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.

School holidays are the perfect time for kids to explore sport and activities, build confidence and make new friends. 

This summer we're offering a range of activities to keep the kids happy and active.  

See upcoming events below.  

UPDATE: Nominations for the Manningham Community Awards have closed. Tickets are now on sale for the Awards Ceremony in September.

The new expanded awards program aims to recognise individuals and groups who have made outstanding contributions to the Manningham community over the past 12 months.

Mayor Deirdre Diamante said the winners will be announced at the Award Ceremony on Tuesday 16 September, with one overall winner named Manningham Citizen of the Year.

“We want to shine a light on the incredible work being done for the community by the community,” Cr Diamante said.

“The awards will celebrate those who have gone above and beyond in making Manningham a better place to live, work and visit.

The award categories are:

• Doreen Stoves Excellence in Volunteering: Recognising an individual who has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to volunteerism.
• Active Community: Recognising and individual or group who has contributed to community participation in active lifestyles, sports or physical activity. 
• Ageing Well: Recognising an individual or group who has contributed to enhancing the lives of older residents, fostering social connection, safety or active ageing.
• Artistic Achievement: Recognising an individual or group who has contributed to Manningham’s creative community, sparking artist, cultural or creative expression.
• Community Excellence: Recognising a community organisation or group that has delivered outstanding programs or initiatives contributing to the wellbeing, development and cohesion of the Manningham community.
• Community Health and Wellbeing: Recognising an individual or group who has enhanced health, wellbeing or resilience in the community, whether through advocacy, program development or direct service delivery.
• Inclusive Community: Recognising an individual or group who has actively contributed to community accessibility, inclusivity or diversity.
• Young Achiever: Recognising a young person aged under 25, who has made a positive impact within the Manningham community through demonstrated leadership, innovation, or commitment to helping others.

One of the category award recipients will be selected by the judging panel as the overall Manningham Citizen of the Year. Winners and finalists will be celebrated at an Award Ceremony on Tuesday 16 September.

Book your tickets to the Awards Ceremony.
 

We’re excited to launch our new expanded community award program to honour and celebrate individuals and groups who are doing amazing things in Manningham.

Mayor Deirdre Diamante has officially announced the new Manningham Community Awards program, with nominations opening on Monday 16 June 2025.

“We’re incredibly fortunate to have so many remarkable individuals, groups and organisations in our community, all working tirelessly to make a real difference,” Cr Diamante said.

“I’m thrilled to introduce the new Manningham Community Awards - a program dedicated to recognising the outstanding contributions of those who are helping to shape our vibrant community.

“This year, we will celebrate those who have gone above and beyond in making Manningham a better place to live, work and visit over the past 12 months.”

The expanded awards program will recognise achievements in eight categories with one of the individual winners also named the Manningham Citizen of the Year.

The expanded awards program will recognise achievements in eight categories with one of the individual winners also selected by the judging panel to be the Manningham Citizen of the Year. The categories are:

• Doreen Stoves Excellence in Volunteering: Recognising an individual who has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to volunteerism.
• Active Community: Recognising and individual or group who has contributed to community participation in active lifestyles, sports or physical activity. 
• Ageing Well: Recognising an individual or group who has contributed to enhancing the lives of older residents, fostering social connection, safety or active ageing.
• Artistic Achievement: Recognising an individual or group who has contributed to Manningham’s creative community, sparking artist, cultural or creative expression.
• Community Excellence: Recognising a community organisation or group that has delivered outstanding programs or initiatives contributing to the wellbeing, development and cohesion of the Manningham community.
• Community Health and Wellbeing: Recognising an individual or group who has enhanced health, wellbeing or resilience in the community, whether through advocacy, program development or direct service delivery.
• Inclusive Community: Recognising an individual or group who has actively contributed to community accessibility, inclusivity or diversity.
• Young Achiever: Recognising a young person aged under 25, who has made a positive impact within the Manningham community through demonstrated leadership, innovation, or commitment to helping others.

