UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls

16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence runs from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to 10 December (Human Rights Day). 

This global campaign brings together people and communities worldwide to unite against violence towards women, girls and non-binary people.  

This year, we introduced 16 Days of Activism small grants to support local initiatives that raise awareness, promote action and help drive meaningful change.

We are funding six community organisations to deliver activities to youth, carers and multicultural community groups, including: 

• Seniors Happy Life Club  Coffee Chats at Doncaster Bunnings, an event in English and Mandarin where we will join local police in discussing the issue in a safe space and sharing support services.
• An awareness-raising window display at Warrandyte Neighbourhood Community House sharing key messages, statistics, and pathways to support those experiencing gender-based violence.

For full details, see the events below. 

In Australia, family violence is against the law. If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, please ask for help. In an emergency always call 000.  

We’re thrilled to announce the finalists for our inaugural Manningham Community Awards.

The winners will be revealed at our Awards Ceremony on Tuesday 16 September at the Manningham Function Centre.

Manningham Mayor, Cr Deirdre Diamante, said an incredible 70 nominations were received for the 8 award categories.

“I’ve been so impressed by the exceptional calibre of the nominations, which made my role as a judge extremely challenging,” Cr Diamante said.

“It’s been no easy task to narrow down our finalists – our community is filled with so many outstanding groups and individuals.”

“I would like to congratulate our finalists and thank all nominees for their dedication and innovation in making Manningham a better place for everyone,” Cr Diamante said.

“A huge thanks as well to everyone who took the time to nominate these deserving groups and individuals. Your support helps shine a light on the incredible work being done in our community.”

Three finalists have been selected for each of the 8 award categories. One of the award category winners will also be named Manningham Citizen of the Year.

The Manningham Community Award finalists

Doreen Stoves Excellence in Volunteering: Recognising an individual who has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to volunteerism.

• Brenda Humphreys
• Leon Moore
• Sandrajane Vincent-Corry

Active Community: Recognising an individual or group who has contributed to community participation in active lifestyles, sports or physical activity.

• Bulleen Tennis Club
• Ruffey Runners
• Tony Gibson

Ageing Well: Recognising an individual or group who has contributed to enhancing the lives of older residents, fostering social connection, safety or active ageing.

• Chinese Seniors Citizens Club of Manningham
• Richard Davis
• Scones Together

Artistic Achievement: Recognising an individual or group who has contributed to Manningham’s creative community, sparking artistic, cultural or creative expression.

• Jazz in the Park
• Now and Not Yet Gallery
• Warrandyte Arts Association

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.

• Ajani Neighbourhood House
• United Muslim Migrants Association of Victoria
• Warrandyte Pink Ladies

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.

• Bulleen Men’s Shed at the Veneto Club
• CareNet
• Kathy Monley

Inclusive Community: Recognising an individual or group who has actively contributed to community accessibility, inclusivity or diversity.

• Catalyst Training and Disability Services
• Kevin Heinze Grow
• Zakir Fakhri

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.

• David Edgecombe
• Niosha Khademideljou
• Sina Emadi

“I’m looking forward to celebrating our finalists and winners at our Awards Ceremony in September,” Cr Diamante said.

Tickets to our Awards Ceremony on Tuesday 16 September are now available to purchase at a subsidised cost for Manningham community members.

Book now

At this years Principals’ Breakfast, school principals were joined by Councillors, Manningham’s Youth Advisory Committee, community organisations, local religious organisations and Victoria Police.

Manningham Mayor, Councillor Deirdre Diamante commended the coming together of our community.

“Supporting young people is a shared responsibility: families, schools and community. Regardless of how big our cities get, we should remember the wise saying that it takes a village to raise a child,” Cr Diamante said.

“I’m proud that in Manningham we’re collaborating to identify the best ways to support our young people through the many challenges they are facing,” she said.

Many concerns were identified at the event, including:

• mental health 
• anxiety
• social media
• bullying
• isolation.
   

