Manningham Council has partnered with two of Australia’s largest electric vehicle (EV) charging operators to set up a network of nine public charging stations across the municipality.

The partnership with JOLT Charge and Evie Networks will deliver universal direct current chargers, at key commercial and tourist destinations from early 2025.
These chargers will be situated on council land and powered by 100% renewable energy. Their supply, installation, operation, and maintenance will be fully financed by the private sector at no cost to council.

The public charging infrastructure aims to accommodate the increasing use of electric vehicles, especially following new legislated vehicle standards.

In Manningham, a 2023 community survey revealed strong community support for local public charging facilities and highlighted the dependence of many local EV drivers on public chargers.

Locations for the chargers are being investigated, focusing on areas where the community can take advantage of the 30 to 40 minute charge time to visit local cafes and restaurants, retail outlets, and sporting facilities.

Possible locations include Tunstall Square car park, MC Square and Jackson Court car park, which were identified as preferred sites in the community survey. The final locations will depend on technical feasibility, particularly access to adequate power supply.

This initiative aligns with Council’s commitment to reducing the high level of transport emissions in Manningham, improving local air quality, and enhancing fuel security.

It is another way we are working towards achieving net zero community emissions by 2035, as outlined in the adopted Climate Emergency Response Plan (CERP).

Find out more at manningham.vic.gov.au/electric-vehicle-charging.

Your Waste Calendar will be delivered differently this year – here’s what you need to know.

This year, you will receive your waste calendar within the June issue of Manningham Matters. 

You’ll be able to simply pull out the insert, cut along the dotted line and place your calendar on your fridge or in a handy spot for easy reference.

As in previous years, the calendar will include your property’s bin day – along with tips for what can and can’t go in each bin and how to place them out for collection. 

Does the new calendar include changes to our bin collection schedule?

There are no changes to the schedule, so you can stick to your usual routine.

In Manningham, your green lid food and garden organics (FOGO) bin is collected every week, while your yellow lid recycle and red lid garbage bins are collected every fortnight, on alternating weeks.

What is the calendar for?

Our annual waste calendar can help you keep track of these collections throughout the year. 

As in previous years, the calendar will include information about:

• your property’s bin collection schedule
• what can and can’t go in each bin
• how to place your bins out for collection

Why have you changed the delivery method?

This new way of delivering your calendar within the Manningham Matters magazine is more cost-effective and efficient. It will help reduce unnecessary waste, while ensuring every household still gets this important resource.

What if I missed it?

If you misplace your magazine or need an extra copy of the calendar, don’t worry! 

You can download your waste calendar online, or, collect a copy from:

• Manningham Civic Centre at 699 Doncaster Road, Doncaster 3108.
• Manningham Council Depot at 620-628 Blackburn Road, Doncaster East 3109.

Keep an eye out for your calendar in the middle of the June edition of Manningham Matters.

At the 27 May Council Meeting the draft Council Plan, draft 2025-26 Budget, draft 10 year financial plan and the draft Revenue and Rating Plan were tabled.  These have been developed in line with our newly endorsed Community Vision 2040 to help shape the future of Manningham.

These draft strategic documents are now available on Your Say Manningham website and will be presented for endorsement at the 30 June Council Meeting.

Our draft Asset Plan 2025-2035 and the Council Plan Action Plan will be made available at an upcoming Council meeting.

Our strategic documents are informed by extensive community engagement conducted throughout 2024-25.  

Many people have helped shape our community’s future. We’ve been planning for the next four years, and we’ve done it by listening closely to our community.

At the heart of this work was the deliberative community panel – a collaborative effort that brought together 37 community members to play a crucial role in helping determine key priorities for Manningham.

Extensive community consultation informed both our strategic planning and the Community Panel’s deliberations, ensuring that our plans are grounded in our community's priorities, needs and aspirations.

This consultation included a community-wide survey last year where we heard from 1,260 community members about what matters most to you and which three areas you think Council should focus on. We also held a series of targeted conversations with key groups and residents including young people, older adults, multicultural communities and partners.

On top of that, many community members sent in their own ideas and suggestions through individual submissions, showing us how Council services can improve and how we can build a better future together.

These community insights gave us a strong and balanced view of our community's wants and needs. It directly shaped our strategic planning and the work of our Community Panel.

Given the depth and quality of feedback received during this process, a separate public submission process will not be held for this year’s strategic plans.

We thank everyone who contributed. We’re all part of the plan and your voices are shaping the future of our community.

Find out more by visiting our Your Say Manningham website.

Manningham’s new Councillors have elected Councillor Deirdre Diamante as Manningham Mayor and Councillor Andrew Conlon as Deputy Mayor for the year ahead. 

Unanimously voted in by her fellow Councillors at the Annual Meeting of Council on 19 November 2024, Cr Diamante said it is an honour to lead the newly elected Council in the first year of its four-year term. 

The Tullamore Ward Councillor is passionate about equal opportunity, our natural environment and family, and has been a Manningham resident for more than 40 years. A Councillor since 2020, Cr Diamante previously served as Manningham Mayor in 2022/23. 

“I have grown up in Manningham, in Council Street, and the opportunity to again lead this City in public service is truly amazing,” Cr Diamante said.