Nominations will be open Monday 16 June to Sunday 20 July, with the winners announced at an Award Ceremony at the Manningham Function Centre on Tuesday 16 September.

“I encourage you all to nominate someone who inspires you, someone who has positively contributed to our community. It’s a great way to show how much we appreciate what they do,” Cr Diamante said.

For more information on the awards and how to nominate, visit our Community Awards page.

As we edge closer to our zero emissions target, we’ve hit a powerful milestone: 1 in 4 Manningham homes now have rooftop solar. That’s over 11,500 houses powered by clean, renewable energy.

Why residents are making the switch 

Residents are embracing solar for:

• lower energy bills and long-term savings
• greater control over their home energy supply
• health and safety benefits of clean energy 
• a smaller carbon footprint

Support is also available to make the transition more affordable, with 663 Manningham households taking advantage of Solar Victoria’s $1,400 solar panel (PV) rebate last year.

Suburbs leading the charge 

Templestowe Lower and Park Orchards saw a surge in installations last year – up 58% and 60% respectively compared to 2023.

Doncaster and Doncaster East also saw strong growth, with installations collectively up 19% year-on-year. 

Warrandyte, Wonga Park and Park Orchards have seen the highest uptake, with 1 in 3 homes now solar-powered. 

Supporting solar with a battery

By pairing rooftop solar with a home battery, you can gain more control over your home energy and save more on bills.  

That’s because a battery stores excess solar power generated during the day, which you can then use later.

Increasingly, residents are complementing solar with a battery storage system.

To support this, the Federal Government’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program offers a discount of around 30% on the upfront cost of installing small-scale battery systems (5 kWh to 100 kWh) for households, businesses and community organisations.

Interested in making the switch?

We offer free events, resources and tips to support you in exploring clean energy options.

We can also connect you with our partner program, Solar Savers, which takes the hassle out of home energy upgrades.

Learn more at manningham.vic.gov.au/electrify-your-life
 

Looking for something to keep the kids busy and active these Easter school holidays? 

This autumn, we've got a range of fun activities to choose from including:

• Casual basketball shooting at DISC
• Casual basketball shooting at Mullum Mullum Stadium
• Ready Steady Go Multi Sports Program for young children
• Shuttle Smash Badminton
• Run 4 Fun Holiday program for children in Prep to Year 12
• Hockey school holiday program for ages 6 to 14 years
• Holiday youth pop-up for young people aged 12 to 17 years.

Full details of the program below.

The Manningham Community Panel’s deliberations have begun, with local voices steering the way to a thriving future for Manningham.

Through a series of externally facilitated discussions and learning sessions, panel members will deliberate for over 40 hours. They will determine key priorities for the community and provide a list of recommendations to Manningham Council.

This dynamic and community-driven process will play a crucial role in ensuring that Council’s strategic plans reflect local needs, values and aspirations.

The panel recruitment started with 8,000 envelopes sent randomly to local households. Of those who accepted the invitation, a second random draw resulted in the final 40 individuals chosen.

This second draw was stratified to ensure people selected were representative of Manningham by age, gender, location, living situation and the language spoken at home.

Residents, businesses and community organisations have also contributed to the panel’s work in several ways.

In the Plan Manningham 2025+ survey (between May and July 2024), community provided their top three priority areas for Council to focus its resources for the next four years.

Council also hosted a series of ‘Targeted conversations’. These small group discussions invited people with similar backgrounds or interests together to discuss detailed information around topics that affect their needs and priorities.

Community could also share ideas on how to improve Council services through ‘Individual submissions’.

Council has committed to an open, transparent and rigorous process that puts community interests at the forefront. Community are invited to listen and watch the deliberations.

You can register to be an Observer for any of the panel sessions. Each registration segment is 90 minutes. Registration will ensure you get a spot, however you can also register upon arrival.