Manningham Youth Advisory Committee member, Tania shared how the root of the crisis often starts at home.

“Family income is a big factor. Parents don’t have the capacity to spend time with their kids,” Tania said.

Keynote speaker, Dr Michael Carr-Gregg said more needs to be done to support schools to prevent the worst of our youth mental health crisis. 

“Schools have the capacity to create a robust fence at the top of the cliff. I represent an expensive ambulance at the bottom of the cliff,” Dr Carr-Gregg said.

Find more information and resources on our website.

Need support?

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg shared online interactive resources for the prevention and treatment of adolescent anxiety and depression.

Moodgym

The Brave Program 

Save the date! This year’s Manningham Carols by Candlelight will be held on Friday 12 December at Ruffey Lake Park.

We’re now inviting performers, food vendors, local businesses and community groups to be part of the festive fun.

Expressions of interest to be part of the line-up are now open until midnight, Sunday 15 June. 

More than 10,000 people attended last year’s carols, so don’t miss your chance to get involved in the biggest event of the year.

Register your interest

Are you a local creative artist with a passion for captivating audiences and bringing people together? If so, we’d love to hear from you!

This summer, we’ll be showcasing the unique talents of our community’s artists at our local activity centres.

We’re inviting experienced and emerging artists to apply, working across various mediums, practices and methodologies. These may include: 

• Musician singer 
• Acoustic 
• Classical
• Emerging or retired artist
• Visual artist
• Street performer
• Electronic performance
• Chalk artist
• Sculpture interdisciplinary artist
• Socially engaged practice and more.

Selected artists will receive a financial contribution for a minimum three hours of entertainment. 

Ready to apply?  

Complete the expression of interest form. 

Apply now

Volunteer-led community groups and clubs will receive new support under changes to the Manningham Volunteer Resource Service.

Manningham Council will move to a new delivery model for supporting volunteering once the current contract with external provider EV Strengthening Communities (formerly Eastern Volunteers) ends on 30 June 2025. 

Manningham Mayor, Cr Deirdre Diamante, said Council is committed to supporting volunteers and ensuring we continue to meet their evolving needs and aspirations. 

“Volunteers are the lifeblood of our community, and essential for the continued success of local clubs, groups and associations,” Cr Diamante said. 

“We are deeply grateful to our volunteers for their dedication to making Manningham a better place, whether that’s through community, sport, emergency services, environment or arts and local history groups, among others.

“We’ve valued our partnership with EV Strengthening Communities since 2019, and I’d like to thank them for their work in supporting volunteerism in Manningham,” she said.

In recent years, there have been significant shifts in the volunteering sector, and a gradual decline in people undertaking formal volunteering right across Australia.

“We have been listening to our local clubs and groups, who are seeing increasing demands on their time to meet the growing administrative, regulatory and funding requirements for volunteering activities,” Cr Diamante said.

“These demands are stretching our volunteers, requiring not only extra time, but specific skills.

“We want to ease the burden on volunteers, so they can get back to doing what they do best – supporting the Manningham community,” the Mayor added.

Further details of the new program will be made available in the coming months.

Manningham residents will be able to continue to search for volunteer roles through Volunteering Victoria.

Our highly anticipated International Women’s Day Breakfast event returns on Thursday 6 March, with tickets now available. 

This year’s keynote speaker, Dr Emma Fulu, is a world-leading expert on gender equality and ending violence against women and girls. She has worked for the United Nations and other global programs.

Manningham Mayor, Councillor Deirdre Diamante said International Women’s Day was an opportunity to celebrate, connect and reflect.

“I’m so pleased to welcome Dr Emma Fulu to Manningham to speak on such an important issue that demands attention and action both globally and locally,” Cr Diamante said.

“Championing gender equality and respect in every aspect of our lives is at the heart of driving change. 

“We all have a role to play in turning promises into progress. I encourage men and women to join us for what will be an insightful and inspiring morning,” the Mayor added.

International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global celebration of women’s achievements and raises awareness for women’s equality.