“I want Manningham to continue to be a great place to live, learn and grow. I want my children to want to live here and want to raise their families here.” 

Cr Diamante said some of her key priorities over the next year will include advocating for the Manningham community on the North East Link Project, working with local multicultural communities, supporting the work of our healthy ageing unit and enhancing opportunities for local businesses.

“I look forward to collaborating with all of our Councillors in developing our Council Plan, the Budget and our strategic approach for Manningham, harnessing our extensive expertise and experience for our community.”

Cr Andrew Conlon was elected as Deputy Mayor and congratulated Cr Diamante.

“This is an important year to set the tone for our Council term and I know you will support us to collaborate and make the right decisions for our community,” Cr Conlon said. 

Find out more about Manningham’s Councillors.

Watch the Annual Meeting of Council.
 

Painted Country – a new major exhibition featuring the work of five First Nations artists – is now open at the Manningham Art Gallery in Doncaster. 

The artists – Nellie Ngampa Coulthard, Brenda Napaltjarri, Clara Napurrula, Rene Sundown and Adrian Jurra Tjungurrayi – bring diverse practices and perspectives to reveal their unique depictions of the Australian landscape in their work.

The senior and emerging artists represent two Indigenous arts centres – Iwantja Arts in South Australia and Papunya Tula Artists in the Northern Territory.

The exhibition has been timed to coincide with National Reconciliation Week, which is held each year from 27 May to 3 June, with the 2025 theme Bridging Now to Next.

Aboriginal writer, artist, arts worker and Aboriginal affairs advocate from Cape York Peninsula Jack Wilki-Jans has described the 14 artworks featured in Painted Country as “hypnotic visions” of the artists’ Country.

“Visions of a wide country, a country of colour and texture, of sand dunes and salt lakes, scorched earth and radiant sunsets, of brushes and sweeping tufts of grasses with flowers – Australia!” Jack Wilki-Jans  said.

“It isn’t the hand that paints which this exhibition exalts, it’s the eyes which see.”

This celebration of First Nations contemporary painting is presented in collaboration with Alcaston Art Gallery, with special thanks to the artists, Iwantja Arts in South Australia and Papunya Tula Artists in the Northern Territory.

Gallery opening hours

Manningham Art Gallery, 687 Doncaster Road, Doncaster, is open Wednesday to Saturday, 11.00am to 4.00pm.

This year, Manningham residents have raised more than $20,000 for local schools, clubs and community groups with the support of the Manningham Monster Community Raffle.

Manningham Mayor, Councillor Carli Lange, acknowledged the community effort, and the key role the community plays in fundraising.

"Thank you to our amazing community for your generous support! Because of you, $15,000 will go directly to the groups who participated and $5,000 will support the Manningham Charitable Fund. Your contributions make a big difference." Cr Lange said.

For every ticket sold for $2.00, groups receive $1.50 and the remaining 50 cents is donated to the Manningham Community Fund.

With a prize pool of $10,000 including five $1,000 Coles/Myer gift vouchers, and one $5,000 Coles/Myer gift voucher, the Monster Raffle prize draw was held on Wednesday 17 July.

Manningham residents, Alex and Adeline, were the lucky winners of a $1,000 Coles/Myer voucher.

The couple purchased tickets supporting both Milgate Primary School and 1st Templestowe Scout Group.

“We often participate in fundraising and buy tickets not thinking we are going to win, but so the money can go a good cause.” Alex said.

“My son attends 1st Templestowe Scout Group, and the leaders at the club always work so hard to give the kids a good experience, and Milgate Primary has also been a huge part of our lives with our two children going to school there, receiving such a quality education.

“We’re incredibly thankful for this win!” Alex said.

The Monster Community Raffle is held annually and will open again in April 2025.

“For 19 years, our raffle has been a cornerstone of community spirit. Together, we’ve made a significant impact, and we look forward to many more years of making a difference,” Cr Lange said.

“We are deeply grateful to our raffle partner, the Templestowe Bowling Club, whose support has been key to its success.”

The Manningham Community Fund supports community initiatives including homelessness and affordable housing, education and employment, diversity, inclusion, sustainability, and wellbeing programs throughout Manningham.

A full list of raffle winners is available on the Monster Community Raffle website.  
 

You’re invited to share your ideas and priorities for our community’s future by making an ‘Individual submission’ to the Manningham Community Panel.

Make an individual submission.

Your input will be considered by the Panel as they deliberate and prepare recommendations for Council’s major strategic plans.

What will the panel deliberate on?

Council endorsed the following remit for the Manningham Community Panel at its 25 June 2024 meeting.

Council has a budget of $147m, but we can’t do everything and need to make hard choices. We need to know what services you value most to help us create a new Council Plan, Asset Plan and Financial Plan to guide Council activity for the next four years to align with the Community Vision. It will inform what the community pays and gets in return.

What range and level of services are you prepared to pay for?

Submit your ideas about what the panel should consider as they work together to answer this question.

This consultation closes Thursday 19 September at 11.59pm.

Community will also be welcome to observe the deliberative process at several open Panel sessions – more information will be available on the Your Say Manningham page shortly.