The final four panel sessions will be held between November 2024 and February 2025.

Find out more and stay up to date at Your Say Manningham.

Women and girls are encouraged to get active in any way they can this November as part of Manningham Girls Can.

We’re supporting a month of free and low-cost events and activities to help women and girls try something new and build confidence.

Local clubs and associations are hosting almost 50 separate events during the month with a range of different activities including running, pram walks, walking basketball, hockey, tai chi, pilates, bocce, cricket, barefoot bowls, and work out sessions at the gym.

It’s all about enjoying the benefits of being active, connecting with others and having a great time.

The program builds on the previous state-wide This Girl Can program, and is designed to celebrate women and girls getting active, regardless of age, background or fitness level.

Browse through our calendar of events below and find an activity that best suits you.

Let’s show what Manningham girls can do!

Residents who have gone above and beyond making Manningham a better place were recognised at the inaugural Manningham Community Awards on Wednesday 16 September. 

The winners, and the 2025 Citizen of the Year, were announced at an awards ceremony hosted by Manningham Mayor, Cr Deirdre Diamante at the Manningham Function Centre.

The expanded awards program recognises the outstanding achievements of individuals and groups over the past 12 months.

The Manningham Community Awards are a chance to celebrate the people and groups who make Manningham shine,” Cr Diamante said.

“Congratulations to all the winners and finalists. Your commitment, passion and care for others reflects the very best of who we are.”

Leon Moore has been named the 2025 Manningham Citizen of the Year and received the Doreen Stoves Excellence in Volunteering Award for his work in establishing and leading the Laughing All Abilities Really Friendly Singers (LAARFS). 

The choir, which meets weekly, has more than 70 members, who live with chronic conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, cancer and dementia.

Category winners:

Active Community

Bulleen Tennis Club

Under the committee’s leadership, membership has grown by more than 70% with expanded junior and senior competitions, veterans’ tennis and social play. 

Ageing Well

Chinese Senior Citizens Club of Manningham

With more than 1000 members and 200 volunteers, the club is one of the largest in Manningham. It has delivered more than 60 free weekly classes, as well as educational talks, performances and major cultural celebrations over the past year.

Artistic Achievement

Warrandyte Arts Association

The association has supported more than 170 members across several groups including life drawing, pottery, writing and theatre. 

Community Excellence

Warrandyte Pink Ladies

The group was recognised for their passionate efforts in raising funds, awareness and support for those affected by breast cancer – all while bringing some of their signature sparkle to the community.

Community Health and Wellbeing

Bulleen Men’s Shed at the Veneto Club

The group has created a welcoming and supportive space for men of all ages and backgrounds to connect, share, support one another, and improve men’s mental health.

Inclusive Community

Kevin Heinze Grow

The organisation’s inclusive, nature-based programs support people of all abilities. These include Café Kevin which provides hospitality training, and the Grow Program that offers experience in gardening, cooking and sustainability.

Young Achiever

Niosha Khademideljou

A former Manningham Youth Advisory Committee member, Noisha is now a crisis supporter with Lifeline Naarm, and has helped provide children’s spiritual education classes and inclusive school holiday festivals.

This year’s awards were the first of an expanded program designed to recognise even more of the work being done in the Manningham community.

Cr Diamante said, “We received an incredible 70 nominations, making the judging no easy task. There were so many inspiring stories, so many individuals and groups going above and beyond.

“We can’t wait to learn about more of the incredible people and groups who contribute to the Manningham community. We encourage you to nominate someone you know who is doing amazing things for the 2026 awards. Nominations will open in March 2026.”

Find out more about the Manningham Community Awards.

A new larger-than-life exhibition is now open at the Manningham Art Gallery in Doncaster.

Pages of Me: A Bird, an Eye, Clouds, Ice cream, is a multimedia project by celebrated Melbourne artist and designer Beci Orpin.