Dr Fulu will speak to this year’s UN Women Australia IWD theme, ‘March Forward: It’s time to turn promises into progress’.

The theme is in reference to the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995) – considered to be the most progressive blueprint for advancing women’s rights.

While women have broken many barriers since then, there’s still much to be done for millions of women around the world and it’s time to turn promises into progress.

Dr Fulu will be joined by a panel of guest speakers who will bring their lived experience and individual lens to this important discussion.

The event will be held on Thursday 6 March, 7.30am to 9.30am at the Manningham Function Centre. Tickets are $25 and include a plated breakfast. 

For more information and to book your ticket, visit our events page.

A new exciting opportunity to celebrate, develop and grow our local live music scene is coming to Manningham. 

The Live and Local program is presented in partnership with the Live Music Office, One Music Australia  and APRA AMCOS (the Australasian Performing Rights Association and Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society). It has also been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia.

The free program offers professional development workshops along with performance and networking opportunities. It will provide valuable resources and support to musicians and song writers of all genres and levels, music industry professionals, venues and businesses within the Manningham community.
 

What’s included?

• Professional Development Workshops: Gain knowledge and skills from industry experts to grow your sustainable music career
• Mentoring and networking: Spending time with professionals and meeting other local people with the same music drive as you
• Micro-Music Festival: Get the opportunity to perform at, host or attend our local Micro-Music Festival events
• Local Industry Forum: Engage with key figures in the music industry and grow your network at our free forum on Saturday 28 June, 1:00pm-4:00pm at the Warrandyte Mechanics Institute in Warrandyte. Register today!
  
   

Who’s it for?

Local musicians, song writers, bands, producers, music industry professionals such as venue bookers, gig promoters, photographers, designers, production companies, managers.

Venues and businesses with space for small live music events in Manningham. 
 

Sign up to get involved

Join us to strengthen the local music scene, improve your skills and make meaningful connections. 

We’re creating the Manningham Music Database to connect local musicians and venues for future live music programming. This database will serve as a central hub for opportunities and collaborations within the Manningham community.

We’ll begin programming as expressions of interest come in, so get yours in today. 
 

Musicians, song writers and music industry professionals

Musicians, bands, song writers, music industry professionals, producers and acts will have the chance to participate in paid events, connect with other local industry professionals, build their experience and contribute to the growth of the local live music scene.  

Apply now

Businesses and venues  

If you run a local space that could be used for live music, or if you already book live shows in your venue, we want to hear from you.

You don’t need to be a traditional live music venue to take part, you may have just a small space within your café, gallery or retail or service area that could make a great little performance area. 

Our Venues Liaison Officer can provide guidance and connect you to local musicians, other businesses and industry professionals through the program.

Apply now
 

Live Music Forum

You're invited to our free Manningham Live Music Industry Forum on Saturday 28 June, 1:00pm-4:00pm at the Warrandyte Mechanics Institute in Yarra Street, Warrandyte. 

Whether you're a musician, business or venue owner, event manager or all-round live music enthusiast, this forum is a valuable opportunity to network with us and the broader community and discuss what a thriving music scene looks like for Manningham.

The outcomes of this forum will assist us to develop professional opportunities for local musicians, inform our planning, includidng our upcoming Live and Local microfestival.

This event is free, but registrations essential.

Register now

Manningham Council has launched an exciting new program to boost the local live music scene.

Live and Local is designed to celebrate, develop and support our local musicians, bands and businesses.

This free program offers professional development workshops as well as performance and networking opportunities, providing valuable resources and support to musicians, venues and music lovers within the Manningham community.

Manningham Mayor, Cr Deirdre Diamante, said Council wanted to support and grow the grassroots live music scene.

“We have so many talented musicians, and music industry professionals in our local area. We want to support our local industry so our community can enjoy live music close to home,” Cr Diamante said.

“This in turn will boost small businesses, bringing more patrons to local venues and activity centres.” 

To launch the program, Council is seeking expressions of interest from musicians and local venues and businesses to get involved.

