs of solar installation.
You can find more information about the program, check your eligibility and obtain a quote by visiting the Solar Savers website.
Maybe you have solar power or are considering on making the switch – but have you thought about installing a battery too?
Adding a battery to your solar system allows you to store excess electricity generated by solar panels for use when the sun isn’t shining.
A battery storage system can:
We now have a limited number of subsidies available through the Solar Savers Program, a program which can help you install quality and affordable rooftop solar and batteries.
The subsidy is available for the installation of battery system either by itself or as part of a solar installation through the Solar Savers program.
Register by 28 February 2023 to be considered for one of the limited number of available subsidies.
To find out more and to register visit the Solar Savers website.
Find online resources for mental health support
IMMEDIATE HELP
For Emergencies | call 000
SuicideLine Victoria | 1300 651 251
Suicide Victoria offers free professional online counselling 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to support people at risk of suicide, concerned about someone at risk, bereaved by suicide and people experiencing emotional or mental health issues.
Lifeline Australia | 13 11 14
Lifeline provides mental health support and emotional assistance on the phone and online.
Kids Helpline | 1800 55 1800
Kids Helpline is a free phone and online counselling service for young people aged between 5-25 years.
Beyond Blue | 1300 22 4636
Beyond Blue provides support programs to address issues related to depression, suicide, anxiety disorders and other related mental illness.
Nurse on Call | 1300 60 60 24
Nurse-on-call helpline provides health advice from registered nurse, 24 hours a day.
Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team (CATT) | 1300 721 927
The Outer East Crisis Assessment Treatment team provide mobile assessments to people in psychiatric and short-term home treatment as an alternative to hospital.
Sexual Assault Crisis Line (SACL) | 1800 806 292
SACL is a state-wide after hours, confidential, telephone crisis counselling service for people who have experienced both past and recent sexual assault.
Safe Steps | 1800 015 188
Safe Steps is a specialist support service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, providing family violence specialist support to anyone in Victoria who is experiencing or afraid of family violence.
General Information
Mental Health Foundation Australia provides a range of networks, services, advocacy, events, and support groups for the community to seek support on mental health illness.
Translating and Interpreting Service provides access to services for people with limited or no English language ability. Phone 131 450
Ask Izzy is a mobile website that connects people who are in crisis with the services they need right now and nearby.
PANDA – Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia supports the mental health of parents and families during pregnancy and in their first year of parenthood.
MensLine Australia is a national 24 hour, 7 days a week men’s helpline offering support, information and referrals for men with emotional health, family and relationship concerns. Phone 1300 78 99 78
Parentline is a phone service for parents and carers of children from birth to 18 years old. Confidential and anonymous counselling and support on parenting issues is provided. Phone 13 22 89
NEAMI is a not-for-profit organisation providing mental health, homelessness and suicide prevention services.
SANE provides mental health support, information, resources and online forums for family and friends. Phone 1800 187 263
Mental health is a state of emotional, social, and psychological wellbeing. It affects how we think, feel and act. It also impacts how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.
A person’s mental health is affected by multiple factors including a person’s access to services, employment and living conditions.
Positive mental health allows a person to realise their full potential, cope with normal stresses of life, work productively and contribute to community life.
Mental wellbeing is influenced by other factors including:
Online resources to help you find support for mental health issues.
Resources are categorised by topic and listed in alphabetical order.
This content was correct as of December 2022 and will be reviewed frequently.
If amendments are identified or you know of another mental health service to be considered, contact us.