Drawing from her textile-focused background, Orpin delves into mascot culture by creating a giant cat called Pomme, set in a display of oversized pages pulled from her sketchbook, blending bold patterns, found images and positive mantras.

The exhibition explores finding happiness through individuality and acceptance, and visitors are drawn in to read the mantras from Orpin’s pages and catch further glimpses of Pomme.

“The idea for the mascot came from seeing a series of photos of mascots caught in odd, unexpected places – doorways, ticket booths, elevators,” Orpin said.

“It struck me both as comical and a metaphor for getting ‘stuck in the cracks’. I often say that ‘the cracks’ are where I exist – somewhere between creative categories, never fully fitting into one genre.

“Though it can be challenging to exist in ‘the cracks’, it’s where I’m most authentic, where I can be fully myself and do my best work.”

Visitors are encouraged to get creative at the gallery themselves, drawing their own mascot, based on their unique qualities.

Orpin is known for her signature application of colour, shape and optimism. She has collaborated with major brands and organisations including Apple, Google Disney, Uniqlo and the Australian Ballet.

Manningham Mayor Deirdre Diamante said: “We’re thrilled to have such a highly regarded artist exhibit at the Manningham Gallery. It’s a wonderful exhibition and I encourage you to come and see it for yourself while you can.”

Pages of Me continues until Saturday 5 April 2025.

Manningham Art Gallery, 687 Doncaster Road, Doncaster, is open Wednesdays to Saturdays, 11.00am to 4.00pm.

More information about the event is available in Council's events calendar.

Image courtesy of the artist.

The Manningham Community Panel has reached a significant milestone, charting a course for the future after delivering its final recommendations to Council.

Manningham Mayor Councillor Deirdre Diamante said the Panel’s insights will be invaluable in ensuring that the Council’s strategic plans are grounded in the community's needs and aspirations.

“By listening to the voices of our community, we’re ensuring that our decisions and actions reflect and align with what matters most to our residents,” Cr Diamante said.  

“The Panel has played a crucial role in this process, comprising members from diverse age groups, cultural backgrounds and geographic locations that represent the unique tapestry of our community.

“This collaborative approach will help enable us to create a more inclusive, resilient, sustainable and vibrant community for all.”

The Panel was established to identify Manningham's key priorities, challenges and opportunities – to help guide our strategic plans. This includes the Community Vision 2040, the four-year Council Plan, and the 10-year Asset and Financial Plans.

Throughout the process, Panel members deliberated for approximately 1,680 collective hours and heard from over 50 speakers from Council and community.

They handed over their recommendations at the final meeting on 1 February 2025. They span several themes including community safety, transport, open spaces and more.

“Over the coming weeks, we’ll prepare a response to each of the panel’s recommendations, including how they will be implemented or the reasons for not supporting any recommendation,” Cr Diamante said.

“We’re sincerely grateful to the panel members for their time and efforts during this dynamic process and committed to implementing the panel’s recommendations to the fullest extent possible. We’ll ensure their insights are carefully considered in all our decision-making as we plan ahead for Manningham,” the Mayor added.

For further information and stay up to date, visit YourSay Manningham.

Australia Post has informed us that their distribution of this issue will not reach all households in the Warrandyte and Park Orchards areas.

Manningham Matters is distributed via Australia Post's Unaddressed Mail Service, which can take up to a week to reach all households in Manningham.

If your copy of Manningham Matters hasn't arrived by Wednesday 11 June, please email us at manningham@manningham.vic.gov.au and we can send you a copy.

You can also read this month's edition online.  

At the 27 May Manningham 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 Manningham's newly endorsed Community Vision 2040 to help shape the future of Manningham.

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

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

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

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 Council's strategic planning and the Community Panel’s deliberations, ensuring that the plans are grounded in the community's priorities, needs and aspirations.

This consultation included a community-wide survey last year, where 1,260 community members shared what matters most to them and which three areas they thought Council should focus on. Council 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 how Council services can improve to build a better future together.