Musicians will have the chance to showcase their talents and get paid, while connecting with other local industry professionals. This opportunity will build their experience and contribute to the growth of the local live music scene.

Businesses don’t need to be a traditional live music venue to take part. All is required is a space for small-scale performances. Examples include retail spaces, cafes and galleries, as well as hotels, restaurants and bars.

Expressions of Interest to be part of the program close on Sunday 1 June at 11.59pm. 

Live and Local is presented by Manningham Council in partnership with the Live Music Office, One Music Australia and APRA AMCOS (the Australasian Performing Rights Association and Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society). This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Music Australia.

Find out more and get involved at our Live and Local program page.

Image: Musician Alex Robertson from Cleo Black.

Manningham’s highly anticipated International Women’s Day Breakfast event returns on Thursday 6 March, with tickets now available.

This year’s keynote speaker, Dr Emma Fulu, is a world-leading expert on gender equality and ending violence against women and girls. She has worked for the United Nations and other global programs.

Manningham Mayor, Councillor Deirdre Diamante said International Women’s Day was an opportunity to celebrate, connect and reflect.

“I’m so pleased to welcome Dr Emma Fulu to Manningham to speak on such an important issue that demands attention and action both globally and locally,” Cr Diamante said.

“Championing gender equality and respect in every aspect of our lives is at the heart of driving change.

“We all have a role to play in turning promises into progress. I encourage men and women to join us for what will be an insightful and inspiring morning,” the Mayor added.

International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global celebration of women’s achievements and raises awareness for women’s equality.

Dr Fulu will speak to this year’s UN Women Australia IWD theme, ‘March Forward: It’s time to turn promises into progress’.

The theme is in reference to the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995) – considered to be the most progressive blueprint for advancing women’s rights.

While women have broken many barriers since then, there’s still much to be done for millions of women around the world and it’s time to turn promises into progress.

Dr Fulu will be joined by a panel of guest speakers who will bring their lived experience and individual lens to this important discussion.

The event will be held on Thursday 6 March, 7.30am to 9.30am at the Manningham Function Centre. Tickets are $25 and include a plated breakfast.

For more information and to book your ticket, visit the International Women's Day page on our website.

Join us at the Manningham Asian Cultural Festival this Sunday for a free community celebration that will finish with a spectacular fireworks display.

Thousands of people are expected to attend the event at Doncaster Reserve on Sunday 9 March from 10.00am to 10.00pm.

A celebration of culture and community, the program will feature live music and performances including lion dancing and drumming, mouthwatering street food, rides and family friendly activities. The fireworks are expected to start at 9.00pm.

We’re proud to support this new festival, which is presented by the Asian Business Association of Whitehorse, organisers of the hugely popular annual Lunar New Year Festival in Box Hill.

Visit our festival tent where you can meet our Councillors throughout the day,  have a chat to our Healthy Ageing team about how we can help you to live and age well, and provide feedback on our arts, culture and local history programs in Manningham to help us develop a  new Arts Action Plan.

Festival-goers have the chance to win one of ten $50 Find Your Local shopping vouchers, simply by completing our short survey about the festival, which will help us plan for similar events in the future. Visit the Council festival tent to download your entry form. Terms and conditions apply*.

Don’t forget to drop into the Jackson Court shopping centre to browse more than 90 local traders.

Bring your family and friends and spread the word for what promises to be a fantastic day out.

For more information, visit the Manningham Asian Cultural Festival website.

Congratulations to our competition winners:

Sarah Guo, Joanne Ridge, Roy Luo, Denver Huynh, Joyz Lio, Eddie Luk, Qunfang Ll, Jenny Ong, Chris Yap, Seleana Ng.

*Read the Terms and Conditions for the Manningham Asian Cultural Festival feedback survey competition:

Manningham Council is seeking community feedback on a concept design for an upgrade at Wombat Bend Playground. 

Wombat Bend Playground is a much-loved regional playground catering to visitors of all abilities – created by the community, for the community. It embraces inclusive design to foster creative development, inspiration and imagination and to encourage the mind to explore.

The concept design developed for the playground upgrade reflects insights gathered from community consultations held in December 2024. The proposed upgrades include:

• a diverse range of play equipment suitable for all ages and abilities
• a dedicated swing zone with five different seat types
• a larger water play area
• a sand play zone with raised tables and a digger
• a refurbished maze zone
• improved access paths for better connectivity and movement
• upgraded amenities, including new seating, picnic areas, drinking fountains, shelters, and BBQs
• enhanced shade and expanded grassed areas
• a new co-located fitness station.

Community consultation now open

To have your say on the Wombat Bend Playground concept design, visit yoursay.manningham.vic.gov.au/wombat-bend-playground-upgrade.

Council is also holding an onsite consultation session on Sunday 18 May.

Community members are invited to attend between 10:30am and 12:00pm (noon) to discuss the design directly with the project team.

Council values the input of the community in shaping the future of the Wombat Bend Playground and appreciates everyone’s involvement in making the playground a better space for all.

Consultation closes Monday 2 June 2025.

For more information, visit yoursay.manningham.vic.gov.au/wombat-bend-playground-upgrade

We’re celebrating National NAIDOC Week from 6-13 July by sharing the stories and achievements of First Nations People.

NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations peoples, culture and history and gives everyone a chance to participate in celebrations of the oldest continuing living cultures.

Storytelling is at the heart of First Nations culture – a powerful way to share history, knowledge and connection to country.

We’ve recently added special books to our collections at Maternal and Child Health centres, featuring traditional children’s stories translated into the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung language by Elder Aunty Gail Smith. These books are also available to read at our local libraries.

Bulleen Library will also be celebrating NAIDOC Week with a school holiday cultural experience for children – Aboriginal Storytelling Through Art – on Thursday 10 July. Bookings essential.

Don’t miss the final week of our free exhibition, Painted Country, featuring the works of five First Nations artists at the Manningham Art Gallery and closes on Saturday 12 July. 

The artists – Nellie Ngampa Coulthard, Brenda Napaltjarri, Clara Napurrula, Rene Sundown and Adrian Jurra Tjungurrayi – share their unique depictions of the Australian landscape in their stunning paintings.

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

We’ve recently acquired three new works by First Nations artists to add to our art collection and they can be viewed at the gallery. These are Tears of the Djulpan, 2023, by Djakaŋu Yunupiŋu featuring natural earth pigments on stringbark Eucalyptus with custom metal brace, Deceased Estate, 2024, a charcoal and acrylic binder on hessian by Matthew Harris, and Yarringa, 2023, an etched steel panel by Barayuwa Munungurr.

We’re committed to being an inclusive and connected community and recognise that local government has a key role to play in reconciliation.

Our work is guided by our Reconciliation Action Plan, which has been developed in partnership with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Corporation and local First Nations people.

Find out more about First Nations history and reconciliation in Manningham.
 

Pride Night returned for its second year on Sunday 2 February, bringing together the LGBTQIA+ community and allies for an evening of fun at Aquarena. 

The event welcomed people of all ages and backgrounds to connect in a safe and inclusive space.

Now in it’s second year, Pride Night was bigger and better in 2025, featuring an great line-up of activities, including dazzling performances, fitness classes, smoothie-making bikes, and a DJ.

Manningham Youth Services also joined the fun, inviting everyone to get involved with some arts and craft!

Aquarena staff member Kirra, who has worked at both Pride Night events, reflected on the celebration.

“Seeing the joy on people’s faces and hearing from parents who were excited to attend for the first time made the night incredibly special,” Kirra said.

“There was something for everyone – from zumba and aqua classes to live music and delicious food. It was a privilege to be part of an event that champions inclusivity and celebrates our beautiful community.”

Events like Pride Night not only celebrate diversity but also create lasting connections and a stronger, more connected community. 

Volunteer-led community groups and clubs will receive new support under changes to the Manningham Volunteer Resource Service.