These community insights provided Council with a strong and balanced view of the community's wants and needs. It directly shaped its strategic planning and the work of the 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.

This approach is in line with Council's Community Engagement Policy as required by the Local Government Act.

Find out more by visiting the Your Say Manningham website.

Community voices will remain at the forefront as Manningham Council embeds the Community Panel’s recommendations into its planning – moving forward with a shared vision for the future.

Council provided its response to the Panel's recommendations in March, with a commitment to implementing them to the fullest extent possible.

Manningham Mayor, Councillor Deirdre Diamante said she was proud to be a Council that seeks community insights and takes meaningful action. She will meet with Panel members in May to discuss how the key priorites they identified for Manningham will be addressed. 

“Together, we’re building a future that’s inclusive, sustainable and prosperous for all – guided by the voices and aspirations of our residents,” Cr Diamante said.

The Panel was formed in September 2024 and tasked with delving into complex challenges to help determine key priorities for Manningham.

One of its initial focuses was to review Manningham’s existing Community Vision to ensure it reflected the community’s evolving needs and aspirations. The Panel agreed on an updated vision, which was then adopted unchanged by Council at its March meeting.

Manningham is a harmonious, inclusive and safe community that is committed to sustainable growth, well-being, and innovation. We celebrate our diversity and natural environment whilst fostering a connected community that enriches the lives of all.

— Manningham Community Panel (2025)

The Panel handed over its final recommendations to Council at a meeting held in February, following approximately 1,680 collective hours of deliberation. 

The report contains 14 recommendations and one minority report, which were formally adopted at the March Council meeting. The recommendations span several themes including community safety, transport, open spaces and more.

“We’ve carefully considered each recommendation and prepared a detailed response, outlining how we plan to approach and implement each of them,” Cr Diamante said.

“This will play a pivotal role in helping shape our strategic planning and will drive decisions that will reflect community values,” she said. 

The Panel’s recommendations will provide valuable guidance as Council develops its four-year Council Plan and 10-year Asset and Financial Plans.

For further information and stay up to date, visit yoursay.manningham.vic.gov.au/help-shape-manninghams-future

Manningham Council’s wild deer control program is helping reduce the negative impact of deer on private properties, bushland, waterways and road safety.

Since 2017, Manningham Council has supported residents to manage deer on their properties through our Local Environment Assistance Fund (LEAF) program. 

In recent years, this support has been strengthened through funding from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), enabling Council to provide a 100 per cent rebate for eligible Green Wedge residents who engage a professional deer control contractor.

Through the program, since January 2024 more than 200 Sambar deer have been managed in Warrandyte, Warrandyte South, Park Orchards and Wonga Park. Manningham Mayor, Councillor Deirdre Diamante, commended the program’s impact on both local biodiversity and road safety.

“Thanks to LEAF, we’ve been able to make significant headway in controlling the wild deer population and reducing the associated damage to private land and our environment,” Cr Diamante said. 

“It’s important that we continue this work, and I encourage eligible landowners to take advantage of the support and expertise offered by the LEAF program.”

Wild deer cause significant and widespread impacts to both private and public land, including destroying native vegetation, disrupting ecosystems and threatening agricultural activities.

The LEAF program provides residents with access to professional support and expertise, ensuring that deer control is done safely, effectively and responsibly.

Manningham Council’s deer control efforts on private land are supported by Parks Victoria’s work on public land, including its successful expansion of deer control activities across five reserves in Warrandyte State Park since July 2024. 

The DEECA grant that helps fund Council’s deer control program is set to end in June 2025.

Manningham Council is in ongoing discussions with DEECA about securing further funding to help support deer control. 

If you see a deer or notice damage, please report it using the FeralScan app to help us reduce the impact of wild deer. Data is securely stored in the FeralScan database and may assist government and biosecurity agencies in planning deer control. You can choose to make your report public or private.

For more information about our LEAF program, visit manningham.vic.gov.au/deer-control