Manningham Council will move to a new delivery model for supporting volunteering once the current contract with external provider EV Strengthening Communities (formerly Eastern Volunteers) ends on 30 June 2025. 

Manningham Mayor, Cr Deirdre Diamante, said Council is committed to supporting volunteers and ensuring we continue to meet their evolving needs and aspirations. 

“Volunteers are the lifeblood of our community, and essential for the continued success of local clubs, groups and associations,” Cr Diamante said. 

“We are deeply grateful to our volunteers for their dedication to making Manningham a better place, whether that’s through community, sport, emergency services, environment or arts and local history groups, among others.

“We’ve valued our partnership with EV Strengthening Communities since 2019, and I’d like to thank them for their work in supporting volunteerism in Manningham,” she said.

In recent years, there have been significant shifts in the volunteering sector, and a gradual decline in people undertaking formal volunteering right across Australia.

“We have been listening to our local clubs and groups, who are seeing increasing demands on their time to meet the growing administrative, regulatory and funding requirements for volunteering activities,” Cr Diamante said.

“These demands are stretching our volunteers, requiring not only extra time, but specific skills.

“We want to ease the burden on volunteers, so they can get back to doing what they do best – supporting the Manningham community,” the Mayor added.

Further details of the new program will be made available in the coming months.

Manningham residents will be able to continue to search for volunteer roles through Volunteering Victoria.

Stunning new botanical art displays at the Manningham Civic Centre provide inspiration for bringing the natural world into your own home or workplace.

The displays, on show until Spring, are by artist Kayla Moon, of floristry business xfloss, and are examples of biophilic design.

Biophilic design is about increasing our connection to the natural world within our built environment.

Kayla specialises in unusual large-scale sculptural pieces that combine different materials, colours and structural elements that are both beautiful and thought-provoking.

“Our work is unconventional because of the style of the materials that we use,” Kayla said.

“I love to create sculptures that are big floral monsters - more unusual, even grotesque – beautiful but a bit terrifying.”

Indeed, Kayla’s displays in the foyers of the Civic Centre and MC Square feature the dried and preserved weed Amaranthus, highlighting the beauty of what could considered a ‘monster’ outside its native environment. 

Kayla has combined the Amaranthus with the air plant Old Man’s Beard, Papyrus Sedge, and branches of Corokia to create beautiful sculptural displays.

“I’ve brought together different types of plants at different stages of their lifecycle – weeds, airplants, bushes and deciduous plants. I think it provides insights into natural materiality and the beauty of nature and how you can use flowers, twigs, rocks and other natural items as a medium.”

Biophilia refers to our innate connection with nature and was first coined by psychologist Eric Fromm in 1964. The word biophilia originates from the Greek words ‘bio’, meaning life, and ‘philia’, meaning ‘love of’, resulting in ‘in a love of life or living things’.

In our modern world, biophilic design supports connection to the natural world through practical design principals such as the use of natural shape and forms, environmental features, light and space. 

Bringing the natural world into our home and work environments has many health benefits, including relieving stress and improving our mental and physical wellbeing.

You, too, can bring biophilic design into your own home or workplace. Try some of these tips:

• Live plants: One of the easiest ways to bring biophilic design into your home is through live plants. Spider plants, snake plants, rubber plants and peace lilies are all known for their air purifying abilities and look good too.
• Texture and shape: Decorate your home with textures and shapes that replicate what you might find in nature. Materials such as wood, clay, cork or wool add a natural feel or you could find objects that mimic the patterns and forms of our natural world. 
• Colour: In colour psychology, green is known to calm and rejuvenate, so think about bringing natural colours into your home that make you feel peaceful and bring you a sense of joy, seek inspiration from sunsets, waterways and green spaces.
• Light: If you can, position desks or communal areas around windows to optimise natural light. Reflective surfaces such as stainless-steel bench tops and mirrors can help make a small space feel brighter and more expansive.
• Airflow: Open windows when you can to ensure natural air flow or invest in an air purifier. 
• Scent: Can be a powerful sensory experience. Use diffusers, candles, incense, or natural cleaning products in the home, think about natural scents such as lavender or citrus and made from natural or non-toxic ingredients. You might want to try growing herbs like rosemary, mint or thyme on your windowsill – they smell fantastic, and you can cook with them, too. 

Find out more about biophilic design from the Living Future Institute Australia.

Join us for our Inspired Living Series where you can learn about sustainable ideas from inspiring speakers throughout the year. 

Image: Artist Kayla Moon puts the finishing touches to her botanical art display in the foyer of the Civic Centre.
 

Manningham Council is inviting residents of Warrandyte, Wonga Park and surrounds to help shape infrastructure projects planned for their neighbourhood.

Locals are encouraged to attend a drop-in session this August to view project designs, ask questions and share feedback.

Manningham Mayor, Councillor Deirdre Diamante, said hearing directly from residents is essential to making decisions that reflect the community’s priorities.

“Discussing projects with residents throughout the design and planning phase leads to better decision-making and outcomes that reflect community needs and preferences,” 

“These sessions are a chance for us to explain decisions that have been made and ensure future outcomes are shaped by community input.”.

Projects open for consultation include:

• Footpath construction - Paynters Road and Reserve Road, Wonga Park
• Main Yarra Trail Extension (stage three) - Pound Road to Taroona Avenue, Warrandyte
• Footpath construction - Tindals Road, Warrandyte 
• Drainage upgrade - Trezise Street, Brackenbury Street and Cemetery Road, Warrandyte

Final designs available for viewing:

• Footpath and drainage upgrades - Alexander Road, Warrandyte
• Pedestrian refuge installation - Russell Road, Mullens Road and Ringwood Warrandyte Road intersection, Warrandyte
• Intersection upgrade - Pound Road, Warrandyte

Community drop-in session details:

• Monday 18 August, 4:00pm to 7:00pm
  Warrandyte Community Hall, 2–8 Taroona Avenue
• Monday 25 August, 4:00pm to 7:00pm
  Wonga Park Hall, corner of Launders Avenue and Yarra Road

No registration is required - just drop in and have your say.

For more information or to have your say via our online survey, go to yoursay.manningham.vic.gov.au/capital-works-warrandyte-wonga-park.

The 2025 Manningham Asian Cultural Festival will feature a fantastic lineup of cultural performances, delicious street food and family friendly activities as well as fireworks.

A celebration of culture and community, the festival will be held on Sunday 9 March 2025 at Doncaster Reserve, next to the Jackson Court activity centre.

We’re proud to be a major sponsor of the event, an initiative of the Asian Business Association of Whitehorse (ABAW), organisers of the hugely popular Lunar New Year Festival in Box Hill.

Our Mayor, Councillor Deirdre Diamante, attended the official launch of the festival at Jackson Court last week, welcoming the opportunity to support the association in bringing such an exciting opportunity to Manningham.

“Manningham is a proud multicultural community. Forty-four per cent of our population is born overseas, coming from an incredible 99 different countries including China, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Vietnam,” Cr Diamante said.

“It’s events such as these that really bring us together to celebrate what makes our diverse community so special," Cr Diamante said. 

"We thank the Asian Business Association of Whitehorse for bringing the festival to Manningham.

“This will also highlight our fantastic local traders at Jackson Court and is just one of the many ways Council is working to support businesses and build a strong local economy.”

It is anticipated the new Manningham festival will be a drawcard for up to 10,000 people. 

ABAW President Bihong Wang said, “The ABAW is thrilled to present the inaugural Manningham Asian Cultural Festival, a vibrant celebration of our shared multicultural values.

“Join us as we come together to embrace diversity, culture and community. We can’t wait to see everyone there,” she said.

President of the Jackson Court Traders Association, Con Valsamis, said the festival would be the biggest event held in the activity centre.

“Our association, along with all Jackson Court traders, are excited to be part of such a major event and have an incredible opportunity to showcase the offerings of our unique businesses.”